Today, I would like to teach you some flea market tips for network marketers. These are tips you can use to generate leads and sales by setting up a booth at your local flea market.
Before we get too deep into the training, I would suggest that you take out your distributor agreement right now and read it, or call your company support office, to find out if you are allowed to promote your products and business opportunity at flea markets.
Please note that many MLM Companies prohibit this, so make sure you find out the rules first, so you don’t get yourself in legal trouble. Keep in mind I am NOT suggesting you break any rules. If you can’t do it, don’t do it!
I believe flea markets are a wonderful way to recruit new distributors and find more customers for your network marketing business.
Why set up at flea markets? One of the best reasons to set up at flea markets is because of the foot traffic. Many flea markets have anywhere from 5k to 10k visitors on a weekend. Some have more visitors and others have less. In either case, that’s a lot of people. Even if just 2-3% of the visitors stop at your booth, that is a lot of potential prospects.
Additionally, most flea markets are very inexpensive to set up at. Most flea markets cost $10 to $20 to set up for a day. This makes it an effective and low cost marketing strategy to build your MLM Business.
What should you bring with you to set up? Here are some things you should bring when you go to the flea market to promote your MLM or direct sales business: products samples, name tags, candles, candy, pens, paper, prizes, a sheet or table cloth for the table, sign, bottled water, chairs, product displays, breath mints, your appointment book, and lots of business cards.
Tips for Success
Listed below, I would like to share some of my favorite tips for having a successful outing at the flea market.
# 1 Have a Way to Collect Names by Doing a Raffle
Your primary goal at the flea market is to collect names, phone numbers, and emails. One of the best ways to do that is to have a raffle to give away some free product samples.
You can have people put their business card in your raffle container, or they can fill out a simple questionnaire.
Another way to get people’s contact information is to give away a free sample in exchange for the person’s name, phone numbers and email.
A good flea market should produce minimum 50-100 leads IF your focus is on getting leads. Your job is to follow up with people within 24-48 hours after the flea market. Give them a call, see how they liked the products, and ask them to make a purchase.
# 2 Have a Neat and Organized Booth
Take some time and make your booth neat and organized. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The day before the flea market, make a checklist of everything you need to bring with you so you don’t forget anything.
Have a table cloth, a poster, name tags, and samples. Bring a radio and play some easy listening music. Consider bringing a couple candles so the booth smells good. At the event, wear a name tag and dress to impress. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie, but look neat and professional.
# 3 Bring a Helper with You
It would be in your best interest to bring a helper with you. You could bring one of your children to help. Even better, you could bring another distributor who is in your team and have them help.
Split the cost of the event with them and split the leads. If your booth gets busy you will want to have someone there to help you answer questions. Plus, you’ll need bathroom breaks, so it’s good to have someone who can cover down for you while you step away for a few moments.
# 4 Network with the Vendors
One of the most overlooked prospects at flea markets is the other vendors. Most of the people setting up at the flea market are entrepreneurial by nature.
It would be in your best interest to connect with these folks and get their business card. I’d say you probably have a better chance of sponsoring one of the vendors than you do sponsoring someone who stops at your booth.
Even if you decide not to set up a booth or table at a flea market, visit your local flea market and talk to the vendors. You will find some awesome prospects.
# 5 Follow Up
You’ve heard that the money is in the follow up. That is so true. Make sure that you call your leads within 2 days after the event. If you aren’t willing to follow up, you shouldn’t set up at the flea market in the first place. If possible, set a follow-up appointment in your day planner with your leads when you first meet them.
You can also add the people to your email drip campaign and direct mail list. Stay in touch with people until they buy or die. The fortune is in the follow up.
Final Thoughts
In summary, flea markets can be a great resource for network marketers and direct sellers. Assuming that your company does not prohibit you from doing this, I suggest you look into it.
You never know what type of success you will have until you try it out. Just make sure that you follow the advice in this article. Spend most of your time at the event generating leads and be sure to follow up with them after the event.
What are your thoughts? If you’ve ever set up a booth at a flea market to promote your MLM or direct sales business please leave a comment below and tell us about your experience. What worked well? What didn’t work? What tips can you share with others? I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.
Chuck Holmes
20+ Year Network Marketing Professional
Top Earner & Top Recruiter
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
P.S. Learn how to grow a successful network marketing business. Secret tips, training, and practical ideas. Free training delivered by email.
You really do not find a whole lot of flea markets here in Puerto Rico, but there are many artisan fairs. I believe that in many cases, a person could set up at some of these with the right permission. I know I have seen Herbalife representatives set theirs up at some of these fairs, so I guess other MLMs could do the same.
This is a great idea. I will have to try it.
Any kind of event with a lot of foot traffic has the potential to be a great source of leads for your new business. You just have to try out a few different ones to see what type of results you will get.
I love your advice to bring a helper with you. Things can seem really slow at flea markets, but once a customer stops to peruse your goods, it seems to set off every other shopper’s radar and they all come over to see what sort of deal the first person found. It is feast or famine, and you will need someone helping you man the table at feast time!
Flea markets are great exposure, and are usually full of people carrying cash and looking for an excuse to spend it.
Having a helper with you at the flea markets is definitely a wise move, especially if you want to take a short break or use the restroom.
What an excellent idea! I had never considered this either. It makes such great sense, and people that visit flea markets are looking for good deals.The raffle, or free drawing idea I know works. You can build amazing lists through this. I would have both that and a box explaining just a bit on your MLM. I would then have a “sign up” for more information.It is important that you follow up with those leads as soon as possible. Leads are only hot for a very short time.Thanks for the idea.
This strategy works for most small business owners, not just network marketers.
I really like the raffle idea for the generate contacts. It’s simple and rewarding – and leave you with a lot of people to contact! It would never have occurred to me to set up at a flea market to generate leads and possibly showcase my product or service. It’s such an inexpensive and easy way to build your MLM business!
Flea markets are a great way for any business to generate leads. It’s also a good way to do some small tests and find out what type of demand you might have for your product or service before you decide to launch it on a full scale.