One of my favorite things to do on a lazy sunday in the summer is hit up a good flea market to hunt for vintage treasures that I can transform into one of a kind designs for myself or clients. Over the years I have shopped flea markets from coast to coast and along the way I’ve learned some great tips, tricks and strategies for navigating the market with ease and scoring the best deals. Now that flea market season is in full swing I want to share some of my best tips to help make your next flea market shopping adventure a breeze!
PREPARING FOR YOUR SHOPPING TRIP
This may seem obvious but dress comfortably. Wear comfortable shoes and also dress for the weather. If it’s 90 degrees at an outdoor market, wear a loose tank or a breezy dress and if the temperature might fluctuate, wear layers so you can adjust accordingly. I would also highly recommend a super light weight crossbody bag or canvas tote so you can shop hands free. You’d be surprised, even a purse that seems light weight for typical every day use can feel like a brick on your shoulder once you’ve been walking around with it for hours. Also be prepared for the possibility of inclement weather. I once drove out to Brimfield which is about 3 hours outside of the city and there was a slight prospect of rain. Because of the drive I had to commit to the idea of shopping rain or shine so I brought a pair of wellies along with an umbrella and a light poncho to keep in the car just in case. I ended up braving it out in the rain for most of the day but at least I stayed dry because I came prepared. And this should go without saying but if you’re shopping outdoors, don’t forget your sunscreen!
MAKE A LIST & PLAN LOGISTICS IN ADVANCE
Make a list in advance of all the things you’re looking for. Flea markets can be huge and overwhelming and its easy to get distracted so focus first on finding the items you came for before you start wandering off to check all of the other super cool things that you just don’t need. Bring a tape measure if you’re looking for larger pieces. You’ll want to make sure it can fit in your vehicle, through your front door, etc before you get it home. Also, be mindful of the logistics of getting any large items home. If you plan to shop for furniture, bring a van. If you’re traveling to one of the bigger markets or antique shows, they usually have trucking companies on site where you can go up to a little table to coordinate the delivery of your item. This is an expensive option but if you don’t want to be bothered with transporting a large, cumbersome piece of furniture, it’s totally worth it to pay someone to take care of it if you have the means. Look into this on the market’s website before you go.
CONSIDER YOUR TIMING
You need to go into the experience knowing whether you want to score the best finds or the best deals which will impact your timing. It’s definitely true that the early bird gets the worm. If you’re shopping at one of the highly marketed fleas (ie Rose Bowl, Brimfield, Scott’s etc) know that there will be major competition for the best items. The visual and store design teams from top retailers like J. Crew and Ralph Lauren, shop owners and other dealers are usually the first ones there ready to rock at 5:30/6am and pay the premium for early market access. They will undoubtedly get the best stuff so if you want the best stuff too, try to get there mad early! That said, if you’re not looking for anything specific or are looking to simply score the best deal you have more leeway to stroll into the market at your leisure because there’s still good stuff to be found all day and the later it gets the better negotiating power you’ll have. A dealer’s goal is to sell out, and by the end of the day, they just want to get rid of stuff so they’re a lot more likely to give deeper discounts. Within the last hour or so of the market closing, you should be able to snag many items for a steal.
BE PREPARED TO WALK AWAY FROM A DEAL
When negotiating, I sometimes like to use the “take it or leave it” tactic. Say a dealer wants $150 for a chair and you only want to spend $100. You’d say to him “I only have $100 cash and that’s all I have left.” Be polite but also firm in your offer and let him know that you’re prepared to walk away if isn’t able to accept $100. Essentially, you’re telling him to take it or leave it. I’ve used this trick and have had dealers tell me no at first but then run after me and say they’ll take it. The risk in this approach is that if the dealer won’t budge you won’t get the deal you’re hoping for. But if he really wants to get rid of the piece, you have a great shot at getting it for your preferred price. And with that said, in terms of currency, cash is still king so it’s best to come with cash and plenty of small bills so you can count out exact amounts.
LOOK FOR PIECES WITH POTENTIAL
A lot of people may be turned off by pieces in need of a little TLC but my best advice is to not overlook anything! Keep your eye out for items that are sturdy, with good bones, a great silhouette and the potential to be transformed into something amazing. With a small budget or a bit of elbow grease if you like to DIY, an piece that may appear dusty or dated can be repaired, refinished, repainted, reupholstered and reimagined. This is what makes the thrill of the find so exciting!
1 Comment
Great tips, Nicole!