Wanted to post about my experience at the Brooklyn Flea yesterday. We got up early, left on time and was doing pretty good on time travel wise. Then we hit this unexpected traffic and sat there for 20 minutes at a snails pace. Not sure why. But eventually we get there. It was a gorgeous day and everyone else I was selling with was already set up. Like I mentioned previously I shared a tent with Alexandra Ferguson and WarpeDesign
We had a good time and were neighbors with Jantar, and Nordea's Soaperie.
It makes the day so much nicer when you are with good company. Especially when sales are S.L.O.W. It wasn't just for me, it was all of us. It didn't seem like folks where in the Handmade mood yesterday. There was definitely a lot of foot traffic. A lot of folks came by, checked out our stuff, tried on some items, took business cards, left positive feedback, but not too many sales.
While it was great to be outside and snack on some yummy flea market food and chat it up with friends, to only come out of it only making your booth fee back after the hassle we had to get there, I felt a bit frustrated. A lot of my friends either live in Brooklyn or a lot closer to these spots than I do. I'm not in the position to do these markets weekly and build some kind of following of customers who know where to find me on a regular basis. And it's a pain to drive to. Manhattan only has two highways to get through the island and reach Brooklyn - and they both suck. Being that I just got my license and don't have a car, I still rely on my boyfriend to drive me to these markets. While he enjoys keeping me company and checking things out, it takes it toll on him too.
I am more successful at one time shows that are promoted like events like the Cavalcade, not at weekly markets. It is hard when other sellers who sell at these markets regularly say "You should do it! Your stuff will do well here!" and that doesn't end up being the case. Plus I was next to a woman selling vintage jewelry for $5-10.
I've sold a few times in these markets and the only one I still have good feelings about is Artist & Fleas. I've only done it once and when I did, I didn't make that much of a profit but am wiling to try it again (July!). So I have to question is it worth continuing to put in the cost of gas and travel to do these markets if I am barely breaking even?
While it was great to be outside and snack on some yummy flea market food and chat it up with friends, to only come out of it only making your booth fee back after the hassle we had to get there, I felt a bit frustrated. A lot of my friends either live in Brooklyn or a lot closer to these spots than I do. I'm not in the position to do these markets weekly and build some kind of following of customers who know where to find me on a regular basis. And it's a pain to drive to. Manhattan only has two highways to get through the island and reach Brooklyn - and they both suck. Being that I just got my license and don't have a car, I still rely on my boyfriend to drive me to these markets. While he enjoys keeping me company and checking things out, it takes it toll on him too.
I am more successful at one time shows that are promoted like events like the Cavalcade, not at weekly markets. It is hard when other sellers who sell at these markets regularly say "You should do it! Your stuff will do well here!" and that doesn't end up being the case. Plus I was next to a woman selling vintage jewelry for $5-10.
I've sold a few times in these markets and the only one I still have good feelings about is Artist & Fleas. I've only done it once and when I did, I didn't make that much of a profit but am wiling to try it again (July!). So I have to question is it worth continuing to put in the cost of gas and travel to do these markets if I am barely breaking even?
