By James Anderson
Flea markets and swap meets provide great opportunities for small businesses. One way to thrive is to cultivate a local following. Here are some tips for building a local customer base and sales.
Establish your brand
First, it is important that you establish your brand. In other words, you need to ask yourself who you are and what you represent as a vendor. Having a sense of identity will be helpful as you begin to grow your brand. It will not only ensure that you are true to yourself but it will also help you find like-minded individuals that you can tailor product selections to. It might take some time to build your credibility but once you do you will have a dedicated customer base.
Be visible
After you establish your brand, it is time to make yourself visible in the community. There are plenty of ways you can do this, especially once you have identified your potential customers. Now, determine where they hang out, go there, and introduce yourself. Hand out complimentary merchandise or discount coupons. It is important that your business name is included on everything. Giveaways such as this, where you are physically handing out items, are an excellent way to make a connection with people.
Set up shop
Although eCommerce continues to grow, setting up an actual booth is ripe with advantages. Putting your products in flea markets or fairs can be a cost effective way to get your goods to the people. It demonstrates your willingness and desire to belong to your community, and creates an opportunity to develop a relationship with customers.
Being a flea market vendor does not have to be scary and you can reduce stress by reaching out to your community and building a local following. No matter what you are selling, there is always going to be a Wal-Mart around the corner. If you have the motivation, the merchandise, and a strong local following behind you, there are no limits to what you can accomplish.