While some lucky sellers may have the fortune to find a flea market that provides security and locked doors so they can leave their products at their booth all week, most flea market merchants will find themselves in the position of having to pack up their booth each week, only to set it up again the following weekend. A little forethought and organization can help make this tiring task much faster and easier.
Storage Facilities
If you are unable to keep your merchandise on the flea market property, you have a few options when it comes to storage. A storage unit is one option to consider if there is one located conveniently to your home or the flea market. These are usually paid monthly, so this cost will add to your overhead, but can be a good option for those who are unable to afford other, more permanent options. One thing to keep in mind for this option is if you are selling something that can melt or otherwise be affected by hot or cold temperatures, such as candles or cosmetics, you will need to make sure your storage unit is climate-controlled. For these items that require a climate-controlled environment, the only other option available to you may be a storage room in your home.
For items that can handle temperature changes, another option is a covered trailer. Many sellers have a trailer that is used for both permanent storage and transportation. This option is ideal for many people, as it also reduces how many times the items must be moved — they can simply be moved into and out of the trailer, instead of into a truck, then out of the truck into storage, then back into the truck and out to the market a week later. Alternatively, a storage building or shed at your home can allow you to store products without paying a monthly storage fee.
Organization Techniques
In many cases, the way you display your products can influence how you will transport and organize them. In some cases, the easiest way to keep set-up and tear-down quick every week is to transport the items on the displays when possible. If you have small items on a pegboard, you may want to try investing in some stretch-tite, which you can wrap around the board with the product on it and transport the whole thing at once. This same principle can apply to some small bookshelves and smaller displays.
When your displays are large or complicated enough that breaking them down is necessary, look at your product sizes to help determine the easiest way to transport them. Large plastic bins are available at bargain prices from many dollar stores, but if your items are very small, you could spend hours every weekend re-organizing them as you take them out of such large boxes, so smaller containers may be a better bet for you. If you do use big boxes, you may want to consider investing in a dolly or rolling cart to make moving your merchandise easy.
