Marketing Forum: Where have I been???

*********************************
Holy smokes! It's hot and dry here in the West so be careful with your smokes and campires during the upcoming weeks. Some of my friends are on the front lines fighting the wild fires southwest of Denver, still containing the fires near Laramie, Wyoming and on call 24/7 in the Black Hills of South Dakota. So you tourists on your way to yellowstone be careful as you drive through!

*********************************

A month or so ago we had a few posts concerning selling services and tangible items with high profit margins. What I discovered for myself is this is a HOT OPPORTUNITY and BUSINESS! Here's the story...

A couple of weeks ago I ordered a shipment of sunglasses to go out and test the market as to what it could do. While doing my "due diligence" on the licensing, permits and fees, I found in my area at least, to set up a "temporary business" spot on a weekly basis is frowned upon by many towns.

I can understand this because you actually lose control of who sets up, what they sell, and more importantly... How it "looks" in your town to have a hodgepodge of different tents, tables, etc setting up in every car wash!

So I began looking towards Flea Markets, even though I didn't want to "lower' myself by setting up next to a "Junk Dealer". (I was very guilty of stereotyping a whole class of people and business.)

What I did find out is there's a TON of money being made in OPERATING a Flea Market in your area. This weekend I am paying $30.00 a day for a 10'x10' space. And this is outdoors. The indoor flea market sitting adjacent to the area has a waiting list a mile long.

Even if you were to only had 20 booths setting up for a Saturday... That is $600.00 for just getting the word out and setting up an area for others to pitch their tarps, canopies and booths!

Last weekend, my girlfriend and I were checking out some of the smaller flea markets in our area. One had almost 50 booths and tables set up in an open field with no electricity or water provided. They also charged $30.00 per day to set up in this field.

You went to their house and knocked on the door which sits just off a side road along an Interstate Highway and paid your fee. Then you went to set up somewhere in the field. That particular day they made $1500.00 by my count and that wasn't including the INDOOR fees!

Do you have a Flea Market in your area yet??? If not, why don't you look into setting one up?

Anyway, back to the sunglasses.

In one mall near us, a young fellow was selling the exact same sunglasses I was getting ready to sell, in a small kiosk. You've all seen them in the malls. Selling whirling helicopters, Bungee Balls, Dippin' Dots ice cream, purses and now more than ever cellular phones.

Well after visiting with him for a few minutes, 22 years old, he informed me he was clearing $400.00 per day average. With weekends being quite a bit higher and mid-week ranging between $200-$500 at times in sales.

The rental cost for the kiosk was $1000.00 a month. He said three small sales a day made his rental fees. (Just being open 20 days a month would gross him $8,000.00 on average. And he was OPEN 7 days a week! Do the math!)Maybe 30 days x $400 average??? $12,000 a month average??? Give or take - but what does that matter??? Still a good monthly income, isn't it???

Now he's getting ready to hire a few part-timer's and maybe a full time kiosk manager while he goes to another location to set up yet another kiosk.

His sister operates the kiosk on the weekends if he decides to hit a Festival, Fair or other outside event. (He has also made over $2500.00 in a single day from one booth!)

He says he may go south for the winter and do the same thing somewhere else or he may go to Australia for a month or two to "Kick back"!!! That isn't too shabby for a 22 year old kid, huh??? Made ME jealous! LOL

Now I simply shake my head as I drive by a "low-class" flea market! LOL This is definitely a "Fly low and collect the dough" business. Can you imagine making more money on a weekend - or even a Saturday - than you currently do all week long??? Or maybe even more than your two week paycheck???

This "business" has really caught my attention... Anyway... This is why I haven't been around for awhile. Between travelling for my busy season and getting ready to sell at a few fairs and bluegrass music festivals I barely have time for myself and friends.

If you have any questions on the above I'll do my best to answer them.

Success and Regards... Mike

http://www.CrashCourseMarketing.com
...The fastest growing eZine for Sales
Professionals and Internet Marketers...