If you are new to selling at flea markets, antique malls or on eBay or hope to be in the near future, finding merchandise to sell and keeping a good inventory is an ongoing process.

Here are a few helpful tips:

1)First of all I would say that you should do your homework at home before you take off in your truck with a pocket full of cash. 2)Read all the books you can find about staring a flea market/ antique business, etc. 3)Read trade papars like The Antique Trader. The classifieds in the back have merchandise for sale. 4)Garage sales, tag sales, and estate sales will probably become your best friends. They are also the most gentle on your wallet. In the begining, we all make some bad buys - heck, after 20+ years at this I still make a few. But shopping at these neighborhood haunts are the best schools you can attend.5) Add flea markets and swap meets to your list of possibles for merchandise. You can find out where garage sales, tag sales, and swapmeets are happening by checking out the newspaper classifieds. There are also books - like ours- that list flea markets. 6) Search out sites on the internet. They can be a great source for merchandise. Sites like Ruby Lane and TIAS. There is nothing wrong with buying from other dealers. eBay is an especially good site, believe it or not, for buying to resell. You will have to learn as much about pricing as you can, however, because you can't very often pay top retail for something and hope to sell at a profit. The buying public is pretty price-knowledgable.7).Network with other dealers you meet and ask them where they go to find merchandise. Although the fishing hole theory applies, and many dealers won't tell you honestly where they go to "fish" for their stock, there are always some who will. 8) We have a theme going here, but I am going to say check out the weekend edition of your local newsapaper for the classifieds. Many individuals adverstise their antiques and collectibles especially when they are moving or downsizing their homes. 9) Once your skills at buying are sharpened you might try advertising or at the very least creating your own business card to handout that lets others know that you are a buyer.

10) My last tip of the day - with your skills honed - try auctions. You'll find them where? that's right... in the classifieds. You might also find sale handbills in such places as antique mall and shops with community bulletin boards. Auctions are fast paced ( although you might wait all day for one particular item your heart is set on to come up) and not everyone likes them. But they can be great, especially in the winter when getting outdoor to hunt for merchandise is limited. And that brings us back to where we began. The weather and summer a glint on the horizon.

Best of luck as you head out to search for merchandise and if you remember nothing else, remember - it is all about making a profit. Don't invest more of your money into buying an item than you can reasonably expect to sell it for and get it! Until next time...

. Here's to good sales and may the sun shine on every one of your spots!

Jim and Georgia Goodridge