Bolstered by mild temperatures, clear blue skies and glorious autumnal foliage, The Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, in New Milford, CT, brought out more than 350 vendors and 2,500 shoppers on Sunday, October 21, says Greg Baecker, manager. Baecker has operated The Elephant’s Trunk, New England’s largest flea market, since 1976. In addition to vendors and shoppers, the market attracted HGTV as the setting for Flea Market Flip, a new show that pits two teams against each other to find and refurbish decorative pieces, and “flip” them for profit. “Being chosen as a market for Flea Market Flip is meaningful because HGTV determined that our market is worthy from a buyer’s perspective,” Baecker remarks. “Most of the products the teams purchase are antiques and collectibles, and we have quality vendors selling good quality merchandise.”
The Elephant’s Trunk, however, is about much more than merely antiques and collectibles. “One of the beauties of this market is that there are a lot of seasonal things to look forward to,” Baecker notes. “At this time of year, vendors sell beautiful Mums, like that lady just bought. In the springtime, shoppers can pick up all their garden supplies here. Closer to November, you’ll see more vendors selling new merchandise like clothing and giftware as we get closer to the holidays. If we stay open until December 9th, they’ll be holiday wreaths.”
With more than 35 years in business, the market continues to thrive for several reasons, according to Baecker. “I’m pretty consistent as far as expectations. Vendors are required to stay through 12:30.” The biggest flow of shoppers is from 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and some vendors don’t want to stay through the quieter period in the afternoon, he shares. “But that isn’t fair to the vendors who do stay or to the customers who come after 11:30. Vendors need to be committed to being here.” It is also a matter of safety. “Vendors have to drive down the lane where shoppers are walking and we don’t want any accidents.” The first time a vendor leaves early, he or she is given a warning. If it happens a second time, the vendor is banned from selling at the market for a year. Baecker is also committed to keeping the market location clean. The Elephant’s Trunk employs 22 people, and five of those workers take care of the field once the market closes. “The agreement I have with the town of New Milford is that the field will look on Monday like it did on Saturday—pristine and green, with no garbage.”
Like many markets, the biggest challenge to its operation is the weather. “Weather has an extreme impact on our vendors as well as on shopper traffic,” Baecker remarks. When the weather is poor, there may be 125 to 150 vendors and one quarter of the shopper traffic the market draws on a sunny, dry day, he continues. “In the past, if there was a 30 percent chance of rain, many vendors would take a chance and come in because there was a 70 percent chance that it wouldn’t rain. Now, they’re not coming in. Economically, they can’t afford it.”
The Elephant’s Trunk is scheduled to close December 9th and will reopen March 17th, weather permitting.