This past weekend Georgia and I were at a small rural flea market of approx 30-35 dealers. I could not believe the huge amount of merchandise under one dollar. For the majority of the booths if someone came along and purchased their entire booth I doubt if it would add up to $20. Flea Marketeers! Bless their little hearts. I know that I got my start in the flea market. I started selling at Mary's Swap Meet in Oklahoma City. Fortunately I had the good sense to pay attention and to give some thought to the weekend of selling.

To be quite honest if you have items on your table priced under $1, they are just taking up space and wasting your time. You can get away with hot sellers for $1 - IF - you have a good crowd and you have plenty of merchandise. I would never put an item out for less than $3. Not only did I want to sell items, but and here’s the key, I wanted green folding money to take home for myself. I always called it CIH. "Cash in Hand".

I highly recommend that you give some thought to your business and the goals of the business. If at all possible write yourself a business plan. Think of setting up and selling as a business and treat it as such.

While we are on this thought of self-improvement in regards to the business. When you are set up be sure to pay attention to the booths that have the big crowds and seem to be doing the most business. Visit their booth, study it, see how they are set up and pay attention to how they work their customers.

Now we can expect some big weekends at the markets as the Obama Stimulus goes into effect this month with the "big" pay raises on the withholding on workers checks. Just think $10 to $15 each week. Well let's face it we just don't rank up there with the bankers and stock brokers. Even though they don't contribute in a positive manner to the economy they have the money to donate to the politicians.

I expect to see a decline in attendance at the big fairs this summer with the way the economy is, however attendance should be up at the local festivals and of course at the flea markets. People are not stupid and they will seek out the places where they can get the most bang for their bucks.

Certainly local festivals fill this bill quite nicely. Admission is usually free or low dollar, with lots of entertainment, activities sometimes a carnival to satisfy the entertainment urge along with lots of good food and shopping for new, unique and fair priced goods.

While the malls are suffering you should be able to make some good money setting up this summer. Be sure to shop carefully for merchandise and buy as good a quality of merchandise as you possible can afford. Be especially careful about buying bootleg and counterfeit goods. There will be extra heat on that type of merchandise this year and you just don't need the problems that it brings.

This summer expect electronics to stay hot. The recession is not bad enough for the little Yuppies to give up their cell phones, games or bottled water. We will know we are in deep economic trouble when they do give up their cell phones. Oh woe is me!

I am sure glad that the O Bama has discovered the Bankruptcy Laws of the United States. The car companies certainly could stand a good dose of the Bankruptcy Courts and then it should be time to run the Banks and Stock Market Companies through a good dose of Bankruptcy.

Here's to great sales and may the sun shine on every spot that you set up at.

Jim and Georgia Goodridge