This week I started a new booth at The Mega Mall, an antiques and flea market at 15487 Old US 27, Lansing, Michigan. I figured two booths at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell, two booths (one is a double) plus the ladies' bathroom at the Antiques Market of Williamston, two blogs and an Etsy shop simply weren't enough antiques-related fun for me! Just the prospect of starting a new booth gets me so excited! I love a new challenge.
One reason I decided to expand my "empire", as I now call it, to the Mega Mall is the owner, Rich Kelley. He's been a friend of mine for many years and I know he works his tail off to promote the store. Rich is always organizing some special event and getting press for the shop. They have monthly outdoor flea markets during the warmer months that attract a large crowd, for example. Rich also has holiday celebrations, appraisal days with auctioneer Glen Rairigh of Americana Auctions, and is interested in capturing the younger crowd of flea market shoppers. I like his forward-thinking attitude!
Another dealer's booth at the Mega Mall:
I appreciate the fact that the Mega Mall has a more relaxed "anything goes" standard for sellers. I can sell my crafts and crafting supplies in my booth, which I can't really do in the other antique malls. As I've mentioned before, each antique mall in our area has found their own niche, which is great. Otherwise, they'd all be competing for the same customer, and that wouldn't be so great.
Some of the outdoor flea market offerings from the last Mega Mall event I attended:
I almost bought these American Plastic bricks at the Mega Mall last week. The roller skates are cute too:
I also have my eye on this movie poster:
I had to purchase this satin glass dresser set from a Mega Mall dealer for my "Pink Booth". It was marked 30% off:
Here's my new booth space, known as "J-5", before I began decorating it:
On August 1, I got to work wallpapering and bringing in my goodies. I've decided my signature look is a patchwork of vintage wallpaper, a treatment I used in Williamston. It took me several hours to put it up, but I think it's worth it. I've been hoarding vintage wallpaper for years, and I might as well use a little of it:
Now that I have the first layer down, I have a good backdrop. But I have a long way to go. I'll try to remember to take more pictures to document my progress. It's going to be fun!
Mitzi
