Walked the flea market this week end

[moopups]

There were between 7 to 9 thousand people present, at the 'Market of Marion' (county). I was told that after lunch it would thicken up more so. My impression is that there were already too many people there.

Its lain out under roof like a series of inter connected letter 'H's, with no separation that is not covered. 9 aisles.

There had to be at least 30 tractor trailer loads of merchandise presented. But the problem is that it was all 'visual' stuff, not useful stuff. Trinkets, home decor, painting, reproduced by machines, ect.

I took no money, did not want the temptations to win. I spoke with about a dozen vendors, they all say it dies in summer, so they go else where. Of course it dies if all you have to sell is visual stuff, the suckers, (winter visitors), whom buy this trash are gone then.

I saw no one selling custom designer soaps, I feel like a (Ninja) chicken in the fox house. I'll be ready by April.

I have been attending a professional soap making site lately, lots of tricks and techniques are discussed there. I may obtain a home yet this lifetime.

The swirling mass of so many people was intoxicating, all that movement was a lot more that I am accustom to seeing. At two points I had to seek a bench to catch my bearings.

Being that I have been living with a sensitive (chemically) person, my senses were majorly assaulted in public. Not their fault they think they need to stink pretty. Its better than the alternative.

And no one offered to supply me with carots....

[DenverGirlie]

My visits to the permament flea market has been mixed. Most of the stalls under the "roof" were crap stuff. Dollar store merchandise, on the outskirts it was a mix of more dollar store stuff and then "normal" people that brought out their yard sale in one central location.

I won't be back personally.

have you thought about trying to sell in a consignment store? Antique store? Craft store? Might have to give up some of your margin, but also don't have to do anything other than deliver and pick up money on the tail end.

[moopups]

Two local feed stores seem receptive to handling my products, I am going to pursue that angle a bit later. The introduction of colors and scents is the next approach, there are ways to make poka dot soap, swirled patterns, layered colors, ect.

[donsgal]

Once in a while I go up to the INTERSTATE 44 Flea market in Springfield (MO) which sounds a lot like the one you describe.

My big gripe is that they close too early. By 4 pm vendors are starting to pack up their stuff and leave. Sometimes I am just getting there! If they stayed open later (7 pm in the summer) then I would go more often.

donsgal

[Bink]

Originally Posted by moopups

And no one offered to supply me with carots....

Whaaat-? You say you're short of carrots?

[moopups]

TGIASOCs

[Bink]

Originally Posted by moopups

TGIASOCs

Oh. Well supplied with 'em then? I guess I'll put these back in the fridge. Let me know if you run low.

[moopups]

How can you actually put those nasty tasteless things in your mouth? They don't have any GMO soy stuff on them! I see them as a useless vegetable.

Plus, they grow in the dirt!

[Bink]

But don't you like potatoes? The best potatoes smell like dirt. Ummm...dirt tates.

And good carrots aren't tasteless--they're nice and sweet. The critters next door swear by 'em.

[moopups]

Do you live next to Klingons?

[Bink]

No, they're the neighbors on the other side. I think they like carrots, too, though.

But the critters I was talking about were the goat, the donkey and the pony. They say carrots are great, you should try them.

[moopups]

Once was enough, never again. They are a useless thing, besides the vitamins provided elsewhere. Within food that has taste.

[Bink]

Well, if you won't take the goat's word for it, I don't guess I can convince you. Besides, you eat sweet potatoes, don't you? You're right, you can get whatever good a carrot would do you there or elsewhere.

Except it's harder to stab someone with a frozen sweet potato.

[moopups]

Is this a confession?

[Bink]

Why, I'd look mighty silly if I confessed to trying to stab somebody with a frozen sweet potato, wouldn't I?

[moopups]

Film at 11:00

[RoseGarden]

The local Ace hardware here carries some homemade soap with little labels, something like 'Granny G's Home Made Lye Soap', something bucolic of that sort. They are up front at the register/check-out. They are $4 for a square of soap about 2x2x3". And there is another one that is for removing dirt that has cornmeal or something in it, same price I think. They sell stacks of it. You ought to do well if you can get a couple of places to sell it, and as importantly display it where it is VISIBLE to the customers, like at the check-outs.

[Peacock]

And to think, someone asked recently if Aspies have a sense of humor.

Mitch, our local flea market (just like your "HHHHH") has no fewer than 4 booths selling homemade soaps.

All were the same - same scents, same swirls, same packaging, except one that sold clear glycerine soaps with various whatchamacallits stuck inside, sometimes creating a scene (like a beach scene) and sometimes just random designs.

Got a Renaissance Fair nearby? Maybe sign up to sell soap there, all dressed in medieval SCA costume.

[Ed Norman]

Seems like every gas station, convenience store, feed store and lumberyard around here has a box of homemade soap or jelly or lip balm or lotion by the register. I've never bought any of it, but the turistas fog thru here many months of the year.

[clovis]

There is only one person I know selling homemade soap around here....at an indoor flea market.
Rent for her show case is $35 a month. She has been there for at least two years. Her stock seems to move pretty well; at least there isn't any dust on her soaps.
Would be kind of cool if you could find as many of these type places as you wanted...like setting up your own franchises....and get a nice healty check from each one every month.
Clove