Holmes County Flea Market isn't just for tourists
There are places we don't see because we've become blinded by familiarity, stores we ignore because we know what they're about. We don't bother to find out for ourselves. We go to our usual places because, well, they're the usual places.
We do the same fast food for lunch because it's fast, even if it's boring. We go to the same big store for everyday household stuff because it's cheap, even if it's out of the way. We'll drive miles to save a buck on anything and everything, simply because it's a good deal.
We look at our marketplace the same way. We know who buys our products and services, and where they find us, so there's no reason to go outside those boundaries. Why try something new? It might not work.
Sometimes all that's needed is a friend to say, "Hey, here's my favorite place for (fill in the blank.)" It's a reason to stop, and to consider the possibility of something new.
In that spirit, there's a friendly group of folks who would like to invite their local friends to travel all the way to the east side of Berlin. Across from Hummel's, behind Zinck's Fabrics is a sprawling expanse of a building stuffed from one end to the other with merchandise of all kinds. No, this is not an outlet mall. This is the original Holmes County Flea Market.
For anyone one who lives or works in and around Holmes County, it's easy to ignore the businesses categorized as tourist stops. This may seem easier, but it's also a way to miss out. So if fighting Saturday afternoon traffic in July sounds too daunting, a better option may be to check out the Flea Market on a Thursday or Friday morning, especially in March or April. Here's how the morning might go.
First would be pastries from Hershberger Farm and Bakery, or maybe a pretzel and a cup of coffee from Auntie Anne's. Then a look at sportswear, or maybe handmade leather goods would be in order. The never-ending variety of Piccadilly Circus will keep one occupied for awhile, followed by browsing at the Gospel Book Nook.
One aisle will lead to another, and one hour will roll into two, and lunch time is approaching. By now the aroma from Becky's Kitchen is quite tempting, and the lunch special alone would be worth the stop.
Maybe it's during lunch, watching hundreds of people streaming by, that the entrepreneurial mind thinks, "There's no one here selling (fill in the blank.) Someone could make a lot of money with that." It might be a unique craft, artwork, or simply a great price on an everyday product.
So that's the second thing about the Flea Market that's easy to overlook. There's a need for more local people selling locally made products, according to partner Alan Zinck. It's a low risk alternative to opening your own store front, and it brings with it a tremendous amount of exposure. "On any given weekend, we get anywhere from five to eight thousand people through here," said Zinck. That's a lot of eyeballs on your product, whether it's an entrepreneurial startup, or a business wanting to expand.
Visitors to Amish Country, and the Flea Market, are looking for things they can't get just anywhere, so the person who makes what they sell is a step ahead already. Another category that's been successful is basics. "When money is tight, you have to go after more basics, you have to go after what people need, not just what people want," said Zinck.
There are indoor vendor spots rented for the season, or week by week space available outside. This is ideal for local produce growers. "This is an opportunity to sell directly to the public," said Zinck.
The new season starts Thursday, March 10, and the Flea Market has new vendors and new products to explore. Home décor, collectibles, health and beauty products, pottery – the list of vendors and products is almost as long as their building. On most Saturday afternoons, the Flea Market has live music, and there's a lounge area with a big screen TV for the non-shopper. To further tempt the shopper, they have weekly promotions and giveaways. Find more details at http://www.holmesfleamarket.com.
Trade the humdrum for a new experience. Your friends are waiting at the Holmes County Flea Market.
Published: March 4, 2011
