I love shopping at flea markets here in North Florida. You can score vintage for less, get some exercise and sunshine, and pick up fresh fruits and vegetables all in one trip, all year long! Summer flea hunting can be especially brutal in the scorching south, so I make sure to pack right to maximize my time spent outdoors at the flea markets.
Flea Market Supplies :
Newspaper: To wrap up glass finds.
Vintage thermos: For cold water or mint tea.
Bento Box. For healthy snacks if it's going to be a long trip!
Scissors: They come in handy!
Tape Measure: To see if something will fit in my car, house, or store booth.
Shopping bag: I may carry one on my shoulder and use another as the "liner" for my market cart. The back-up bag I carry will hold finds if the cart fills up! The others hold finds in my trunk.
I also pack plenty of ones, fives, quarters, and loose change. Don't forget your sunglasses and a hat to protect you from the scorching sun!
What do you pack with you for a flea market or thrift store hopping adventure?
Love your cart.
ReplyDeleteWould you add smart phone/camera to your list.
Yep, forgot to add that I bring my canon SLR every time, no matter how bulky and annoying it may be.
DeleteStill waiting on my smart phone, that'll be coming along once I have one. ;)
Very practical list. I always invest in a stick of sunscreen (for my face specifically, since I burn too easily. And it's less messy than the liquid in the bottle). And, regardless of where I am I have a little bottle of hand sanitizer or wipes. Especially after handling dusty old relics all day, I don't want to feel grossed out when I grab something to eat without finding somewhere to wash up. Plus if there's a sinkless port-o-potty situation...at least I have my sanitizer.
ReplyDelete<3 Jackie @ Let's Go Thrifting!
I like the little sunscreen sticks better, too. I don't burn so I forget that a hat isn't technically enough sun protection. I need to invest in (or create?) some alcohol-free wipes, the best clean-up solution when handling dirty, dusty things.
Deletei want a cart so bad! i found a perfect chippy one at an estate sale for a dollar, but my husband was like "just wait for a better one, we see them all the time" and i haven't seen on since!
ReplyDeletei also pack sunscreen, because I burn in 10 seconds, and a little notebook to take note of what i paid if i'm going to resell. and hand sanitizer wipes incase i want to eat a funnel cake. haha.
They have them for sale (for a pretty penny!) at some grocery stores and flea markets around here. I do regret losing my vintage one from Italy, though! I need to start bringing a notebook again to record what I pay for items, I used to do this and stopped. Loving everyone's suggestions. :)
DeleteHi Vanessa - Love your list. I always bring my list of measurements. I have a small book and also a list on my phone so I know what size to buy for furniture, curtains, etc. I also carry business cards - you never know who you will meet.
ReplyDeleteI always have business cards in my wallet too, they come in handy! Mine have my name, number, and e-mail on the back in case I need someone to contact me about more vintage deals or services we can provide each other.
DeleteI love the idea of bringing a list of measurements!
This is a great list. I keep reusable bags in the truck but never thought to bring newspaper or scissors!
ReplyDeleteI need to remember to keep mine in the trunk at all times, would definitely help with my bag overload issues... ;)
DeleteGreat list...I carry a small photo album which I have filled with pictures of my collections, and lists and measurements of things I need...or spots I need to fill in the house. I also keep several reusable "shopping bags" in my truck, so I can use them to wrap up my purchases as well. I always have Koozies in the truck, which are great to put small items down in so they don't get lost in the big bags...
ReplyDeleteOh, the photo album and koozies are good ideas!
DeleteNever thought of newspaper, but I do bring scissors (which keep getting taken away from me, airports, political rallies where a senator might be, Disneyland) and a tape measure because sometimes I am looking for a specific item. One can't have enough bags they always come in handy. Addresses are good for locating yard sales and estate sales, as is my Android phone, you are going to love yours when you get it. I'm always forgetting my camera and cash too, that must be psychological, to keep me from buying to much, ha!
ReplyDeleteI always carry a magnifying loop to check out hallmarks and such. I also carry a magnet for a quick metal test.
ReplyDeleteLove these ideas!
DeleteI always carry a magnifying loop to check out hallmarks and such. I also carry a magnet for a quick metal test.
ReplyDeleteI always carry a magnifying loop to check out hallmarks and such. I also carry a magnet for a quick metal test.
ReplyDeleteGranola bars and fruit roll-ups! Water bottles! And my phone! I pack 'em in a backpack with a hat and a slicker!
ReplyDeleteThe slicker is a good idea too, you just never know what the weather will be like...especially here in Florida, right now we're in the rainy season.
DeleteNever thought to bring newspaper or scissors. Both great ideas. I bring a magnet to check to see if something is silver or not and a bobby pin for when the wheel on my cart inevitably falls off when it's full of stuff (guess I could just buy a new cart someday). Love your thermos - might as well go in vintage style.
ReplyDeleteWe do beat up our carts out there. I want to switch to using a radio flyer and bungee cords one day; it allows more flexibility and stability!
DeleteLove this post and all of the comments. (very helpful) I have some small bungee cords just in case I get a little over the top!!lol
ReplyDeleteI need to bring mine along too, they help me stuff my bike in the trunk ;) haha...
DeleteI probably should pack all these items with me but I normally just take my canvas duffel bag and throw it over my shoulder while I shop. If there is an estate sale I'm planning to go to and I think I will be buying glassware, I will pack newsprint, bubble wrap, and have a few boxes ready to take with me to the sale. A lot of estate sales don't provide boxes or if they do, they don't provide newsprint or bubble wrap. I've gotten home too many times only to find something broke on the trip home because I didn't have any bubble wrap or newsprint to help protect the items.
ReplyDeleteSame here with the broken items, that's why I pack newspaper and bags to hold my finds. Boxes would be better but I haven't lost a find in a bag yet.
Delete1. tote bags
ReplyDelete2. camera
3.3-ring binder with paper, pen, scissors, store calendars showing mark down schedule.
I use the store calendars and my camera to remind me of finds that I like but am not willing to pay the going price for. This game of wait & see either proves I didn't need the item in the first place or rewards me with a bargain price.
In the binder I keep a list of retail prices of things I am likely to find thrifting. Another list has part #s of ink cartridges, vacuum bags, etc. Yet another list is for things I’m keeping an eye out for. The current list is wide mouth jelly jars, pith helmet, & turtle figurine.
I love the binder idea! I wish I was so patient and organized ;)
DeleteI pack
ReplyDelete+ iPhone which I use as camera, map, list of things I want/need and research
+ wallet (duh!)
+ reusable shopping bags
+ sprayable sunscreen
I don't go on glorious flea market trip like you do and when I do it's with my parents, but next year when I have a car on campus i plan to do a little more road tripping :)
Can't wait to read about your thrifting adventures ;)
ReplyDeleteAH where did you get your cart? i love it!!! i've been looking for one for forever for my thrifting adventures :)
ReplyDeleteI got it from a vendor at the flea market. I've seen them in grocery stores, they may even have them at big chains like Target and Walmart. :D
DeleteI also take my camera everywhere! I live in an area where there is literally at least one antique mall, thrift store,or flea market every 1/2 a mile! I make a day of a "field trip" and tour the places that I have chosen ahead of time (although...each place I stopped at recommended me to the next place to go...I figured they knew better than I did!) Anyway...other than those freakish $1 and $5 repurposing purchases that I just can't let go, I take a picture of my interests(and then the price tag) and I review them on the computer when I get home. I also take pictures of great set ups in booths to refer to when I start one myself someday! I have learned a lot through the eye of my camera! Oh...and to add to the list of things to have...comfortable shoes, tylenol, and a smile! Antique mall and flea market dealers are your friends! If they like you and know your interests...you might just get that item that you've been looking for before the general public even sees it!
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