U know u keep doing shorts on tools, like the rotary cutter, but u give NO information on it. Like the brand or price. And then u don’t even have a comment section on that short where we can ask. 🙄
I have a ton of stuff that I have collected and inherited. I brought an appraiser in to give me an idea which pieces might be able to be sold best. He found a painting that I inherited. He was pretty excited about it. I just had it leaning against the wall in a room I don’t use. Sent it to Christie’s. It sold for $234,000 Life changing because I only owed $185k on my house and I was able to pay it off with exactly the amount my check was for.
AWESOME job on a FIRST time set up! After 25 years in antiques I would strongly encourage you to pack in small furniture that a customer can self- carry out and load in a car. Women often come without a man and they love the small pieces they can carry on their on. Lamps, mirrors, empty ornate frames, small brass, ironstone platters and pitchers, and umbrella stands (emphasis on umbrella stands ... lol always do well). Congrats!!
This is really GREAT insight. It also is easy to slide something smaller into a home without notice vs. a big piece of furniture. I always buy smaller things and rarely purchase something big that I have to have my husband go pick up and move for me.
So interesting and so generous of you to reveal all you did, as well as all you learned. This will benefit many others. Congratulations on everything your business has to offer. Plus, you are the bonus, because you are so kind, transparent and giving! Loved all of it.
You did well, and the video is interesting. As a shopper, the big piece in the middle acts as a block to entry. If you moved the big piece to where the clothes rack was and moved the clothes rack into the middle of the booth, maybe would've drawn people into the booth. I understand that isn't the best aesthetic for the booth, but sometimes that's not the most important thing. Anything that a person can carry away and easily transport in their vehicle would be good inventory. That, and price tags. I absolutely hate having to ask about a price because it's not readily visible or altogether missing. I would usually just pass and go the next booth.
I’ve done this, too and my advice is to get 2 helpers/staffers to be there. Once you are set up, spend as much time as you can before opening or in short breaks to walk around and shop your competition. Compare your prices, look at their booths before they sell down too far. Rotate breaks with your helpers, bring lunches and healthy snacks. Consider offering a “close of show and I don’t want to take it home” discount to anyone who shows interest in the furniture, tell them if it is still there at the end you’ll give a 10 or 15 or 20% off. Whatever makes sense to you. Also, try to find a reliable delivery service and you can refer them. It’s a fine line between engaging with customers and hovering, but you are authentic and charming and I am sure shoppers will be glad to talk with you, too.
My experience with furniture is small peices sell better at a outdoor/ show venue. The reason being is they are an easy impulse buy. No thought about where to put it or transportation issues.
I don’t even know you, but I’m so proud of you! You are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this with us it was so interesting. I can’t wait to see how you do on the next one! Also, I just want to tell you what a great job you did on this video. Just the right amount of information to keep it interesting all the way through.
3 important things that will serve you well: double you space double your sales if you have the inventory, triple also holds, I never have anything going across your booth bcz customers subconsciously view it as a door so don't come in. I do the sides, 1 catty corner at the front, set your check at the other corner and lastly nice large prices, easy and quick to read in a quick glance on all your large items. Girl you did good
I have a suggestion to make, although most people will disagree. I think you should not make your area look so beautiful. I think you should make it be more shabby and in disarray because most people who go to Flea Markets are looking for bargains. If they see a fancier booth, they may skip it because they feel things might be more expensive. My husband and many of my friends say that look for the cheaper looking places because they feel they would get more of a bargain. Just my thoughts, carry on as you will. 😀
It always makes me happy to see young people getting into this type of business! It’s kinda comforting to know that when I’m gone, this type of stuff will still go on. I’ve collected a sold for over 40 years. My love of vintage hit in the 60s and it’s now to a point I’m on a mission to pass on my treasures and my knowledge before I go. There are so many other senior dealers who think like me too (and want to share), so YES it is critical for you to get out and network with us because the older ones will teach you PLUS you can collect more inventory from us too because we really like to sell to other dealers who appreciate our stuff as much as we do and because we speak a common language therefore sales go way smoother and faster!! Keep doing what you’re doing Honey, you will end up with a successful brick & mortar shop in no time….then the fun will REALLY begin!! Best Wishes
I’d put all of the taller items along the back wall and go shorter as you move toward the front of the booth on both sides. If you’re going to put something in the middle of the space, put a round table or a chair. Looks like you have a lot of nice things. Great video. Thanks for sharing
Yes! The beautiful dresser in the middle that finally sold at the end most likely cost a lot of sales due to the size of it and people not feeling comfortable walking into the booth. I am a jewelry designer, and in my 29 years of selling at vendor shows and in retail shops the traffic flow for accessing my jewelry is huge! Not everyone shopping is 125 lbs., and needs a comfortable space to walk through a vendors booths as well as they often will have some previous purchases with them too taking up space for them to walk through easily. Double your space sometime to test this out and keep the flow open. Congrats on your first event. You did great and will find that you learn and will grow with the experiences of each new event that you participate in as well as from listening to others that have already made mistakes and can share and help you to not make the same ones that veteran vendors already have made.
Part of the problem with selling large furniture may be that people don't know it's for sale - they may think [as they stroll by] that a bookcase is just to hold knick-knacks and that it isn't for sale. Maybe big items need BIG price tags that say "BOOKCASE $250." Jus' a thought.
Girl! I remembered telling you to go BIG! You did awesome though you look so pretty on that Sunday with that cute sheer top and jean jumper. I wish I was closer to you I would come by..When I went to Destin their goodwill was like a T J Maxx or something with home decor. I am happy you are happy!
I’m wondering if that napoleon dresser just blocked the flow. It’s too imposing and makes it feel as if you walk behind it that you are behind a store counter or something. Plus it visually blocked a lot of your offerings. It was not inviting or encouraging people to see what was beyond it. Other than that, your booth looked awesome. Way to go!!!
I got to meet her at this event and she is just as sweet in person! Her videos don't do justice for how cool her furniture is in person. Was so impressed by her booth and even bought some copper pots. She is definitely talented!
Thank you for this video! I could see how it would be extremely helpful to have someone there with you, or set your booth up next to a friend. Your booth looked amazing, but I think the dresser being where it was blocked off the entrance. People are weird and and will hesitate if they think they aren't supposed to go in any further, even if it's subconscious. I have noticed this with myself. I would try to keep everything as open as possible, or with a larger booth, have stuff in the center with a clear pathway to go around it. I am super impressed with how well the curtains worked out!
The setup was the key--seeing items as they could be in one's home--and the rug and curtains made it feel more welcoming, calming and home-like. I've always said that people who don't like museums are because museums simply put things on walls and pedestals. When those same items are in a space even a little bit replicated to look like the spaces they'd be in, there's a connection between the viewer and the item. A good example is the Titanic exhibit which shows state rooms, the captain's deck, etc. Put a teacup and saucer on a pedestal, ok, but put it on a table with a rug below and chandelier above, and wow! You did that!
Most people have no concept of the hours of hard work it takes to source, repair, upcycle, price, and bring things to market. Then they don't want to pay much for them. I did this for years, then really gave some thought to the energy it was taking from me. So I stopped, and had a huge estate sale, liquidated everything, and it was a fantastic feeling of lightness! Taking my time, gas, supplies, etc., into account, I'm making more money not doing this than when I did! Best of luck to you!!
I stopped flipping furniture, it was costing money, time, storage space, people started dumping off big ugly pieces on me and I managed to sell them all to another flipper when I moved house. Made a profit on the free stuff.
Suggestions…..post several weeks out on social media and often that you are headed to a market…show individual pieces you will have available…post post post….post a night before video preview. You need to utilize your top half space of your booth….build up. Use tables To put small furniture…shutters to hang small photos / frames/ artwork. Small book shelves on tables Great job on your first try…you did fabulous
We need to consider the customer's perspective. Buying a large piece of furniture is a significant investment and requires careful consideration. Clients need time to think about it, and a single day's visit may not be enough to decide. Therefore, the idea of posting on social media the furniture you will sell at the market makes a lot of sense.
I agree. I think that is a big issue with selling big furniture. Many people don’t have a truck or a way to haul it. Maybe offer delivery after the market/weekend, depending on distance.
Great video! I appreciate all your analysis. That tiger oak chest is gorgeous. We started a vintage "Farm Flea" this last fall on our farm and it was a great time. The dealers made good money and the shoppers loved it.
Congratulations you did a wonderful job on everything. I love Thrifting and when I saw your egg platters I’m like that looks for my ear. I ran to my dining room and looked in the cabinet and behold I had the same exact one and it was my aunt Harriette, who passed away at 98 God Rest her soul.
Thank you for sharing. You continue to educate yourself and improve and grow. Love your fix up videos. Also love your creative staging setup. Wishing you continued success.
Glad you're back, have missed your videos. You did a great job on your first market. The only thing I might have changed was after the first day when you noticed that people didn't want to come inside the booth you might have moved the large chunky dresser out of the center. It did seem to make the booth feel crowded. Oh and also use more of your vertical space with shelving for smalls and mediums. But the booth did look beautiful!
Really enjoyed this video. Appreciate that you don't have background music and your thoroughness in sharing the details. Thanks and best wishes for your future.
Really interesting! I tried flipping one summer and did a market like this, and came to the conclusion it wouldn’t even pay min wage for all the time it took to find items, flip them, take them to market, etc. It became clear to me that most flippers make their money on RUclips, along with any teaching packages they develop and sell, rather than on the flipping itself. And I didn’t want to be a RUclipsr. It was a great learning experience. Your numbers would seem to reinforce my sense of it. And you are way better at flipping than I was. Hope it works for you, glad you have the content creation going on as part of it.
Thank you for sharing how it went and just your overall journey and you’re not afraid to try new things. I love a back story as well, I think adding before pics of each piece and then streaming your RUclips restoration process will definitely be of interest and get more attention to the furniture. Having fun learning from you. Wishing you much success!
Small frames are always an easy sale. Lamps are easy also. I used to get the old brass finish floor lamps. Plating was usually poor. I would repaint in current trend color and at a flea would literally sell 2-3 every time I brought them. Would pay pocket change to a few dollars for each at auctions. About 20.00 to restore and 1 hour per unit. Again easy money and a draw to bring customers into your booth.
I'm so happy for you and the success of your 1st Market! It's a must to have someone with you during the market for support and to free you up to engage with customers, not to mention, to give you a break! YAY for you....👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
As a customer, I do prefer more open spaces to browse the pieces, and although I LOVE older furniture, I dont have the budget or house for it, so smaller items, and especially useful older items are more of a priority for my personal budget. Furniture is an investment. Practical yet costly. One normally needs to be looking for a large piece. I am very glad you sold that buffet!! Kudos for the hard work!
As you said, people are looking for Christmas gifts. Maybe seeing a piece of furniture decorated in seasonal decor may help a customer picture that piece of furniture in their home. I'm glad you did very well!
By putting the dresser in the middle of your booth you are setting up your own barricade. The floor needs to be clear in the middle because you only have about 3-5 seconds to get someones attention to keep them from walking on by.
Thank you for this video Abby!!! So many details and sooo good! I feel you on the being alone and not being able to use the bathroom!! That was my biggest issue in my first market too! But if my husband comes to help then I’ll need to hire a sitter and 💸💸💸
Nice work, kiddo! I'm glad you had some success. I've been on a similar journey with my woodworking and laser engraving side hustle. I've had success with a couple items on Marketplace, like planter boxes and wedding arbors, but not so much with wall art and holiday decor type stuff. Tried a couple flea markets but had very little success. Went to my second craft show last weekend and did pretty well. I would really like to try Etsy but not sure I want to deal with all the shipping and stuff that goes with it. In the early going I did try some furniture flips. I bought some stuff super cheap at an auction but only ended up finishing one piece and it took forever to sell which kinda took the wind out of my sails on the flipping side of things. I guess you just learn, adjust, and move on. Keep up the great work!
2 pieces of advice 1. Messier is better. It’s counterintuitive. People love to search and find a deal or a treasure that others ‘missed’ edit: 13:22 your friend has this figured out 😂 2. Comparative pricing is key. Everything should have two prices. A ‘normal price’ and a ‘today only sale price’
Have s friend that had a small clothing store. She had a discount table that wasn’t moving. One of her partners as a joke threw everything on the floor and stomped on the pieces. Didn’t dirty them, just messed them up. They sold the next weekend. 🤭
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Great idea for your check out stand. I myself may make a similar style for when I attend markets to sell my dog and cat embroidery bandanas:). Space is limited and valuable in booths and your makeshift checkout “counter” ticks multiple boxes😉
I'm so proud of you Abby!!!!! When doing something new there always seems to be valuable lessons learned for what to do next time and what not to do right? Congratulations on all your sales, well done! Years back a business course I was taking really emphasized how its the story not the product that sells. Every since that course I share stories about my items at markets, events and shows and my sales have totally increased! Having pics, videos or even little written details on certain pieces can go along ways. Also, a small 'market special' can draw people in and can increase sales cuz people love deals, say like $20-25 range. Thank you for sharing your market experience:)
I think you should use both front sides to stage items for sale since those items sold well, and set your stand up inside the booth. That way the customer has to enter the booth to pay you and then you would have more traffic inside the booth!
Your QR code on your business cards for sure and maybe a little sign at check out kinda like what formats of payment you take and social media I'd staple a card to all your bags at check out to that way they don't lose them I mainly sell at market and then some stuff online between it's alot of income at once but it's equally a butt tone of work especially by your self sometimes I hfind it overwhelming with 2 in a 10x10 I like setting up visits from people for 30 -45 min time frames every few hours you get enough time to refresh your space and use the bathroom have a peak alone the way at spaces
I've known people who could manufacture their own lamp shades. It is an art and it doesn't take too much skill. You should consider researching 'flipping' old lamp shades and possibly making new ones. Being a business, your initial material costs might be discounted. Research for trends. For instance, I saw those black/white lamps...totally on trend right now.
*Congratulations* ..... I agree w/everything you said. You've got a *Great Game Plan* for the next sale. Keep notes & use them to build improvements off of every yr. *Looking fwd to your next Vtg market video*
The oak chest may have blocked the space...but it was eyecatching front and center and it was the one piece of large furniture that sold. I would have come into the booth just to look at it. Your staging was beautiful I'm sure it helped the sales of your lamps and other small and medium items. I agree with the comment that it is fun to hunt for bargains. But it is also fun to see the artistic potential of the items. You did a great job! Thank you for sharing and I hope to see you do another market with a video! Congratulations.
Very informative video. You did a great job bringing in all the factors...psychology, product placement, having a buddy, lamps shades sell it and so on. I really enjoyed this.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been wondering how everything went. You have a lot of take always and leaned a lot for what to change next time.
Not sure if people want to know how bad the furniture was before? People aren’t going to buy because of how bad it used to be, they will buy it because they like the product they see.
I disagree, I love the idea of showing the process of renovating and justifies the price! Also it's a good story for them once they get it home! Loved your entire video and I learned a lot! Keep up the good work!
@flippedbyabby thanks for letting us tag along. I'm so glad you were successful. I'm intimidated about this aspect of it. How much cash and in what denominations do I take? I've had to be at a table for marketing my ex boss's business. I took drinks and snacks with me and made sure to use the bathroom right before it. You mentioned you paid for power...what about bringing a solar charged system or a quiet generator to light the lamps instead? Run battery operated led lights through the "rafters" of your tent to grab attention. Fill up baskets by the entrance with baked good snacks individually wrapped. (If you don't bake...buy a bunch of stuff from a local bakery and wrap it yourself). When real estate agents are staging a home, they have discovered the smell of fresh baked goods helps with selling. That folding screen in the back is gorgeous! Add a caster base to it and call it a room divider or privacy screen. If you put it out front and to the side it would kinda extend your booth space. Put one on either side of the entrance on a slight angle. If you have a strong one, you can stage mirrors and pictures. Put heavy furniture towards the back facing out. Smaller furniture towards the front gradually increasing the height of displays. Most people look from left to right (like how we read). This will give the illusion of depth and space. It will draw the eyes naturally towards the back. Have a few mini spot lights aimed inwards, direct them at the larger stuff. Have large print price tags for people who have poor eyesight. If you have a 2 part china cabinet...turn it into a mini workbench with a french cleat or peg board wall between the lower and upper one. Add battery operated lights under the upper. Set it up as a craft workbench. Take the lower doors off and set it up for packaging, etc. Put it on castors. Face it out towards the crowd. Not only will it show creativity, organization and the option of wrapping gifts (charge extra), it will also inspire other crafters (think about how many craft booths are there and how many crafters are browsing). It will bring potential furniture sales for you. If other booths see the wrapping station is portable...they will want one!
So interesting, thanks for sharing! Love the vibe of your pieces. Your passion is apparent, and you are right, people love to hear the backstory and transformation journey of the furniture. It makes it a that more special and something they have to have! Congrats on your success!
Such great tips. Thanks for posting. Everything looked great. I did notice that the other booths looked brighter and more open without a covered ceiling. But I love your idea of the curtain walls. Much better than all of the work of wood walls that others had built. Great styling.
We are just putting the finishing touches on a new build, and I. am on the hunt for another four poster Queen size bed, The location is tropical so mahogany is the mode, but other options are acceptable. Termite damage can occur if the wrong type of wood is bought. I usually enjoy scanning the various antique shops, but only two exist on the Island, and shipping is super expensive so I will shop locally. Luckily I had been collecting carpets, and rugs for awhile, so I can use them, also I have some original paintings ready to hang, I also have stained glass lamp shades, and a few pieces of antique furniture. I bought most of these items years ago when items were cheaper, and easy to find. 🔮
Although the chest looked great aesthetically, all larger items should be lined along the wall, items are more visible and more space gives accessibility for more customers to fit into the space. You did great!
Great video! I really appreciate you sharing the numbers, as well as the full experience (anxiety, day by day, exhaustion/excitement, and the recap). Very informative!
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U know u keep doing shorts on tools, like the rotary cutter, but u give NO information on it. Like the brand or price. And then u don’t even have a comment section on that short where we can ask. 🙄
I have a ton of stuff that I have collected and inherited. I brought an appraiser in to give me an idea which pieces might be able to be sold best. He found a painting that I inherited. He was pretty excited about it. I just had it leaning against the wall in a room I don’t use. Sent it to Christie’s. It sold for $234,000
Life changing because I only owed $185k on my house and I was able to pay it off with exactly the amount my check was for.
What an amazing story! Thank you for sharing.
AWESOME job on a FIRST time set up! After 25 years in antiques I would strongly encourage you to pack in small furniture that a customer can self- carry out and load in a car. Women often come without a man and they love the small pieces they can carry on their on. Lamps, mirrors, empty ornate frames, small brass, ironstone platters and pitchers, and umbrella stands (emphasis on umbrella stands ... lol always do well). Congrats!!
This is really GREAT insight. It also is easy to slide something smaller into a home without notice vs. a big piece of furniture. I always buy smaller things and rarely purchase something big that I have to have my husband go pick up and move for me.
So interesting and so generous of you to reveal all you did, as well as all you learned. This will benefit many others. Congratulations on everything your business has to offer. Plus, you are the bonus, because you are so kind, transparent and giving! Loved all of it.
You did well, and the video is interesting. As a shopper, the big piece in the middle acts as a block to entry. If you moved the big piece to where the clothes rack was and moved the clothes rack into the middle of the booth, maybe would've drawn people into the booth. I understand that isn't the best aesthetic for the booth, but sometimes that's not the most important thing. Anything that a person can carry away and easily transport in their vehicle would be good inventory. That, and price tags. I absolutely hate having to ask about a price because it's not readily visible or altogether missing. I would usually just pass and go the next booth.
I’ve done this, too and my advice is to get 2 helpers/staffers to be there. Once you are set up, spend as much time as you can before opening or in short breaks to walk around and shop your competition. Compare your prices, look at their booths before they sell down too far. Rotate breaks with your helpers, bring lunches and healthy snacks. Consider offering a “close of show and I don’t want to take it home” discount to anyone who shows interest in the furniture, tell them if it is still there at the end you’ll give a 10 or 15 or 20% off. Whatever makes sense to you. Also, try to find a reliable delivery service and you can refer them. It’s a fine line between engaging with customers and hovering, but you are authentic and charming and I am sure shoppers will be glad to talk with you, too.
My experience with furniture is small peices sell better at a outdoor/ show venue. The reason being is they are an easy impulse buy. No thought about where to put it or transportation issues.
This is a good point!
I was coming to say the same thing.
I don’t even know you, but I’m so proud of you! You are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing this with us it was so interesting. I can’t wait to see how you do on the next one! Also, I just want to tell you what a great job you did on this video. Just the right amount of information to keep it interesting all the way through.
3 important things that will serve you well: double you space double your sales if you have the inventory, triple also holds, I never have anything going across your booth bcz customers subconsciously view it as a door so don't come in. I do the sides, 1 catty corner at the front, set your check at the other corner and lastly nice large prices, easy and quick to read in a quick glance on all your large items. Girl you did good
Thank you so much!!
I have a suggestion to make, although most people will disagree. I think you should not make your area look so beautiful. I think you should make it be more shabby and in disarray because most people who go to Flea Markets are looking for bargains. If they see a fancier booth, they may skip it because they feel things might be more expensive. My husband and many of my friends say that look for the cheaper looking places because they feel they would get more of a bargain. Just my thoughts, carry on as you will. 😀
I had the same thoughts. It looks expensive to me and intimidating.
Sad about it, because it’s beautiful, but I agree.
On the other side of the coin, making it look nice, a person might think you're selling better quality stuff
Yes but she doesn’t need people coming thru and low balling and being snarky. I think it looks like an antique store.
It always makes me happy to see young people getting into this type of business! It’s kinda comforting to know that when I’m gone, this type of stuff will still go on. I’ve collected a sold for over 40 years. My love of vintage hit in the 60s and it’s now to a point I’m on a mission to pass on my treasures and my knowledge before I go. There are so many other senior dealers who think like me too (and want to share), so YES it is critical for you to get out and network with us because the older ones will teach you PLUS you can collect more inventory from us too because we really like to sell to other dealers who appreciate our stuff as much as we do and because we speak a common language therefore sales go way smoother and faster!!
Keep doing what you’re doing Honey, you will end up with a successful brick & mortar shop in no time….then the fun will REALLY begin!!
Best Wishes
I’d put all of the taller items along the back wall and go shorter as you move toward the front of the booth on both sides. If you’re going to put something in the middle of the space, put a round table or a chair. Looks like you have a lot of nice things. Great video. Thanks for sharing
Yes! The beautiful dresser in the middle that finally sold at the end most likely cost a lot of sales due to the size of it and people not feeling comfortable walking into the booth.
I am a jewelry designer, and in my 29 years of selling at vendor shows and in retail shops the traffic flow for accessing my jewelry is huge! Not everyone shopping is 125 lbs., and needs a comfortable space to walk through a vendors booths as well as they often will have some previous purchases with them too taking up space for them to walk through easily.
Double your space sometime to test this out and keep the flow open.
Congrats on your first event. You did great and will find that you learn and will grow with the experiences of each new event that you participate in as well as from listening to others that have already made mistakes and can share and help you to not make the same ones that veteran vendors already have made.
The bungee curtain hack is genius. Edit: The video clips playing of the makeover is also a brilliant idea.
Part of the problem with selling large furniture may be that people don't know it's for sale - they may think [as they stroll by] that a bookcase is just to hold knick-knacks and that it isn't for sale. Maybe big items need BIG price tags that say "BOOKCASE $250." Jus' a thought.
This is also a great idea!!! Good point!!
Girl! I remembered telling you to go BIG! You did awesome though you look so pretty on that Sunday with that cute sheer top and jean jumper. I wish I was closer to you I would come by..When I went to Destin their goodwill was like a T J Maxx or something with home decor. I am happy you are happy!
❤
I’m wondering if that napoleon dresser just blocked the flow. It’s too imposing and makes it feel as if you walk behind it that you are behind a store counter or something. Plus it visually blocked a lot of your offerings. It was not inviting or encouraging people to see what was beyond it. Other than that, your booth looked awesome. Way to go!!!
Great job! Ty for sharing....
i love that your videos aren't overstimulating with a ton of audio/background soundtracks. its very calming :)
Cheers to my fellow ADHD sisters. :)
I got to meet her at this event and she is just as sweet in person! Her videos don't do justice for how cool her furniture is in person. Was so impressed by her booth and even bought some copper pots. She is definitely talented!
Thank you for this video! I could see how it would be extremely helpful to have someone there with you, or set your booth up next to a friend.
Your booth looked amazing, but I think the dresser being where it was blocked off the entrance. People are weird and and will hesitate if they think they aren't supposed to go in any further, even if it's subconscious. I have noticed this with myself. I would try to keep everything as open as possible, or with a larger booth, have stuff in the center with a clear pathway to go around it.
I am super impressed with how well the curtains worked out!
I thought the same about the dresser blocking the space.
The setup was the key--seeing items as they could be in one's home--and the rug and curtains made it feel more welcoming, calming and home-like. I've always said that people who don't like museums are because museums simply put things on walls and pedestals. When those same items are in a space even a little bit replicated to look like the spaces they'd be in, there's a connection between the viewer and the item. A good example is the Titanic exhibit which shows state rooms, the captain's deck, etc. Put a teacup and saucer on a pedestal, ok, but put it on a table with a rug below and chandelier above, and wow! You did that!
I KNEW your 1st market would be a success! Girl the items you cultivate are a *vibe* 🤌. Congratulations!
Thank you so much!!
Most people have no concept of the hours of hard work it takes to source, repair, upcycle, price, and bring things to market. Then they don't want to pay much for them. I did this for years, then really gave some thought to the energy it was taking from me. So I stopped, and had a huge estate sale, liquidated everything, and it was a fantastic feeling of lightness! Taking my time, gas, supplies, etc., into account, I'm making more money not doing this than when I did! Best of luck to you!!
I think I’m about to to do the same.
I stopped flipping furniture, it was costing money, time, storage space, people started dumping off big ugly pieces on me and I managed to sell them all to another flipper when I moved house. Made a profit on the free stuff.
That's my perception as well.
I barely dipped my toe in reselling vintage clothes and I quickly got overwhelmed and barely made any money / took so much time to sell it.
It is backbreaking work. I love flea market people, but I can’t sell flea markets anymore. It hurts my body.
Suggestions…..post several weeks out on social media and often that you are headed to a market…show individual pieces you will have available…post post post….post a night before video preview.
You need to utilize your top half space of your booth….build up. Use tables To put small furniture…shutters to hang small photos / frames/ artwork. Small book shelves on tables
Great job on your first try…you did fabulous
We need to consider the customer's perspective. Buying a large piece of furniture is a significant investment and requires careful consideration. Clients need time to think about it, and a single day's visit may not be enough to decide. Therefore, the idea of posting on social media the furniture you will sell at the market makes a lot of sense.
The problem with large furniture is people don’t come prepared to haul something g like a big dresser home.
I agree. I think that is a big issue with selling big furniture. Many people don’t have a truck or a way to haul it. Maybe offer delivery after the market/weekend, depending on distance.
Great video! I appreciate all your analysis. That tiger oak chest is gorgeous. We started a vintage "Farm Flea" this last fall on our farm and it was a great time. The dealers made good money and the shoppers loved it.
That is awesome! Thank you!!
Congratulations you did a wonderful job on everything. I love Thrifting and when I saw your egg platters I’m like that looks for my ear. I ran to my dining room and looked in the cabinet and behold I had the same exact one and it was my aunt Harriette, who passed away at 98 God Rest her soul.
I think you were right about the chest in front blocking traffic kept people from derifting in.
Thank you for sharing. You continue to educate yourself and improve and grow. Love your fix up videos. Also love your creative staging setup. Wishing you continued success.
Glad you're back, have missed your videos. You did a great job on your first market. The only thing I might have changed was after the first day when you noticed that people didn't want to come inside the booth you might have moved the large chunky dresser out of the center. It did seem to make the booth feel crowded. Oh and also use more of your vertical space with shelving for smalls and mediums. But the booth did look beautiful!
Really enjoyed this video. Appreciate that you don't have background music and your thoroughness in sharing the details. Thanks and best wishes for your future.
Really interesting! I tried flipping one summer and did a market like this, and came to the conclusion it wouldn’t even pay min wage for all the time it took to find items, flip them, take them to market, etc. It became clear to me that most flippers make their money on RUclips, along with any teaching packages they develop and sell, rather than on the flipping itself. And I didn’t want to be a RUclipsr. It was a great learning experience. Your numbers would seem to reinforce my sense of it. And you are way better at flipping than I was. Hope it works for you, glad you have the content creation going on as part of it.
Thank you for sharing how it went and just your overall journey and you’re not afraid to try new things. I love a back story as well, I think adding before pics of each piece and then streaming your RUclips restoration process will definitely be of interest and get more attention to the furniture.
Having fun learning from you. Wishing you much success!
3:05 That curtain solution looked perfect actually! I’ve been hanging tons of curtains and they do not hang as nicely as that…
They are designed to not wrinkle and getting extra helps to have that full, flowy, expensive look!!
Small frames are always an easy sale. Lamps are easy also. I used to get the old brass finish floor lamps. Plating was usually poor. I would repaint in current trend color and at a flea would literally sell 2-3 every time I brought them. Would pay pocket change to a few dollars for each at auctions. About 20.00 to restore and 1 hour per unit. Again easy money and a draw to bring customers into your booth.
That’s awesome!!! But I’d never paint brass! It sells as is! That brass floor lamp was tarnished and still sold -people appreciate the “patina!”
Curious about painting. Did you spray or brush? What colors have you used? Thanks
“Crap-ton of lamps” is a good band name
Stained Lampshades is a great punk band name.
I'm so happy for you and the success of your 1st Market! It's a must to have someone with you during the market for support and to free you up to engage with customers, not to mention, to give you a break!
YAY for you....👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
As a customer, I do prefer more open spaces to browse the pieces, and although I LOVE older furniture, I dont have the budget or house for it, so smaller items, and especially useful older items are more of a priority for my personal budget. Furniture is an investment. Practical yet costly. One normally needs to be looking for a large piece. I am very glad you sold that buffet!! Kudos for the hard work!
Wow! Nice collection. I have been collecting Antiques and Collectibles for over 30 years. Buying aand selling in the flea markets for that long also.
Thank you for this! I was making all kinds of shelves and wall decor and having NO luck on Marketplace. Maybe I need to do things like this!
Yes!! People were buying them up
As you said, people are looking for Christmas gifts. Maybe seeing a piece of furniture decorated in seasonal decor may help a customer picture that piece of furniture in their home. I'm glad you did very well!
By putting the dresser in the middle of your booth you are setting up your own barricade. The floor needs to be clear in the middle because you only have about 3-5 seconds to get someones attention to keep them from walking on by.
You are good with your Videos. You speak to the camera just a like normal people have a conversation. Don't change your style, it is great.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like my style!
Thanks for letting us know how things went! Learning is always a good thing, and you'll be better prepared for the spring market! Great job!
Your booth looked great!!! Well done on your weekend! DD
Hello. I think you did fantastic for your first time having a booth. Congratulations!!🥰🥰🥰 you learned a lot along the way.
Abby so happy that market went well for you. And that you enjoyed the process
Thank you!!
Thank you for this video Abby!!! So many details and sooo good! I feel you on the being alone and not being able to use the bathroom!! That was my biggest issue in my first market too! But if my husband comes to help then I’ll need to hire a sitter and 💸💸💸
Nice work, kiddo! I'm glad you had some success. I've been on a similar journey with my woodworking and laser engraving side hustle. I've had success with a couple items on Marketplace, like planter boxes and wedding arbors, but not so much with wall art and holiday decor type stuff. Tried a couple flea markets but had very little success. Went to my second craft show last weekend and did pretty well. I would really like to try Etsy but not sure I want to deal with all the shipping and stuff that goes with it.
In the early going I did try some furniture flips. I bought some stuff super cheap at an auction but only ended up finishing one piece and it took forever to sell which kinda took the wind out of my sails on the flipping side of things. I guess you just learn, adjust, and move on.
Keep up the great work!
I saw some things I was like oo. I liked the horse bookends and the desk light.
Having lamps plugged in and other glass item makes the booth sparkle and feel welcoming. 🎉
Congratulations.
Nice job 🎉
I’ve been eagerly awaiting this video and it did not disappoint! Thanks for sharing all the money details and your best sellers - sooo helpful 🙏
Love the repurposing videos! The jewelry box came out so adorable 😍
How fun watching this from beginning to end…..especially when I love going to those….thanks for posting happy for you!!
Abby, you are just amazing!! So organized, the attention to detail, the creativity, just amazing!!!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏💯😊👍
can't wait for more vids of you doing make overs to furniture and selling them :)
This is the first time I’ve seen your channel I think, but it was really fun watching you go through this experience and learning from it.
Thank you so much!!
I was there shopping on Saturday. I agree that is was so crowded people couldn't get in to see.
2 pieces of advice
1. Messier is better. It’s counterintuitive. People love to search and find a deal or a treasure that others ‘missed’ edit: 13:22 your friend has this figured out 😂
2. Comparative pricing is key. Everything should have two prices. A ‘normal price’ and a ‘today only sale price’
Have s friend that had a small clothing store. She had a discount table that wasn’t moving. One of her partners as a joke threw everything on the floor and stomped on the pieces. Didn’t dirty them, just messed them up. They sold the next weekend. 🤭
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Great idea for your check out stand. I myself may make a similar style for when I attend markets to sell my dog and cat embroidery bandanas:). Space is limited and valuable in booths and your makeshift checkout “counter” ticks multiple boxes😉
Hooray! You are awesome!! Thanks for sharing all the details!
I'm so proud of you Abby!!!!! When doing something new there always seems to be valuable lessons learned for what to do next time and what not to do right? Congratulations on all your sales, well done! Years back a business course I was taking really emphasized how its the story not the product that sells. Every since that course I share stories about my items at markets, events and shows and my sales have totally increased! Having pics, videos or even little written details on certain pieces can go along ways. Also, a small 'market special' can draw people in and can increase sales cuz people love deals, say like $20-25 range. Thank you for sharing your market experience:)
Congrats! Your hypothesis may be correct. Will be interested in what comes out of the next market you go to.
Awww your mom and sister were amazing ❤ so lovely - looked fabulous!!!! 💖
Your retail staging abilities are fantastic. I don’t have that skill but I always appreciate when I see it in others.
Also put the age on the items if you know….how much did you sell your clothes for…are the egg trays the deviled egg plates?..
I think you should use both front sides to stage items for sale since those items sold well, and set your stand up inside the booth. That way the customer has to enter the booth to pay you and then you would have more traffic inside the booth!
Your QR code on your business cards for sure and maybe a little sign at check out kinda like what formats of payment you take and social media I'd staple a card to all your bags at check out to that way they don't lose them I mainly sell at market and then some stuff online between it's alot of income at once but it's equally a butt tone of work especially by your self sometimes I hfind it overwhelming with 2 in a 10x10 I like setting up visits from people for 30 -45 min time frames every few hours you get enough time to refresh your space and use the bathroom have a peak alone the way at spaces
It is so cool to see what you learned and how you made money. I wish it was closer to me in CA.
This was so fun to watch!
There's a lot to learn when doing these events !! You did good ❤❤❤
I've known people who could manufacture their own lamp shades. It is an art and it doesn't take too much skill. You should consider researching 'flipping' old lamp shades and possibly making new ones. Being a business, your initial material costs might be discounted. Research for trends. For instance, I saw those black/white lamps...totally on trend right now.
Thanks so much for sharing all this info. It was very interesting and informative. By the way your booth looked Great!
So happy for you, Abby! Your booth looked incredible and I know you'll only go up from here!
Your videos are so wholesome, appreciate your content!!
Thank you!!
*Congratulations* .....
I agree w/everything you said. You've got a *Great Game Plan* for the next sale.
Keep notes & use them to build improvements off of every yr.
*Looking fwd to your next Vtg market video*
Thank you! Will do!
Great job, Abbey!
The oak chest may have blocked the space...but it was eyecatching front and center and it was the one piece of large furniture that sold. I would have come into the booth just to look at it. Your staging was beautiful I'm sure it helped the sales of your lamps and other small and medium items. I agree with the comment that it is fun to hunt for bargains. But it is also fun to see the artistic potential of the items. You did a great job! Thank you for sharing and I hope to see you do another market with a video! Congratulations.
Looks like a great start!
Great job! A little advice as a reseller myself , try not to over price items think about if you were the customer!
Very informative video. You did a great job bringing in all the factors...psychology, product placement, having a buddy, lamps shades sell it and so on. I really enjoyed this.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have been wondering how everything went. You have a lot of take always and leaned a lot for what to change next time.
Great job Abby!😊
Not sure if people want to know how bad the furniture was before? People aren’t going to buy because of how bad it used to be, they will buy it because they like the product they see.
I disagree, I love the idea of showing the process of renovating and justifies the price! Also it's a good story for them once they get it home! Loved your entire video and I learned a lot! Keep up the good work!
I agree. I think the conversation is more important than a video. You also might be turning some people off looking at the old item.
That looks like fun!
So glad you had a very positive experience at the market! Even though your movement was restricted, you sure did learn a lot of valuable information.
Lamps are also pretty easy to transport.
Awesome, glad it was a success. Great tips!!
@flippedbyabby thanks for letting us tag along. I'm so glad you were successful. I'm intimidated about this aspect of it. How much cash and in what denominations do I take?
I've had to be at a table for marketing my ex boss's business. I took drinks and snacks with me and made sure to use the bathroom right before it.
You mentioned you paid for power...what about bringing a solar charged system or a quiet generator to light the lamps instead?
Run battery operated led lights through the "rafters" of your tent to grab attention. Fill up baskets by the entrance with baked good snacks individually wrapped. (If you don't bake...buy a bunch of stuff from a local bakery and wrap it yourself). When real estate agents are staging a home, they have discovered the smell of fresh baked goods helps with selling.
That folding screen in the back is gorgeous! Add a caster base to it and call it a room divider or privacy screen. If you put it out front and to the side it would kinda extend your booth space. Put one on either side of the entrance on a slight angle. If you have a strong one, you can stage mirrors and pictures.
Put heavy furniture towards the back facing out. Smaller furniture towards the front gradually increasing the height of displays. Most people look from left to right (like how we read). This will give the illusion of depth and space. It will draw the eyes naturally towards the back. Have a few mini spot lights aimed inwards, direct them at the larger stuff.
Have large print price tags for people who have poor eyesight.
If you have a 2 part china cabinet...turn it into a mini workbench with a french cleat or peg board wall between the lower and upper one. Add battery operated lights under the upper. Set it up as a craft workbench. Take the lower doors off and set it up for packaging, etc. Put it on castors. Face it out towards the crowd. Not only will it show creativity, organization and the option of wrapping gifts (charge extra), it will also inspire other crafters (think about how many craft booths are there and how many crafters are browsing). It will bring potential furniture sales for you. If other booths see the wrapping station is portable...they will want one!
Not sitting in a cubicle, " PRICELESS "
Your furniture is beautiful. I’m surprised they didn’t ALL sell. You have great taste and I’m glad you did well. ❤
So interesting, thanks for sharing! Love the vibe of your pieces. Your passion is apparent, and you are right, people love to hear the backstory and transformation journey of the furniture. It makes it a that more special and something they have to have! Congrats on your success!
Thank you so much!
Such great tips. Thanks for posting. Everything looked great. I did notice that the other booths looked brighter and more open without a covered ceiling. But I love your idea of the curtain walls. Much better than all of the work of wood walls that others had built. Great styling.
Thank you for sharing. This will help people starting out
We are just putting the finishing touches on a new build, and I. am on the hunt for another four poster Queen size bed, The location is tropical so mahogany is the mode, but other options are acceptable. Termite damage can occur if the wrong type of wood is bought. I usually enjoy scanning the various antique shops, but only two exist on the Island, and shipping is super expensive so I will shop locally. Luckily I had been collecting carpets, and rugs for awhile, so I can use them, also I have some original paintings ready to hang, I also have stained glass lamp shades, and a few pieces of antique furniture. I bought most of these items years ago when items were cheaper, and easy to find. 🔮
Wow, awesome job!
I am so glad that your antiques aren’t painted…..I love the wood look
Thank you, loved this video. You are such an inspiration !!
Although the chest looked great aesthetically, all larger items should be lined along the wall, items are more visible and more space gives accessibility for more customers to fit into the space.
You did great!
Great video! I really appreciate you sharing the numbers, as well as the full experience (anxiety, day by day, exhaustion/excitement, and the recap). Very informative!
Thanks for sharing your experience. It takes a big leap and bravery to actually “do it” and YOU DID IT. And you did it well, Congrats!
EVERYONE IS SO NICE AT VMD
i was by myself for a small period of time and just asking another vendor to watch my space was so easy!
I think you are awesome and I find it so interesting to learn from your experiences! Great job and thanks for sharing!