Crazy for My Collectibles

The last couple years have been tough economically for us all and there is no doubt that some great bargains can be found at flea markets and that there is money to be made selling at flea markets. It is estimated that there are well over 25,000 flea markets across the United States with sales over $6 Billion dollars….and this is for flea markets that operate on weekends only! Pasadena’s famous Rose Bowl Flea Market is said to have over 3,000 vendors with approx. 50,000 shoppers! Professional Flea Market shoppers are reported to arrive between 7:00 am -9:00 am in the morning with flashlights if still dark out when vendors are just setting up and are ready to treasure and bargain hunt. WOW!

1. Becoming A Vendor: First things first, in order to start selling at flea markets you need to get yourself setup as a vendor at a particular flea market. Check with your attorney or accountant on what is recommended by your state and the Feds as far as setting up a business name, business checking account tax ID number and anything else you need.  Also, check with the particular flea market on what paperwork and licenses they will need from you.

2.What To Sell: You most likely already have an idea of what types of merchandise or products you want to sell as you probably have visited flea markets before and probably visited the flea market your booth will be at a hundred times or so. You have developed a sense of what sells, what is “hot”, crafts that seem to sell well, antiques and collectibles that sell etc.. and you hopefully already have amassed several items to sell or have secured a method or contact for inventory be it a wholesaler or your local thrift store and neighborhood garage sales, or you have made up a bunch of crafts etc..

Also, a way to earn extra money is to sell beverages and snacks in your space. Nothing is better on a hot humid day then a cold drink! Have a cooler or if you have electricity a small refrigerator stocked with bottle water and soda pops and think about this for a moment – why not have some labels made up of your space name and logo and stick them on the bottles of water or if you sell bags of chips or granola bars then stick the labels on these as this is a great way to market your space!!

3. Pricing: Pricing – because you have spent a lot of time already visiting flea markets or have friends that are vendors at flea markets or have done your pricing research another way, you know what your pricing should be. Do not over analyze your pricing and merchandise, as right now it is most important for you to wisely “dive in” and get your booth setup and Start Selling!

TIPS TO ATTRACT HUNDREDS OF BUYERS TO YOUR SPACE

Many people will say that a great strategy is the key to attracting buyers. There is no doubt that you are one vendor amongst thousands of vendors so having the right merchandise and a good location is key.

6. Attracting Buyers: Be sure to have enough merchandise on hand. Nothing is worse than an empty looking space so be sure to have plenty of stuff to sell and either store the excess under your tables or in your car. Also, have around a total of $500 of change in $1, $5, $10, and $20. Keep bags, newspaper, sacks, and boxes handy so folks can easily and comfortably haul their treasures away.

7. Be an Expert: If you sell antiques and collectibles you will agree that the more you know about the items you are selling the more you will sell as your customers will see you as the EXPERT and people feel confident buying from the Expert and paying the higher prices as items sold by an Expert can command top dollar.

Engage in conversation with folks that enter your space as vendors with personality and the ability to story tell about their items will have more sales as shoppers enjoy being told as much information about what they are buying, and part of the enjoyment of flea markets is all the neat vendors you meet!

8. Setup: Setup your space to visually make sense and be comfortable. So, if you sell books then have them setup with spines facing out and neatly stacked so they are easy to read, if you sell clothing be sure to hang the items up on racks or have them neatly folded on tables and do put out items that are dirty or have holes as no one is looking for this. Have your pricing clearly visible. If you have access to electricity then have a couple fans plugged in to blow cool air as noting feels better on s super hot day then a fan blowing on you and when people feel comfortable they will spend more time shopping your space. Also, if you can arrange for some type of cover or canopy to shield from rain and sun it will not only make you the seller more comfortable but your shoppers too.

If you use signage make sure they are neat and easy to read and grab attention from folks passing by. Tie a bunch of balloons around your space to attract attention and have a drawing for a “free” prize every 4 hours or so and this will draw lots of attention to your space.

9. Hagglers: Be prepared to handle hagglers in advance. You should not be surprised if people start to haggle or negotiate with you. Many people feel that haggling is part of the Flea Market experience. Decide in advance how much you are will to accept on an item and be good-natured when dealing with hagglers. Remember that being flexible with your pricing can mean more sales for you!!

10.Tips For Vendors: A couple things to keep in mind when selling at Flea Markets is to have a receipt book and pen handy as many folks will ask for a receipt if they are a business. If you sell vintage or retro items that can be repurposed, make up a bunch of handouts that tell the buyer the types of crafts and projects these items can be made into and even have a free craft detailed that they can make.  Keep sunscreen nearby and even have some for sale, as you will be surprised how sunburned one can get walking around a flea market and selling at a flea market!!

We hope these tips and tricks have been beneficial to you and urge you to visit www.crazy4me.com in the near future, as we are finishing up a fantastic guide on Flea Market Bargaining and Haggling Tips!

I so enjoy the appeal of a retro kitchen and retro aprons and linens. Retro is so colorful and cheerful! Retro encompasses lots of Anthropomorphic elements from vintage Anthropomorphic salt and pepper shakers, Anthropomorphic fruit and veggies embroidered onto tea towels, dish towels and aprons and even Anthropomorphic chalkware wall plaques. EllynAnne Geisel has a couple great books out that bring the love of retro and vintage kitchen linens and aprons to the forefront of today and her website has so many neat downloadable “how to” like making these fabulously neat Original Egg Warmer Designs. Visit here for directions for this fun project! Make the POLKADOT EGG WARMER, APRON EGG WARMER, EGG WARMER APRON, EGG WARMER DRESS.

I love going to flea markets and junk shops and I always see lots of old funky trunks and  suitcases and also lots of tattered cabinets and display shelves that would be GREAT storage cabinets and miniature armoires if repurposed with flea market fabrics, walpapper, and some ribbons. If you are asking “how to repurpose flea market finds” DIY Ideas has a great flea market project for this so if you are looking for ways to put your stash of flea market finds to good use then you will enjoy this one!

I just got my latest issue of Flea Market Style Magazine and boy-oh-boy is it full of good stuff! One article in particular caught my eye and it is a step-by-step guide on how to make a dog bed for your pooch from repurposed household items. This would be a great weekend project and a great way to use up some of the vintage fabrics and pillows you have been collecting. If you are handy at sewing you could also probably stitch up a few cute dog toys out of the leftover fabric. 

Since repurposing items are a very hot trend today as we are all into living green and into vintage and cottage styles and there also are some folks re-using old suitcases and fashioning them into doggie beds as well as using vintage fabrics and vintage linens and sewing them into darling little doggie dresses.

Hmmmm, think I might try making the Flea Market Style doggie bed for my fluffy little Bichon Frise- Luna and if that goes well maybe a cute little dress to match!

Pincushions have been around since the 15th century when they were first made from silver and ivory. It was during the 1800s that pincushions were being commercially produced. During the Victorian era is when pincushions were highly decorated with beads and made into shapes of shoes, dolls, teacups, fruits, umbrellas, veggies and fruits rather than just boxes and were then displayed in parlors.

Today, the pincushion has made a big comeback and is a very “hot” item especially the vintage half doll pincushions and the homemade pincushions done up in all kinds of retro fabrics and embellishments. Stuffing for your pincushions also has come a long way as some use batting, sand, and scented herbs! Below is a list that we have compiled for you for 60 Free Pincushion Patterns ranging from Ladybug Pincushions, Half Doll Pincushions, Teacup & Saucer Pincushions and so much more! Visit here for more.

1.    Martha Stewart’s Homegrown Tomato Pincushions
2.    Fantabulous Pincushion Tutorial
3.    Square Wrist Pincushion
4.    Baby Food Jar Pincushion
5.    Martha Stewart’s Wool Sweater Tea Cup Pincushions
6.    African Violet Pincushion How-to
7.    Ladybug Pincushion How-To
8.    Mushroom Pincushion How-To
9.    Small Wonder Pin Blossom
10.    Southern Girl’s Pincushion Tutorial
11.    Soda Bottle Cap Pincushion
12.    Square Pincushion Tutorial
13.    Pansy Pincushion Pattern
14.    Tin Can Pincushion
15.    Pincushion/Thread Catcher Tutorial
16.    Homespun Hearts Pincushions
17.    Busy Bees Pincushion
18.    Dress Form Pincushion
19.    Free Hedgie Pincushion
20.    Wild Flower Pincushion Pattern
21.    Make A Mini-Basket Pincushion – Tutorial
22.    Monkeyroom’s Pincushion Tutorial
23.    Pincushion Jar Tutorial
24.    Pincushion Hangup
25.    Pincushion Wristlet
26.    Flowerpot Pincushion
27.    Thumb Pincushion
28.    Sunny Wrist Pincushion Tutorial
29.    Pincushion Cuff Tutorial
30.    Patchwork Pincushion
31.    Pear Pincushion
32.    Make Do Pincushion
33.    Mouse Pincushion
34.    Bari J Pincushion
35.    Abyquilt Pincushion Tutorial
36.    Wristlet Pincushion
37.    Bottlecap Pincushions
38.    Teacup & Saucer Pincushions
39.    Flower Pincushion
40.    Patchwork Pincushion Tutorial

If you want to see really fabulous pincushions from a creatively talented individual named Elizabeth Holcombe and she uses all sorts of odds-n-ends from vintage fabric, vintage dog figurines, and more please visit here for her Flickr stream.

The part of the country I live in happens to have several antique malls and I love it! Of course, I have my favorites and frequent them a couple times a month. The difference for me as a customer in determining which mall I prefer has a lot to do with the location, types of merchandise, price, and staff working the shop. Some antique shops have nothing but rows upon rows of glass cabinets that require someone on site to unlock the display so folks can see the merchandise up close and some of these malls do a great job at having several dealers walk the floors 7 days a week with keys so customers can access these cabinets easily and other shops could care less if they assisted customers at all. Also, some dealers have their tags and pricing clearly visible and others either hide it or make it a deliberate effort on the customer’s part to ask for assistance…not great if you cannot get customer service though.

Below are my top 10 tips as a customer to all you dealers and booth owners who either are not selling as much as you thought you would or need some fresh perspective to rejuvenate your spaces and items to sell more!

1. Sell What You Specialize In. Buyers want to feel secure that they are purchasing from an “expert”.  They want to feel confident in their purchases and that they made a good decision purchasing from you. Dealers should be onsite on the busiest days if possible and engage in conversation with their customers and if they have items for sale that require unlocking cabinets and stalls then keep the doors open while you are in your space so customers can easily access your merchandise and talk to you about it. People want to be assured that they are purchasing quality items so anything you can tell me about the item, like its history, I really like and being the expert in your field will have impact on your sales!

2. Rotate Your Merchandise. It is VERY important to keep your offerings “fresh” giving folks a reason to visit you often to see what is new! This is a huge sore point with me as there are some malls where merchandise does not rotate often and the booths look stale. I am always looking for something “new” and if your booth has relatively higher prices but new items regularly then I will most likely buy from you and not the booth with the same old stuff and same old prices.

3. Price Your Items Reasonably From The Start. Keeping your items fairly priced will yield you sales all year long. Some booths begin with outrageously high pricing and as the days, weeks, and months go by you can actually see the price tags on the unsold items appearing with crossed out prices or new price tags stuck on top of old tags and this looks tacky. If dealers need to change prices, why don’t they use a new tag? Also, the item descriptions get harder and harder to read when crossed out prices take over the tag. Buyers like to be able to read a few sentences about what it is they are buying.

4. Hire a Merchandiser. A professional can help you display your wares in appealing and eye-catching manners so your wares can attract as many buyers as possible. The majority of booths I see look horrible and I am sorry if I am offending anyone but that is my feeling. Yes, I agree that it depends on the type of mall your space is in as some malls may actually mandate that booths look a certain way to keep a cohesiveness to the overall mall and some malls frankly are open just to collect rent from the dealers and do not give an iota about the appearance. Booths that have items strewn all over the place like on the floors and on the edges of counters are so hard to maneuver around as I am either keeping my eyes on the floor so I don’t trip over your stuff or I am so afraid to turn around in your booth and am watching that my purse does not knock down the items you have on the edges of your counters. Also, some booths place items way up high on their shelves that they are un-reachable and you either knock something off the shelf or never get near the item you were after in the first place cause it is out of reach. Either way, I am not able to look over your items for fear that I will get hurt or hurt your items. So, if someone can help you out with your displays then people will feel more comfortable in your booth as well as enter your booth and that may mean some sales for you.

5. Stock Seasonal and Holiday Items. I have been so disappointed over the last couple years for the lack of seasonal/holiday items. Last Christmas and this past Christmas I have been searching for vintage Christmas Tablecloths, spaghetti Santa’s, Pixies, Christmas Salt and Pepper Shakers, Holt Howard Christmas collectibles, Feather Trees, old German Ornaments, etc.. and could hardly find any. Most of the antique malls in my state just did not have the inventory the last few years and I don’t know why.  As a customer, I am prepared to pay good money and meet your prices if you have what I am looking for so, when the holidays are approaching and seasonal changes are happening, stocking related items can boost your sales.

6. A Clean Booth Brings in More Customers. I am shocked at how many booths never dust or throw out the empty coffee cups that are left in them by folks wandering by. These are also the booths that appear to have stale old merchandise and many items are damaged. Why do so many dealers keep damaged merchandise in their booths? Honestly, when I see damaged merchandise I wonder what is hiding under the price tag – are their chips and dings too? So, occasional dusting, vacuuming if you have rugs, throwing out the trash and removing the damaged items will make me more inclined to enter your space and see what you have as you may actually have some really great items but you are not encouraging my entry with dirt and broken items being the first things I see.

7. Baskets & Carts. Having baskets or carts for customers to place their items into while shopping is HUGE! I get so frustrated when I am in a antique mall and having really good luck finding lots of goodies and my hands are full so even if I see something else I am interested in I can’t carry it so I have to get to the register which is usually way up front and pretty faraway from the booth I am standing in that by the time I get to the register I am too tired and my feet hurt to walk all the way back to where I saw something else and then I probably won’t remember which booth it was in either. So, there is literally only one mall in my area that has carts and baskets for customers and for some reason this mall seems to have no shortage of customers and the lines at the registers are long and people seem to have pretty full carts. Hmmmmm, seems to pay off when someone thinks of the customers.

8. Coffee, Tea, Water, Cookies? A lot of the antique malls in my area are very large with 100 to over 300 booths so, if I get hungry or thirsty while I am shopping it is going to cut my shopping down to less time spent in the shop. I don’t expect anyone to provide anything free but, why can’t some shops have a little snack shop or even vending machines? If I can get a refreshment it will re-energize me so I can focus on the task at hand – SHOPPING & Spending Money.

9. Customer Request Lists. Okay, this is something I would think is a GREAT idea as it lets the customer tell you what they are looking for so, why don’t more shops have this? One of my top malls allows customers to fill out a “request list” and the mall makes this available to their dealers who can contact the customer if they have the requested item(s) and as long as the sale takes place via the shop, it seems to work out well for the customer, dealer and the shop.

10. Instant Gratification. When I walk into an antique mall I REALLY want to walk out with something even if it is very small. Not everyone is in the market for a dining room table, armoire, or cookie jar so why not have a few “small” affordable goodies available like regional recipe books, necklaces, stationary, candles etc… Walking out with a purchase makes all that time I just spend walking around for 2 hours so worth it!

Thank you for taking the time to read my article from a customer’s perspective. I would love to hear from you – visit my “Contact” page to send me an email.

Buyers and sellers are all looking for the same thing in the end and that is a “bargain”. The buyer is looking for a bargain item to add to their collection and the seller is looking for a bargain item that can be re-sold to the buyer for a profit.  Many people today still ask “Are there any bargains out there left to be had”? My answer is YES, you just need to know how to spot the bargain and have patience.

Treasure Hunting – as I like to call it requires lots of careful hunting, seeking, and searching to locate that bargain item.  Also, you have a lot of competition as you are not the only one out treasure hunting. With the popularity of online auction sites, antique & collectibles shops, more and more flea markets popping up regularly and shows like Antiques Roadshow, there are a lot of treasure hunters indeed. But, with that being said, all these venues for seeking treasure may actually make it easier to find a bargain…..that’s right, I said easier.

First, it helps to have an idea in mind of what it is you are looking for be it Furniture, Coca – Cola items, Black Americana, Marbles, Fine Art, Oil Paintings, etc…. Get to know what type of items are the most sought after by collectors and develop your keen sense of awareness so when you are out treasure hunting you can quickly scan the area you are looking in for that bargain.

Also, it helps if you can learn the pattern of when shops and stalls receive new inventory and wares and put it out for sale, being first in line to rummage about may indeed yield you a bargain.

Two of my all time best tips for treasure hunting in a antique shop/antique mall is to:
1.    Strike up a conversation with the booth(s) owner and let them know what types of items you are looking for and find out how often they rotate their merchandise. Also, if there is an item(s) you are interested in ask the booth owner if they would consider giving you a discount because you are ready to buy right now. Rental space is not cheap in top locations and if sales have been slow you might get lucky and receive a discount.

2.    Booths that are going out of business = bargains! Some locations mandate that booths sell x and bring in x in sales and if this does not happen then the booth must close up and leave. If you can be one of the first to rummage the going out of business booth you stand a fair chance of finding a bargain.  Usually these booths are in the midst of getting packed up and have 50% – 75% markdowns in the hopes that the owner does not have to haul all his wares away. I can personally attest to these going-out-of-business booths being a great source for bargains as 9 times out of 10, I do find bargains. Also, if you are in a booth that has furniture or cupboards with drawers and doors, open them and look inside as you NEVER know what may be in there or hidden under some paper and linens; I found a lovely Limoges of France pillbox this way! (continue reading…)

We here at Crazy4Me have received an explosive response to our recent two-part article “3 Steps to Figuring Out: What it is, What it’s worth, & How to Sell It!” and we have enjoyed working with so many of you that have contacted us for assistance on identifying your items that we are pleased to announce our Valuation Information service. Now, Crazy4Me can provide you ALL with an informative valuation and reference information on the below items:

1. Kitchen Collectibles
2. Salt and Pepper Shakers
3. Cookie Jars
4. Pixieware
5. Black Americana Kitchen Collectibles
6. Black Memorabilia Tablecloths & Towels
7. Black Americana Aunt Jemima, Mammy, Pappy Items
8. Vintage Mermaid Collectibles
9. Vintage Vanity Collectibles
10. Figurines
11. Dinnerware
12. Tablecloths and Linens
13. Animal Figurines
14. Sterling Silver-Hotel Silver
15. Depression Glass
16. Majolica
17: Collector Plates
18. Apple Computer
19. Handheld Computers
20. Designer Accessories

We need from you:
1.    3 Photos of the item
2.    Measurements of the item
3.    Brief description
4.    How you obtained the item
5.    How long you have had the item
6.    Condition of the item (how much damage?)
7.    Your Contact Information & Email Address
Your informative valuation will be sent to you within 72 hours via Email.

GET YOURS NOW!

DISCLAIMER: Please note that Crazy4Me valuations are based on the information that you send us and therefore hypothetical in nature. Although our valuations are based on the most current sales results available they should not be used for Insurance, Estate or Tax purposes. Our valuations are provided for their educational value only!

DETAILS HERE!!

Continued Part 3….

We have previously covered 3 Steps to Figuring Out What it is and What it’s worth. Continue reading below to Figure Out How to Sell It-

How to sell it?

Congratulations! Once you have made it to step 3, you should know what the item(s) is and what it is worth and have formulated some type of description for the item so you can sell it……you will also need to take some photos of your item(s) as a photo really is worth $$$ when selling the item online.

You need to decide how you plan to sell your item. Will you sell it at a garage sale, estate sale, consignment shop, eBay, Etsy, Online Mall, Amazon, Newspaper, Craigslist, etc. as each method yields different results. Hopefully when you spent all that time performing research on your item you were able to determine what the demand for your item is and if it is considered a “hot” collectible or something that is“not currently in demand”.

Selling at a Garage Sale:
Okay, first things first, you are ready for your garage sale! We will assume you have already researched the ordinances in your community and city and know the rules pertaining to having a garage sale and placing signage around town and your street advertising the garage sale. You have probably also placed ads online and in your local newspaper too. NOTE: After your garage sale has ended, remember to take your signs down and pick them up from all the places you put them. Since you have researched the ordinances in your area you already know if fines apply to leaving your signs up.

Loose all emotional connection you have with the item(s) as people shopping your garage sale will not treat your item(s) as lovingly as you have as they are not emotionally attached to it and will negotiate the pricing.

Alright, let’s get to the main point here and it is PRICING. How do you price your items for a Garage sale – is the question? A good method to determine pricing is the item should be priced “at a third of what it would cost if buying it brand new”. And if your item has damage then pricing it much lower will help sell it. Be prepared, as no matter how fair you have priced your items, someone will always want to negotiate for a lower price.

TIP: If you are selling electronics or appliances then have an electric cord and electric outlet nearby so potential buyers can test the item(s) out and they will ask if they can test it out to ensure they are operating.

If you are selling clothing, then be prepared for folks to negotiate as they will say they are not able to try the item(s) on so they should get a discount.

Be sure that you are selling items that are clean (no major grime, bugs, dirt, food stains). Items that are not too damaged (you can always have a “free” pile). Selling items that are not in the worst condition will encourage buyers to shop your garage sale and not run away!

If you have attended garage sales and yard sales you know that things priced in the .25, .50, $2.00 range are what sells. Garage sales are not the place for your high-end collectibles as buyers are looking for bargains. But, if you do decide to sell your more expensive item(s) that (appear in books, magazines, or catalogs, or online web pages) because it is a very collectible item, a tactic you may try is printing out the information and photo of the item from that book or online website or wherever you have the information and attach it to your item at the sale, you may have a better chance of getting the price you are asking as individuals will see it is an “in-demand” item. Good luck!

Selling Online:
In this portion we will discuss the three most popular online venues for sellers- eBay, Etsy, Online Malls.

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Even though the Internet has been around for many years and actually the concept was being worked on back in the 1960s and the project was called ARPANET, many people today think only about eBay when it comes to the antiques and collectibles market on the Internet. eBay is certainly a great resource for buying and selling items as well as a place to conduct research but it is not the only place as there are numerous other resources like collector’s clubs, online malls that specialize in items you are interested in,  and antique and collectibles shops as many items are already identified and valued and a description of age and purpose can usually be found right on the item’s tag or label. Also, eBay is indeed a great place to sell your items but as you keep reading you will see that there are also many other options for selling your treasures too!

Identifying what you have
For many the first step to selling an item is figuring out what the heck it is.  Is it a figurine or something that looks like it should be in a kitchen, or a piece of furniture? Perhaps it is a book or a collection of ephemera. What if it could possibly be some tools – but are they for a garage or kitchen? What if you have clothing, handbags, or jewelry? Yes, identifying the item is the very first step!

Step 1. How to identify what your have:
The first thing I do when I have a new item in my hand is to look on the bottom for any possible identifying makers marks, patent numbers, country where item was made stamp, tags or labels, and then I also look the item over to see if there are any signatures. Also, this is the time to check the item condition for damage, repairs, chips, cracks, crazing, dings, flea bites, tears, rips, holes, stains, smells, discoloration, etc….

If your item has any of the above identifiers then you are in some luck as you can now take the information and proceed with researching it. But, if your item has none of the above ways to identify it, then you will need to do even more research in the hopes of identifying it.

(continue reading…)