One-Day Markets:
One-day markets are a pain. You travel somewhere far away, set up and take
down on the same day. It’s only one day to make or break your trip.
Sometimes you have to drive the day before and stay overnight, just for one day of sales.
FORGET IT!!
On the other hand, some markets are worth the effort. Usually, the one-day
markets draw a large crowd. If you can get there the evening before and get some rest from working all weekend, it smoothes things out. That means you will have to break the “never go anywhere on Sunday rule”.
Sometimes, you can get there Sunday afternoon and set up right away. This gives you a full night’s sleep with no worry of extra early Monday morning set-up. You know, like in the dark!
Who needs it? I, personally, feel that if I can pull in between $100-200 dollars profit out of a one-day market, it is worth it.
Just remember that these markets can really wear you down physically.
Copyright © 2004 Larry L. Austin
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Two-Day Markets
Now, things are looking better. A lot of two-day markets let you set up the day before. Often, you can park overnight right behind your booth. This gives you a couple of free nights parking and no campgrounds to deal with. Not only that, you don’t have to go anywhere. You can be well rested, feel good and make lots of sales. Just plain enjoy this crazy life-style!
Three-Day Markets
Three-day markets are about the same as the two-day ones. There is one very
important exception. Your first goal on Friday is to make enough money to cover the whole cost of your set-up. This means gas money, booth rent, food etc. It’s not hard to do.
Often a Friday will show some surprising sales. Sometimes more than Saturday, although Saturday is usually your best day.
One rule to remember: never count on anything. One Saturday, you knock them over. The next, you barely make your booth rent. Sunday usually starts slow and then picks up around 11:00. Sales last until about 3:00. A lot of money can change hands in those three hours. Most vendors start packing too early on
Sunday. My advice: take your time packing on Sunday. The more vendors that
leave, the less competition you have.
Personally, I like to stay on until at least 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Sometimes, I will pack part of my merchandise and pinch down the display area. There have been a lot of sales made near packing time. These sales are made long after the eager beavers have left. That is true even with one-day markets.
Copyright © 2004 Larry L. Austin
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I n s i d e r S e c r e t s T o F l e a M a r k e t P r o f i t s - L a r r y L . A u s t i n P a g e 8 1 o f 1 0 1
All Week Markets
Wow! This is beginning to sound like a real job!! Just thinking about it makes me nervous. Why would anybody want to work 7 days a week?
There has to be something good about all week markets? Well, yes, there are a few good points if you find one that will let you park behind or near your booth.
This will let you live real cheap. If you locate a market in a high-traffic tourist area, a lot of money can pile up fast. Some vendors work all 7 days a week. They pack back the dough and then kickback all winter and do nothing.
It’s all up to you. Work the summer, work the winter.
You are free to do whatever you want!
Copyright © 2004 Larry L. Austin
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