I’m sure proud of the new website. Georgia and Doug have just outdone themselves in creating an active Dealer Driven site. It can only get better from here. I haven’t seen my dear wife, Georgia work this hard in years! Don't forget that for us to bring you the most up-to-date information about upcoming shows we need your help from the field. If you know of a good show we aren’t listing, of a flea market or antique mall that has closed or a new one that’s opened, drop us an email and let us know.

Another thing that you can do to make this the NCE becomes the internet’s best, 100% Dealers Driven site, is to support our advertisers. Buy from them and tell them you saw their ad on the pages of Goodridge Guides National Calendar of Events. If your wholesalers and show promoters aren’t advertising with us tell them about us. Everything works in a circle. And a circle of solidarity between all parties - buyers, suppliers and service providers like us will keep the special events industry thriving.

By the way – Here’s a shout out to our newest advertiser, Bill, at COUNTRY SIDE CLOSEOUTS (ad on home page). Go to their website and check out their great offerings. I did and I saw some things I would have liked to have had when I was selling at shows!

Georgia is working on a fun page "Postcards From The Road." It will be a photo gallery where you can post pictures of yourself and crew selling at the events you attend. That will be ready soon, so get your cameras ready to click away. Also, Doug has posted an article about ways to save gasoline. This is really important and I would suggest that you read it for the good of your wallet.

I am so delighted to see gas prices starting to fall. I for one feel that Big Oil, the speculators, and lets not forget the Arabs, have gone too far this time by making the American public angry. Don't be surprised if in 5 years you see gasoline at 25 cents a gallon and oil stock virtually worthless. The American public can be very vindictive and at their most creative and enterprising when riled.

Now to one of my favorite subjects - that of making money. Keep in mind that when you set up… the end game is to make money. Just being a store keeper is not one of the prime objectives. It's making money. One of the easiest ways to make more money at each event is to cut the cost of your goods. Pay less when you buy wholesale, then turn around and sell at your same, buyer tested prices and still make more profit all without gouging the already haggard public. Not a bad idea. The question is where to find the lower priced goods. Wholesale trade shows are a great place to turn for finding new sources.

There is an article on the front page about the ASD Trade Show in Las Vegas. This is one of the finest Wholesale Trade Shows in the country. Here, like other trade shows you can find prime sources, companies that are direct importers and many companies that your local wholesaler is also buying from. If you can find a company (or several) that has low minimums and will sell in quantities you can handle by dealing directly with them you will likely eliminate a layer of distributors or sales reps keeping those bottom line costs lower than you have been able to find in the past! Be sure to read this article and if you have the opportunity attend this show or other shows that this company produces. All excellent events. If you can work some trade shows into your schedule it will add money to your wallet. It will also keep your line of merchandise up to date with the latest items and all the "What's Hot" items that we all are always seeking.

We used to set up at the ASD shows with our paper the Fair Times, and highly recommend them. Travelling to Las Vegas wasn’t all bad either. The city has a great atmosphere for buying and selling, surprisingly. There was always lots of action and an overall upbeat mood on the exhibit floor.

Another good source of merchandise is Auctions. There is a learning curve to buying and selling at these sales so you do have to be somewhat careful and pay attention to what you are doing. But in my experience it will be well worth your time.

Here in the Midwest one of the finest "source" auctions anywhere is the monthly, last Tuesday auction held at the Belleville Fairgrounds in Belleville, Illinois. This auction is a lot like the Shipshewana, Indiana auctions in that there can be 4-5 rings going at one time. Belleville has a lot wider range of items crossing the auction block than the antiques and collectibles dominated sales at Shipshe - but sort of the same idea. There is always lots of new merchandise, flea market items and surprisingly great treasures for antique malls and antique shows. I have seen a lot of museum quality items go through this sale. Several times I have completely loaded down my truck with flea market goods. Auction starts at 5 pm and as I said is held on the last Tuesday of each month. Well worth traveling to.

Also at the Belleville fairgrounds is a great once a month flea market that is held on the 3rd weekend of each month. Both inside and outside space. There’s always lots of quality antiques and collectible items sold here along with new and used merchandise. A good seller event and far and away the finest flea market in the St Louis area.

Along these lines, the same can’t be said for what used to be a great market that has turned into a real junker’s spot. That place being the Pevely Flea Market in Pevely, Missouri. I no longer recommend this market for commercial or traveling dealers.

Don't forget to help us out this month with a good word of mouth to the businesses and dealers you run into and we will keep our commitment to bringing you the best resources, calendar listings and industry info we can.

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

Jim Goodridge