I have got an idea.

[AnW819]

DH and I have been selling at this flea market in PA that has been there for years and years. We love it. Its called the quaker town flea market.

Anyway--we have been making good money there. I have been selling my stockpile (toothpaste, deodorant, etc.) and some house hold items, and crafty items (I paint and crochet) and have been making good money. We made $150 on Saturday!!

For years we have been wanting to sell wholesale items and get a permanent spot inside the flea market. We looked at how much it is to get a 'shop' there and its week to week, for $35-70 for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

So that sounds really cheap! We are paying $25 for 1 day for tables outside!

Then we have been looking for a while now for a whole sale seller. I found one and hit the jackpot!!

Colgate tooth paste (which I get at CVS and sell for $2.25 (and they sell like hotcakes!! Over 20 of them in the past 2 Saturdays) for .55c each! Even if I sell them for $1 each I am making 50% profit.

Hannah Montana 3 pack pen necklaces for .59c each that I can sell for $1.25 (she is REALLY popular around here).

Just so much stuff!

We would love to have a dollar store type store.

And another thing is when I use to live in WV we use to yard sale every weekend and I would sell my stockpile stuff. I got a client-el down there. I swear lol. They call my mother in law all the time to see when I am going to come down and yard sale again. I could just set up a website and point them in that direction or just ship it right to them.

You would think with the way the economy is people are not buying or yard saling, but around here...the place is packed til 4pm. Non stop people. And they are buying.

And if they don't well its just a week to week thing, ya know?

The minimum order is $200 and shipping was around $70 and when I added everything up I want to sell and everything we would make our money back and if we sold everything make a $450 profit.

I know it does sound to good to be true, and it MAY not work out. If it does not work out, thats okay. Its not like I am stuck in a store. And yeah I will have a lot of stuff, but eventually it will sell. Maybe not as fast as I would hope (hoping I would buy monthly) but it would eventually sell. And if it does not, there is always ebay, or birthday gifts.

What do you all think? I was talking to a few people this weekend at the Qmart who do it and they say they have been making great money.

I think it would be a good way to bring in extra income on the weekends in-case I cannot find a job anytime soon, or even if I do, DH does not work on the weekends and to be honest, we both love selling at the flea market. Always have.

[ladytoysdream]

I used to do quite a few shows in the past. I did not do any last year and doubtful I will do any this year. I have some health issues now and am just trying to be careful. If you want to PM, I can give you a few hints.

I would think you selling stockpile stuff would be a good way to do things. You can hit the sales during the week, and have inventory to sell on weekends. Buying in bulk from somebody is okay but you have to factor in the shipping and have money up front to buy your items. Toothpaste I believe has expiration dates, so you would have to watch the dates. Then you have to have a good area where you live to store your items in.

QUOTE /
Colgate tooth paste (which I get at CVS and sell for $2.25 (and they sell like hotcakes!! Over 20 of them in the past 2 Saturdays) for .55c each! Even if I sell them for $1 each I am making 50% profit./UNQUOTE
Using this for example...........
I don't see 50 % profit here. You have the cost of the item, any sales tax, then the cost of the booth, cost of gas to get there.

Not sure how sales tax works in your state, but in our state to sell at a show of any kind, one needs to have a sales tax number.

I think flea markets, garage sales, thrift shops always do well in a down economy. People are looking for bargains. And even if they don't find any or only a few, just being out there shopping is cheap entertainment / fun. You only need some gas money and a few dollars in your pocket to shop.

[AnW819]

Thanks!!! In NJ and PA you can sell new stuff like that. I am almost positive. A lot of other people do it and its not in the rules that the flea market has. You just can't sell baked food product. Stockpiling is making me some money right now. During the week I shop and I sell on the weekends.

As for the toothpaste, it comes in a box of 24. I can easily sell those before the experiation date.

As for the example I gave, yes I have to rent the booth and that is not included in just the colgate senerio because I will be selling my own personal items, my stockpile items, and a few wholesale items. Not just colgate. The gas is no issue because we go to PA almost every weekend already to yard sale and see family.

Well, its just an idea. I hope it will work out though If not, I will just keep yard saling every weekend til I run out of stuff.

[ladytoysdream]

It is a GOOD idea. Yes you can make some money doing it.
Like I said, if you need any idea bouncing around, don't be shy about giving me a PM. I don't claim to be a expert, but I do have some background / experience.

[stinkbug]

You also need to be considering your tax issues. If you are set up as a business, you're going to have to either pay quarterly taxes or taxes at the end of the year. Make sure you are figuring that into your *profit*.

[daughter of pearl]

I think you are on to something good, Ashley!

Do you have to commit long-term to get a regular spot/store? If not, try it for a couple of months and see how it goes, but yeah, it does sound very viable.

[Greebo]

This is a very good idea and can be a money maker but you need to make sure you do not over extend yourself, and always be looking to see what else you don't know that might affect your bottom line. I think this has potential but build it up SLOWLY and make sure you track how things are going. Pay attention to how much toothpaste you can sell - don't assume that because you sold 1 box you can sell 10 boxes, for example. Find the profit makers, ramp up slowly, find the sweet spot, and if they decline, don't try to salvage a dead money maker. (aka when Hanna stops being popular, stop selling her stuff - preferably BEFORE she stops being popular)

[bumplett]

I think it sounds like a good idea. It's worth a shot.

I would go for the least expensive inside booth, save & use the profit you make off your outside table to front the wholesale purchase.

If you find that the inside booths don't get the traffic all 3 days, you can always go back outside for one day. The wholesale purchases will sell at either table.

I would check into the tax liability of it all. Also, if you rent booth space every weekend, do you need any type of business lic?

Come to think of it - I think I would buy the wholesale lot, but sell it outside at first - just to try out the market.

hmmm..... good luck with whatever you decide!

[daughter of pearl]

"aka when Hanna stops being popular, stop selling her stuff - preferably BEFORE she stops being popular"

You might want to try looking for a cheap source for Justin Beiber stuff!

[AnW819]

You also need to be considering your tax issues. If you are set up as a business, you're going to have to either pay quarterly taxes or taxes at the end of the year. Make sure you are figuring that into your *profit*.

This is not considered s buisness though. The inside shop i would rent week to week is called an indoor flea market spot. There would not be taxes due.

[Neeley]

This is not considered s buisness though. The inside shop i would rent week to week is called an indoor flea market spot. There would not be taxes due.

Please, take a moment to check into the laws of your area regarding what qualifies as a business.

In our area it is considered a business if, for example, you have more than two yard sales in a three month period, sell more than a couple of used cars over a certain period of time, do lawn work for more than x number of people, hold a booth at any flea market or antique mall, etc...

DS is 14, has six clients he does lawn work for on a weekly/biweekly basis. He only earns around $3000 from March to October each year, but what he does is considered a business, we hold a business license in our name for him, pay taxes on his earnings, etc...

It might be worth your while to make sure you don't need a license and double check on what taxes might be due. The laws vary so much from state to state and city to city.

You can go to business.gov to find out the laws regarding the area the booth will be in.

[Libby]

This is a great idea Ashley - perhaps sell some of your baked goodies down there too. (I really think this is a very strong skill you have and should not give up on it) That's what I usually look for at the flea markets, fresh baked treats! You can set out your photo album of past baked goods for business. Would you be able to drive a cake down to the flea market for delivery? Or have the clients come to you to pick it up - not sure how far NJ/PA is but it doesn't sound far b/c you go to PA weekly. You could even do weekly orders - take their orders one weekend and bake it through the wk and deliver it the following wknd and of course ask for a deposit up front if its a substantial item, cash only.

As for the merchandise you're choosing to sell - I always see overabundance of HBA (body washes, toothpaste, body sprays, cologne, hair care, deodorant etc) items and it puts me off b/c of all the recalls that have been out there and the potential of buying expired items or items not stored properly and have been purchased via wholesaler/liquidation in terms of just getting it out their warehouse.

I think this is a great start for you guys...try starting with the one table you have and if profits are high enough, consider getting a booth for the wknd

[frugalfranny]

This is not considered s buisness though. The inside shop i would rent week to week is called an indoor flea market spot. There would not be taxes due.

????????????? Best check your state situation out before being sure about this.............income is income. The Feds tend to like to have this info too!

[Greebo]

This is not considered s buisness though. The inside shop i would rent week to week is called an indoor flea market spot. There would not be taxes due.

False.

As others have pointed out, income is income.

If you sell something you own and get money for it, technically it's taxable income.

Its no big deal when its one or two things a year - but you're going pro. Treat this LIKE A BUSINESS from day one accordingly.

[AnW819]

This is a very good idea and can be a money maker but you need to make sure you do not over extend yourself, and always be looking to see what else you don't know that might affect your bottom line. I think this has potential but build it up SLOWLY and make sure you track how things are going. Pay attention to how much toothpaste you can sell - don't assume that because you sold 1 box you can sell 10 boxes, for example. Find the profit makers, ramp up slowly, find the sweet spot, and if they decline, don't try to salvage a dead money maker. (aka when Hanna stops being popular, stop selling her stuff - preferably BEFORE she stops being popular)

Thanks! I will definitely take it slow. The minimum order has to be $250. Which is not that much. I mean yeah its a lot of money, but I would be getting a decent amount of stuff with that $250. Its something we really need to think about because I don't want it to really bomb you know?

I think it sounds like a good idea. It's worth a shot.

I would go for the least expensive inside booth, save & use the profit you make off your outside table to front the wholesale purchase.

If you find that the inside booths don't get the traffic all 3 days, you can always go back outside for one day. The wholesale purchases will sell at either table.

I would check into the tax liability of it all. Also, if you rent booth space every weekend, do you need any type of business lic?

Come to think of it - I think I would buy the wholesale lot, but sell it outside at first - just to try out the market.

hmmm..... good luck with whatever you decide!

I am definitely going to just sell outside for now in the summer! Its beautiful out and people go outside so much more!

"aka when Hanna stops being popular, stop selling her stuff - preferably BEFORE she stops being popular"

You might want to try looking for a cheap source for Justin Beiber stuff!

I could not find any of his stuff, LOL.

Please, take a moment to check into the laws of your area regarding what qualifies as a business.

In our area it is considered a business if, for example, you have more than two yard sales in a three month period, sell more than a couple of used cars over a certain period of time, do lawn work for more than x number of people, hold a booth at any flea market or antique mall, etc...

DS is 14, has six clients he does lawn work for on a weekly/biweekly basis. He only earns around $3000 from March to October each year, but what he does is considered a business, we hold a business license in our name for him, pay taxes on his earnings, etc...

It might be worth your while to make sure you don't need a license and double check on what taxes might be due.

Thanks!

This is a great idea Ashley - perhaps sell some of your baked goodies down there too. (I really think this is a very strong skill you have and should not give up on it) That's what I usually look for at the flea markets, fresh baked treats! You can set out your photo album of past baked goods for business. Would you be able to drive a cake down to the flea market for delivery? Or have the clients come to you to pick it up - not sure how far NJ/PA is but it doesn't sound far b/c you go to PA weekly. You could even do weekly orders - take their orders one weekend and bake it through the wk and deliver it the following wknd and of course ask for a deposit up front if its a substantial item, cash only.

As for the merchandise you're choosing to sell - I always see overabundance of HBA (body washes, toothpaste, body sprays, cologne, hair care, deodorant etc) items and it puts me off b/c of all the recalls that have been out there and the potential of buying expired items or items not stored properly and have been purchased via wholesaler/liquidation in terms of just getting it out their warehouse.

I think this is a great start for you guys...try starting with the one table you have and if profits are high enough, consider getting a booth for the wknd

I am almost positive Libby, I can't sell baked goods in NJ, or PA. Its a shame, but I can't.



I think everyone who said something about sales tax was right:

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxa...ales/anj15.pdf

Can you tell me what this means? I can't read things like this and understand it. Also, does anyone have any idea how much it is for a tax number? Does that mean I would have to charge tax to my customers? Or does it mean I can pay it quarterly?