First Post of 2011!

I'm baaaaaaack!  Didja miss me?

This damn cold is finally going away and I'm starting to feel kind of normal again, so it's time to get going.  After all, it's a new year!

I've spent most of the last few days in bed, but did manage to get out to the New Year's Flea Market Spectacular.  There are a couple of regular dealers there where I get supplies for my booth, and I needed a few things. Beyond that, I've been going to the Flea Market since I was in college, especially the New Year's show.  I had a couple of moments where I thought I wasn't going to make it all the way through, which would have been a historical second.*  I was pretty wiped at the end of the day, though.

It wasn't too bad as flea markets go.  It seems that there are fewer dudes selling socks and seen on TV items these days and more selling second-hand items at decent prices these days.  Maybe it's the economy.  Anyway, I did find some good stuff, and didn't spend too much at all.  In fact, my booth supplies actually cost more than the other items I got.

Prize of the day was most likely a couple of packets of vintage religious pamphlets and pics.  They were selling for 50 cents an item, but I asked about a bulk price for both packets.  Kind of freaked out the guy selling them, so he had to get his wife.  They always have to get their wives.  I think most of the guys are just along for the ride or something.

Anyway, she counted everything out, then came up with a total based on 25 cents per item, instead of 50.  Then, she knocked four bucks off that, so I got both packets for eight bucks.  Pretty good, since her count came up about 10 or 15 less than mine to begin with.  (Sorry no pics.  I cannot for the life of me find my camera right now.)

I was a little disappointed in the antique wing this time around.  They only have the antique wing a couple times a year any more, and I always look forward to it.  If nothing else, it's a good chance to do some research (also known as drooling over cool shit). 

The past few times, though, there were a lot of dealers with really good stuff (not junk) selling everything for a buck an item.  I figure it was probably a sign of the economy, especially since antiques are luxury items.  For whatever reason, it was a good source for affordable quality merchandise, even if it only came around twice a year.

Well, I guess the economy really is turning around, because a lot of those dealers are easing out of the dollar table business.  It's the same stuff, mind you, but now they're charging regular antique retail for it.  There were still a couple of the bargain folks there, so I did get a few items, but it wasn't nearly the picking field it had been.

Oh well, it was good while it lasted.

I'm moving into my slow down phase as far as acquiring stuff for the booth goes.  It's winter, and there are fewer buying opportunities, so I stockpiled stuff through the summer to prepare for the lean months.  Now it's time to work through the stockpile.  I probably held back a bit too much, because the house is sort of over-run with tubs of merch!  It's time to get the stuff hauled out and sold.

It's probably going to be a two-day booth run this week.  One day to get all the Christmas packed up, things rearranged, and a bunch of stuff marked for clearance, and the second day to cram it full of new stuff.  I set a record in December, and want to keep building on it.

As far as the blog goes, I think I'm going to spend this week looking back on 2010 one last time.  It wasn't pretty, but I survived.  Then, we'll look ahead into what I hope 2011 will be.  After that, I want to look at some of the junking TV shows that are sprouting up like weeds, and then review the latest bestseller.  Who knows?  There might even be a video or two along the way.

Welcome aboard!  2011 is just getting started.

*When I was in college, my father and I went to the New Year's Flea Market one year when I had the flu.  I lasted about two aisles and had to throw in the towel.  My dad talked about it for months.  In fact, the whole family talked about it for months.  Apparently, my leaving a flea market early for an reason was considered unthinkable to that point.