We’ve noticed that some of our best customers are the savvy little shoppers who get in for free – the kids!
Junk Diva Tori Spelling, with her “collectors in training”!
I guess we all know that American kids learn to shop early on. I remember my 2 year old son in his car seat behind me, saying, “Mom, there’s Kmart! Let’s go!” But bringing children to the flea market opens up a whole nuther world. They learn:
HISTORY- Be it a wrought iron bean pot from the Civil War or a 1960’s Barbie doll, the seller is sure to know its story.
Early Ford, the mechanization of work, and rise of the unions. Fun!
ECOLOGY- reduce, reuse, recycle. It’s implicit in the whole idea of the flea market.
Global village. Start’em young!
TREASURE HUNT- The element of surprise cannot be underestimated. At the market there are hoards of treasure, right before your very eyes, and even sellers who look a bit like pirates!
A man with an eye for treasure, and a disarming wink.
Which brings up another valuable lesson of the market:
NEGOTIATING SKILLS – Where else in America can you practice the ancient art of haggling? Who knows, with this experience, your child could be the next Zig Zigler. (Plus, they’ll be honing their skills on someone besides you!)
“Hmm…It’s a die cast 1970’s B-52, but the wing’s chipped. I won’t go over a dollar…”
EXPERTISE – spark a fire. In Chinese the word for business is “buy/sell”. Your child may get so good at it, he or she could start their own Ebay store, sell at the flea market and maybe venture into estate sales and appraisals. Oh, wait, that’s Connor McCrory I’m talking about, “the youngest picker”, one of our favorite antique dealers. He’s 8 years old!
“…OK Lori, here’s the deal, I’ll write about your Pierce Market in my Antique Weekly column if you give me a break on my booth price…OK?
And that’s a whole nuther story…
