Swap meet Know How: Setting up Your Stall

Swap meets are a great way of clearing out clutter and selling off any old, unnecessary items to get a little cash back. The old adage “one man’s trash is another’s treasure” is never more true than in the busy, informal area of a swap meet. Vendors can be up-and-coming designers wanting to gain exposure and bypass the middle market, or families hawking unused toys and old clothes. Whichever the case, selling successfully at swap meets depends on setting up your stall right.

Go early:

Give yourself sufficient time before the swap meet officially starts. If a swap meet starts at 8:00 am, you should be at the grounds at least an hour before to pick a good location, set up a stall or table, set out merchandise and allocate an area for payment and wrapping.

Pick a good location:

Familiarize yourself with the layout of the swap meet before you choose a stall. Try to pick a place with high foot traffic, where more people pass by during the day. A good spot is near, but not too close to, the toilets or the main entrance. This will ensure a steady flow of people, which may translate to higher sales at your stall.

Display your strengths:

It pays to have one main display area for your best pieces. This can be rare and precious antiques, or unique couture items – either way, give these the main focus and display them to their best advantage. A plain white or black cloth set out on the table helps to reduce distractions and will highlight the color and quality of your items.

Be organized:

Part of the joy of swap meets is sorting through a table load of items, just to come up with the perfect piece. However, to help your customers along, you should organize your merchandise according to area, color, price or size. Kitchenware should sit on a separate table; clothes or shoes should be set out according to sizing.