how do you setup & sell stuff at the markets?

issue 71 ♡ a scavengers & stylists guide to letting sh** go at the flea market

sell(o) tape what no longer surfs you ♡ words & pics by dee kawai tang

i have so much stuff. how do you setup a stall & sell sh** at the markets? love can’t be stuffed about stuff, storage unit, the world over.

dearest stuffed with stuff

this post follows on from last week with the one on how to find good stuff at the markets and can make sense with reading the one living with less. part I offers a higher perspective on the market space and its place on earth for humans. in part II i share market set up procedure and diagrams drawing out possible market stall formations for maximsing traffic flow and consumer activity.

part I.

for as long as humankind has existed there has also been a place for trade with product and food and crafts. it is the way of people, of humanity to congregate in a space that is a bazaar or a market that is always a colourful place for trade or shopping to take place. the market energy depends on the quality and quantity of sellers with the right proportion of buyers which differs day to day, week by week and season to season.

the best time to sell a market depends on what one is selling and aesthetic wants of the market goes. the market seller will always provide if the buyer remains open to what is on offer. energetically an item will find you and you will find it. you might have an inkling before you arrive or it could be supposedly serendipitous and the surprise factor is high, which allows for maximum joy in reciprocal exchange of sourcing and selecting at the bazaar.

regular and seasoned flea friends understand the innate nature of el mercado— that an item is temporary, that we are merely custodians and custom-ers, only for a momentary time. we are less owners or have owner-ship, we are guardians of our second-hand ships. do not lament a bad or unsuitable buy, as it can either be given to its rightful new custodian or it can be recycled back to the thrifting world, to find its new patron. the joy in this is knowing that you did not partake in new production or burning of fuels in order to attain your treasured item.

trust this process as seller and you will enjoy letting it go to its rightful custodian and being handed back the amount it is worth — at flea market value.

part II.

some years back i learnt this expression from a sparky mate — piss-weak preparation means piss-poor performance. let’s use this old tradie adage to how we could approach selling at the market. most of the work can and is best done before you arrive at the markets. this is a general rundown of how i would prepare before considering packing the car.

tools of the trade

• running rail or clothing rack

• trestle table

• market rug

• camping chair

• masking tape or sticker dots or tags

• a good attitude and ready for action

mental prep.

you’ve been saying for years or months — it’s time to clean out the spare room or storage unit or wardrobe. rather than a i cant be bothered attitude, open yourself up to possibility of joy and clarity it can bring with letting go of items that no longer serve you while earning some return. perhaps wrangle a friend or family member to go through this right of market passage with you. it makes it more fun and enjoyable to endure embrace the morning as a team.

physical prep.

place all the unwanted belongings together so you can access the situation and separate into three main areas — clothing/apparel, toys/objects and homewares/linen. if you have spare rack — the collapsible ones are the best — hang all of the apparel pieces up where possible. fold and stack everything else into piles. wrap glassware and breakables in newspaper or towels.

if you want to go a step further — sort and place the items depending on what category they are — shirts, outerwear, pants, tees, dresses or by colour if you prefer. choose an aesthetic or categorisation that makes sense to you. then bundle handfuls of hangers together, tie with string or rubber band to keep them together. you can go a step further by covering with a garbage or cloth bag for protection. make sure shoes are paired together — place in a big ikea or equivalent.

pricing

pricing can be done before arrival if you want to be ready to roll or after setup when their a lull periods. or not pricing — other times it feels more open to allow market goers to ask. some folks love ticketed priced items so they don’t have to ask and they will literally grab the item and thrust money in your hand. other times, its nice to build up a conversation with folks asking you for price and sparking conversation and possible connection.

music

i would suggest playing music that is low stim for the morning and picks up to mid-tempo for daytime. i like to play classical or non verbal tunes in the wee hours of the morning before sunrise and then ‘amp’ it up to low key seventies. here is a love is 70s mixtape i prepared earlier. go on, give it a play and watch the golden oldies wander over as in a groovy trance. as the day unfolds its fun to bust out 80s or 90s so every generation can hum along.

one time a dude selling tie dye tees started belting out f** the police at like six in the morning. a regular stall holder marched over and told him to shut the f**k up. he turned it off immediately. so where possible, be conscious that it is a public space with all walks of life and to play tunes that veer away from heavy beats (and cussing).

loading & unloading.

where possible — get there early as f**k.