Murano Art Glass Parrot Figurine featured at Outasite!! Collectibles

This week Outasite!! Collectibles is featuring a beautiful vintage Murano Art Glass parrot figurine. The art glass parrot is probably a mid-century piece with beautiful lines. This Murano Art Glass figurine has beautiful blue glass hues with white glass swirls and aventurine flecks in the clear glass comb of the parrot. It measures about 11 inches tall.

Murano Art Glass has been produced on the Venetian island of Murano since about the 13th Century. Afraid that glass foundries would one day burn their city down, Venetian officials banned the glass makers and many moved to the island of Murano. Since then, many art glass manufacturers including Seguso, Barbini, Somerso, Barovier & Toso and Venini have been making some of the most beautiful art glass in the world. To this day, the glass artisans on the island are using the ancient techniques and craftsmanship to follow the traditions of the old masters.

The Rose Bowl Flea Market

Last November my son and his fiancé were visiting from Los Angeles and we were discussing their wedding plans for this month. We discussed how I had never been in Los Angeles or California for that matter and kiddingly I said to them that if they were planning a wedding in Los Angeles the only thing I would ask would be that they planned it on a weekend where the Rose Bowl Flea Market would be taking place. A few months later, while talking to them on the phone, they mentioned that the Sunday after the wedding, we could visit the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I had completely forgotten about my comment on their previous visit, but was ecstatic that I would be able to go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

The largest flea market on the west coast, the Rose Bowl Flea Market is usually open on the second Sunday of every month. It features more than 2,500 dealers and thousands of visitors including the famed Kovels, Ralph & Terry as well as major Hollywood Stars and entertainers. The Rose Bowl Flea Market also features a little bit of everything and is one of those mega markets where if you cannot find what you are looking for here, you are never going to find it. In addition to antiques, collectibles of every kind, vintage clothing and garage sale items, the Rose Bowl has now added an indoor section dedicated to art and artisans.

The Rose Bowl Stadium where the flea market is held is a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1922. Many people are familiar with the stadium even if they haven’t been to sunny southern California because it is where UCLA plays and it hosts the Tournament of Roses college football game. Additionally, five Super Bowl football games have been played at the stadium by National Football League teams and the Men’s Soccer World Cup games were played there in 1994. Situated in the Aroyo Seco section of Pasadena, the stadium backdrop includes majestic mountain scenery and natural beauty that takes your breath away.

After having a grand but exhausting time at the wedding this past Saturday, I finally realized one of my dreams, and we all went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It was a beautiful day in Pasadena, California, sunny skies with the temperature in the mid-80’s. As we stepped through the gate, I couldn’t help but think that this is also one of those flea markets that we’d never be able to take in all in one day but I found that the Rose Bowl Flea Market was all that I expected it to be. The vendors that we talked to were customer friendly and willing to make a deal and the merchandise was amazing. We saw more beautiful Murano Glass than we have seen at any other flea market we have visited but what we ended up buying a Blenko Art Glass Amberina pitcher and a Fenton Art Glass Amberina bowl and we got a great deal on both. More importantly, the best deal we found was on a cedar chest that the newlyweds had been looking for and not found at other flea markets, which confirmed our thought that if you can’t find it here, you’re not going to find it.

Outasite!! Collectibles - Murano Art Glass

How to be Successful in the Flea Market Business

Some people think it is easy to start a flea market business. They dream about making big money by signing up and taking their merchandise out there. However, sometimes, it’s not as easy as it seems. Here are some things to think about if you want to be successful at a flea market.

First, you want to decide what type of merchandise you want to sell. Do you want to sell new merchandise, vintage collectibles or antiques? You want to choose something that you know a little bit about and can readily obtain at wholesale prices. For example, if you want to sell sunglasses, you should know something about fashion as well as where to obtain wholesale sunglasses. The same holds true if you want to sell vintage Murano art glass; you have know something about art glass and you may have to visit a few auctions and yard sales.

Once you know what it is that you want to sell, you must then decide on where to sell it for maximum profit. You have to choose the right flea market for your merchandise. An antique and collectible flea market may not be the best place to sell sunglass, as a matter of fact; some promoters wouldn’t let you in the door with them. On the other hand, an inexpensive flea market is probably not a good place to sell your antique sideboards and lap desks. Some flea markets are high end and some are lower end. The main thing is to choose a flea market that will allow you to sell at the right price.

This brings us to pricing at flea markets. Most flea market dealers expect that there will be some haggling on price. Therefore you have to insure that you price accordingly. Some dealers mark up the price by 25% in order to haggle down to what they really want. However, with the way the economy is today, you may want to be careful about the pricing. Customers at flea markets expect that prices are lower at a flea market and that is why they shop there. Otherwise, they could get the sunglasses at any local drug store or big box store. Another thing to remember here is that you don’t want to hang on to inventory too long, you want to turn it around as quickly as possible. Customers who frequent flea markets do not want to see the same things every time they come out.

Displaying the merchandise is as important as customer service. Regardless of the where the flea market is located or what type of flea market it is, you want to insure that your merchandise is eye appealing and place impulse items in front where customers can readily get to them. Use movement to get the shoppers attention. If an item is not selling where you originally displayed it, move it somewhere else. Everything has a buyer; it just takes the right person to come by your booth. Once they come to your booth, you want to make sure you treat them nice. Although it is not like a store, you still can get many repeat customers by treating everyone with respect. Always have bags and change.