I'm Starting a Flea Market

[John Tedder]

I'm starting a flea market in my yard. It is a 4 acre property with a pole barn 10 miles east of Saratoga Springs, New York. It is just outside of Schuylerville, NY along the Hudson River. I will basically be renting table space to people who will be selling all types of different things. The building on the property has space downstairs that was a tavern / restaurant for many years. I will be opening it back up to sell food, snacks and beverages to people who attend the flea market. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday when the market is open. It will be open from May to the end of October.

I know a lot of creative people read this forum. I'm looking for ideas and advice from forum members to make this flea market a success.

Thank you.

Tedder’s Random Notes

[mysticmadness]

At what stage you are in. Did all sellers have booked the space. Have you finalized on food vendors. What is budget for this.

idea is good and i think your goal is to make it succes and get regular income. In that case think of bigger picture. just ask yourself where you want this to go in 3 years and you would get hundreds of ideas. You might say NO to many things becuase they wont fit in picture.

Also I think you might have to pay some taxes?? Not sure you can check. Do you need any specific permissions for this.

[ArthurHung]

The universe is in the details.

1)

Parking/Security person to roam outside and inside. You don't necessarily need someone big or mean-looking for this, just someone who has physical stamina for walking and good people skills.

Also, ask him to make a list like this:

Vendor Booth #: Time Checked In Time Checked Out:

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Have him do this at the beginning and the closing of every shift.

2)

Ask around and get a good cleaning contract company. If you just get some random one and they aren't... good, the cleaner will take forever to get the simplest things done.

3)

Obvious but worth mentioning: You don't want too many of the same kind of booths.

4)

Clientele: Might be wise to invest in video games if you expect a lot of youth to be come in etc

[John Tedder]

Thank you both for commenting. I live in New York state. There are plenty of forms to fill out, fees and taxes to pay when you start a business. At least at the start, I am going to be the only food vendor. I have space downstairs in the building I live in that was previously a tavern / restaurant. I am going to open it as a snack bar with a limited menu while the flea market is open.

I will be my own security and cleaning person, at least to start. I will try to keep the dealers fairly unique. It will be interesting to see what people are selling. I want to have some local farmers sell their produce here too.

Here is a link to an overhead view of the property. Click on Bird's Eye View and you will see the field and pole barn where the flea market will be. The dark space on the left hand side of the picture is the Hudson River. I live in a fairly rural area of upstate New York.