Flea Market Directory

Meet me at the market

ALTON - Farmers markets have been around for centuries. At one time, an informal gathering of people selling or trading to each other basically was the only way to exchange food and goods.

As population centers grew, so did the markets. Markets were used not only for selling and trade, but for the building of relationships, and they served as social outings. Most markets were held on major thoroughfares, and thus the name "Market Street" was born in many towns and cities.

Farmers markets have risen in popularity in recent decades as consumers have become more interested in fresh produce and products; many use them as an opportunity to supplement their income, especially in today's tough economic times. According to the 2010 National Farmers Market Directory, there are more than 6,132 operating farmers markets in the United States.

Farmers, artists and other vendors benefit from the markets by having direct access to consumers. The consumers benefit by gaining access to fresh, nutritious food and handcrafted items, many that are one-of-a-kind. The community benefits stem from interest generated in the area and surrounding businesses.

And the Alton Farmers and Artisans Market in Downtown Alton is doing quite well, said Sara McGibany, executive director for Alton Marketplace Association, which organizes and sponsors the market.

The Alton market began about 17 years ago and has gone through a number of phases to reach its current incarnation. It was revamped in 2002 to include live entertainment, flea market vendors, nonprofit organizations and more pizzazz to make it a fun and inviting place. In recent years, even more dimensions have been added, with activities for children and varying types of live entertainment.

The number of vendors has grown, too. Opening day had as many as 30, and last year saw more than 70 participating at some level throughout the season. McGibany said most weeks will feature anywhere from 25 to 45 separate merchants.

The market is held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays through mid-October, at the corner of Henry Street and Landmarks Boulevard, with an average of about 300 people on a weekly basis to 600 on a peak day.

All items must be either homegrown or at least 50 percent handmade to be sold at the market. Fresh produce, antiques, shirts, sunglasses, crafts, unique T-shirts, herbal soaps and shampoos and a lot of fun things are for sale. Because it includes both farmers and artisans, there is a range of things to see and purchase.

SportsLife offers vendors big-guy buying clout | fleamarketzone.com

For flea market and swap meet vendors looking to sell more sports-related products, SportsLife Enterprises has an intriguing opportunity. SportsLife is a buying group, which means it is an organization of independent members who band together to negotiate great deals from suppliers. The members get the benefit of lower prices — with savings that exceed the cost of membership in the buying group — while suppliers benefit from greater sales.

SportsLife’s president, Ted Nevins explains it this way: “SportsLife is a buying group. Once someone becomes a member, we give them the tools and resources to either start up or expand their existing sporting goods or apparel business. We try to hook them up directly with wholesalers.”

There are other benefits of membership too. “When vendors join, they get a start up kit with a manual and how-to guide,” says Nevins. “We give them help through e-mail or an 800 number, as much as they need — it’s unlimited.” SportsLife also has a technology partner, which lets members become ecommerce merchants with online storefronts. “Once you are a member, you get access through our technology partner to software, a Web site, a shopping cart, so they can set up and sell online,” says Nevins.

Members also receive a newsletter, printed on paper, in the mail. “Instead of e-mailing a PDF that people just delete, we take the time and expense to write it up and print it up,” explains Nevins. “That’s in addition to a statement every month, and some coupons. I feel it gets read more doing it that way.” For those who prefer doing things online, there is a members-only Web site that has the same info, plus a supplier directory.

With almost 20 years of experience under his belt, Nevins has built his group into an effective organization. “We have about 500 to 1,000 active members using the group,” he says. “We’re not the largest in sales volume, because we try to help the little guy.”

Nevins wants to increase his user base of flea market vendors and push suppliers for even deeper discounts. “We want to help the flea market vendor make more money, with a snowball effect as our numbers grow.”

He empathizes with vendors who are selling through a recession. “A lot of them are trying to sell as best they can, and in this market, every wholesaler is looking at every possible customer,” says Nevins. “Most of our suppliers have very small minimums orders, such as $50, or $100, as a typical max. If it is much more that that, it doesn’t help us much either.

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