It's not your mothers flea market

The Flea Market, car boot sales, trash and treasure markets, jumbo sales, whatever you call them, they were starting to become this dying event in the 1990s and early 2000s. With the exception of Rose Bowl. Rose bowl just got bigger and then divided into sections. Todays Flea Markets are a thing, a rage, a community. It is a coming together of like tastes, like minds and friends.

There are markets that I have deemed for the "linen ladies". Shoppers in earthtone linens with a penchant for rough, rusty, farm/barn remnants to bring home and decorate. They appear to all know each other, try to haggle but aren't completely dedicated to it and love to acquire. To see and be seen. It's fun to watch and more interesting to understand. The human condition, at least the condition of it shopping.

Then there are the markets that are for those in the “biz”. I am in the biz so to me this is fun. There is no holds barred, always wiggle room, lots of banter and buying in volume. A seller/buyer paradise. Bringing trucks up to the entrance, loading, strapping. It is a wonderful filling sight. Love of the haul, love of the whole event. This is the industry loving flea markets.

Then there are those that are somewhere in the middle and haven't found their beat as of yet. Those, they will find themselves or will disband. I have send two in the last year just have no direction and fall apart.

Flea Markets have become thematic, with an emphasis on farms, barns, rusty and chippy. Dealers are raiding the landscape of America to find the best farm find tucked for years in a dark corner. I think California has exhausted their plethora of hidden gems. Dealers are on the road Instagramming their trips and finds. I follow the tales of acquisition with amazement and excitement. To know those things are not forgotten, lost or destroyed, is a joy.

At beginning of September, I have my own Flea Market to tackle. It is themed Farm and has plenty of chippy barn relics. I see the photos of vendors finds and I know that it is the usual fair. Try to bring unusual items that touch on the theme but transcend. So as flea markets become even more popular and seem to run their circuit, customers will buy their arm full of treasures and vendors will continue to scout for those great finds.