The ASD Las Vegas trade show runs Aug. 8 to 11, and it presents some interesting and compelling opportunities for flea market and swap meet vendors who sell new goods. “You see pretty much everything in the merchandise spectrum at flea markets. And you see everything in the merchandise spectrum at ASD Las Vegas. So there is something for everyone,” says Lori Higgins, marketing director for ASD.
That’s also what John Schoen, past president of both the California Swap Meet Association and the National Flea Market Association, says. “I’d like to encourage swap meet vendors. I’ve followed this show for about 15, 16 years now. In recent times — and our economic situation has something to do with this — the show is appreciative and is trying to draw swap meet people to the event,” says Schoen. “The exhibitors want the business, and our vendors’ sophistication level and buying power has gone up dramatically.”
He has two important reasons for vendors to attend. First, hot products “Vendors at swap meets and flea markets are forever looking for new, unique, original, cutting edge merchandise, and that would be at that show.” Second, convenience: “It’s one of the largest venues in which you can see discount wholesale goods from all over the world in one place at one time.” The show features over 3,000 exhibitors in the style and beauty, jewelry, gift, toy, and value categories.
Schoen has some sound advice for attendees. “Walk the show entirely. It’s enormous, it’s very very huge, but it’s very well organized,” he says. “It takes about two days to really walk the show. And if you are stopping to do business, then you’ll be there a little longer.”
And Schoen urges vendors to place orders. “Do business — competitive business, if you will — because there might be 10 to 15 people selling the things you want to buy, so you can negotiate pricing there.”
That’s what a 20-year veteran of the show says too. Davida Lampkin Tydings, owner of Davida Aprons, says, “It is like one big swap meet. You do have to wheel and deal.” The manufacturer has sold to many flea market vendors there over the years. “I think that it’s a very good place for swap meet and flea market people to go because they can find different and unique things and also things that have a great price.”
Lampkin Tydings also thinks that vendors have a special advantage over larger retailers seeking larger quantities. “Someone who’s a flea market or swap meet person might find something that’s a very good item, but now there’s only, let’s say, 500 or 1,000 — or maybe 100 — pieces. That’s a good thing because obviously its been sold out, and you might get it at a better price,” she says.
And people who sell at flea markets and swap meets should feel right at home at ASD Las Vegas. Exhibitors come to the show, set up booths, and offer discount prices. “It is like a big swap meet,” says Shoen. “The only difference is you just have to buy goods in quantity.”
To hear what some attendees say about the show, check out this video released by ASD Trade Shows: