Authors Notes

Having spent the majority of my adult life in and around flea markets I can say without any reservation at all that I truly love flea marketing.

Many of my fondest memories are of days set up at a flea market.

Often people will ask, "What is your favorite market?. "Which is the best market?" Always the most asked question is "What's the biggest market?"

Those are some very difficult questions. I have set up and sold from coast to coast and almost all points in between. Fond memories and great days abound. Some days not so great, no sales, rain, all a part of the deal.

The colorful trendy markets of southern California, the wide open markets of Texas. The big commercial markets of Florida. The solid markets of the midwest. The fast paced markets on the east coast.

I have never been able to give a clear and concise answer to any of those questions.

Flea marketing is a very personal thing. Whether a buyer or seller or as in my case I am usually a mixture of both. Buying, selling and trading. Each market, each day standing uniquely on its own.

I am always being asked to rate markets. This I have just not figured out a way to satisfactorily do this. If I am selling at a market and having a good day, then it is a good market, if I am having a great day, then it's a great market and of course if I am having a bad day, then its a bad market. (We always blame the market.)

The same is true for buyers, if you are finding bargains and/or treasures for your collection and having a great time, then it certainly is a great market. You don't find anything at a market and you don't particularly care for that market. (Again we always blame the market.)

I've had a couple of unhappy experiences in which I have driven 2 300 miles to set up at markets that were closed. At one the property had been sold and the other had burnt down.

I could have saved myself a lot of grief by simply calling first.

I can't urge you too strongly to always call ahead before traveling long distances. Keeping up with flea markets is sorta like keeping up with a flock of rabbits. They come, they go. Things change. Call first.

Also remember that most markets are open on major holidays. Like Labor Day Monday, Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July, etc. Also a lot of markets have extended seasons during the Christmas Season.

Here's to happy flea marketing. Hope you enjoy this page and feel free to submit articles, listings and your opinion.

Until then, here's to good sales and may the sun shine on every one of your spots.

Jim Goodridge