It’s a beautiful Saturday morning and I am sitting in a red foldable chair that I purchased over the weekend to use at my son’s soccer games. Now that he’s older and soccer is a thing of the past, I use it to keep me comfy while I make money. With my iced tea in one mesh cup holder and chips in the other, I watch as people around me walk past.
I watch as they walk by, some greet me with a smile, and others keep their attention on what’s in front of me. I’ve been sitting here for a while and it’s almost time to go. I count the bills in my pocket, amazed by how much I’ve made so far. This was a great day, and I can’t wait to see how much I will make tomorrow.
This is a great weekend gig to bring in a pretty nice return. Many people do it and some make so much money that it is the only thing they do. I’m talking of course, about selling at an outside flea market. Now, before you roll your eyes at the very thought, think for a moment. When was the last time you went to a large outdoor flea market? On any given weekend, you would have found yourself surrounded by people who walked from table to table buying items on display.
How much did it cost to get started?
Maybe you picked up a few used items, some crafts, or things for the house? Did you stop for food, an ice cream, or funnel cake? After you ate, did you decide to walk it off by taking another trip around the market? That’s when you saw the table with clothes. How did you miss that? Is that an air conditioner, television, and bike? Anything you can imagine, I’m sure you can find it at the flea market.
People are cleaning out their houses selling items, making their crafts, and even flipping items from the dollar store. I’m sure if you visit enough, you will see the same vendors each weekend. Why? It’s simple because they are making good money. They work through the weekend and spend the week enjoying their free time. Could you imagine working only on the weekends?
Before you run to reserve a table, understand that this is not a way to get rich quickly side hustle and you won’t get wealthy. Even with all that, it sure does beat working a regular full-time job. It’s a great way to start off making money just by cleaning out your house and then moving on to other things to sell that will be more sustainable.
When I started, I cleaned out my storage unit and sold everything on the first weekend. That old TV, air conditioner, clothing, and home decor sold quickly. Before I knew it, I had made $1000 in two days and all I had to do was sit in my chair and smile while people looked through the things I no longer wanted. I placed price tags on everything, and they would pick out what they wanted and hand me the money. It was easy as that.
So, what happens after you’ve sold your old items? Well, that’s when you turn to something you are good at or flip cheap items.
What are you good at?
Do you paint? Sell your artwork? Make crafts? People love handmade items, and they sell very well. Maybe you make candles or soaps? That is perfect for a table.
What can you flip?
Think of the small knick-knacks you may find at the dollar store or costume jewelry that you purchased for $2.50 from a site like Paparazzi Accessories that you sell for $5. The possibilities are endless when it comes to items that you can buy in bulk and sell for a profit. Some sellers make all their money, by filling their tables with items that they purchased for a few cents and now sell for a few dollars each.
How much will you have to pay for the table?
Every flea market is different, so you will want to check the rates with the market you would like to set up shop. My local market charges Saturday OR Sunday $30.00. You can reserve a table for Saturday AND Sunday for $35.00. If you would like to reserve a table for Friday, they only charge $5.00. As you can see, it’s pretty inexpensive.
They even have the option to save up to $50 by renting by the month. You can get a table for the month every Saturday OR Sunday for only $95.00. You can have it every Saturday AND Sunday for the full month for only $110.00. Fridays are FREE when you rent Saturdays and Sundays by the month.
How many hours will you have to sit outside?
Every flea market is different, so you will want to check their hours and when you would have to be there to set your table up. My local flea market the hours of the Outdoor Flea Market is open:
Friday: 8 am — 4 pm
Saturday: 8 am — 4 pm
Sunday: 8 am — 4 pm
You show up on the morning you want to sell between 6:30 am — 9 am and get a selling permit at the flea market office. You will be there until closing time, though some leave a bit early when business starts to slow down.
How much busy can you expect to see one weekend?
This will depend on the size of the flea market, location, and weather. My local flea market can accommodate up to 700 vendors and draws thousands of customers every weekend! There is nonstop foot traffic from opening to close which is great for sales.
Becoming a weekend vendor at your local flea market is fairly simple and can be a great way to make money. There’s little effort and you can make money by selling things you don’t need. Clean out your house, or storage unit or flip dollar store items to supplement your income.
