In this region, flea markets provide income to thousands of people and pump millions of dollars into the local economy.
Greg Dove, president of Levin Service Co., which operates Treasure Aisles just off Interstate 75 in Monroe and Caesar Creek Markets off I-71 in Clinton County, estimated his flea markets have combined annual vendor sales of $11.5 million.
Dove also said 1,400 people derive income from the outdoor and indoor vending locations.
“Flea markets are small business incubators,” Dove said. “Start a small business with not a lot of money and grow it to supplement income, or for some it’s their only source of income.”
Across I-75 is Traders World, the region’s largest flea market. More than 1.1 million people attend the flea market in a year, according to manager Jay Frick. In comparison, Dove said Treasure Aisles and Caesar Creek get a combined 1.2 million visitors per year.
Dove said in a down economy, flea markets offer people a low-cost way to open a business and bring in new sources of income. There are more than 190 flea markets in Ohio, according to FleaPortal.com.
Dave English of Windy Acres — a Wilmington-based manufacturer of candy, nuts, dried fruits, etc. — knows all too well the ability to turn a hobby into a lucrative business.
Windy Acres was established in 1983, four years after his parents, Ed and Maxine English, began selling honey at Caesar Creek Markets.
“It’s a unique story to think it all came out of a flea market,” English said, who manages the store at Caesar Creek. “I want to tell others you can really become a success if you just try and work hard. There’s ability to make money.”
English said his father produced honey on the side while maintaining a full-time job as a truck driver. He sold his products to co-workers and eventually couldn’t keep up with demand.
Five years later after Ed English was laid off from work, he put all his effort into the sale of his products. Windy Acres now has 14 employees, a packaging business, and sells products in stores and markets across 11 states, including more than 90 Krogers and the three locally-based flea markets.
“It would be hard to give up that extra income,” English said of maintaining a presence in flea markets.
Treasure Aisles was originally opened as Turtle Creek Markets in 1992 by the Levin Service Co. The Caesar Creek Markets were built in 1978 and acquired by Levin in 1982. The two markets funnel about $586,000 annually into the local economies through taxes.
Traders World opened in 1985 and is operated by Frick with his mother and two sisters. Traders World features 800 indoor booths stretching two miles and about 450 outside vendors.
“This is a regional shopping mall for bargain hunters,” Frick said. “Booths start out small but if it goes well the hobby becomes kind of a little business.”
The cost to become a vendor at the markets ranges from $20 to $94. At the Levin Service Co. markets, cost is $45 per weekend. Traders World has daily rates of $20 for outside spots and from $73 to $94 per weekend for indoor booths.
Dove, who serves on the board of the National Flea Market Association, said there are common misconceptions about flea markets including that all items are “used stuff out of grandma’s garage.” But vendors are held to a high standard, and both Dove and Frick said those operating with faulty or counterfeit items are asked to leave.
According to Traders World’s rules for sellers, the market does not permit the sale, display or trade of counterfeit items and vendors are permanently removed if caught. A similar policy is enacted by Levin Service Co., and Dove said it’s usually a tell-tale sign if someone is selling Nike shoes for $10.
“Counterfeits are becoming incredibly sophisticated,” Dove said.
Frick said on the occasion that a shopper is unsatisfied with a product, he will act as a mediator between the customer and vendor.
“It’s a challenge to keep the place up on a high level,” Frick said.
Frick said as a deterrent, he hires Monroe police to maintain a presence at the market and assist in traffic control and identifying questionable items.
Detective Doug Leist of Monroe police said the police department collaborates with various brands of merchandise to conduct surveillance and assist in merchandise authentication.
“The brands have assisted us in the raids and prosecution of various tenants at Traders World and Treasure Aisles,” Leist said. “We are hoping to curb or stop the sale of counterfeit merchandise not only in our city but throughout the Tri-State area.”
Also brought in to assist with police investigations is Westerville-based Bruce Kingsland & Associates, an investigative firm specializing in brand protection.
“We’re trained by brands to identify counterfeit products and that’s how we help with police,” President Bruce Kingsland said. “It never really goes away; it’s like the drug trade, it’s always there.”
Kingsland said as new brands are created and police awareness grows, so does the demand for his services — about 50 percent of his case load concerns counterfeits. Kingsland said concerned shoppers should be aware of who they are buying the product from and what type of packaging it comes in. He said oftentimes the products are manufactured overseas and shipped in.
“It’s common sense; you aren’t going to find a genuine Coach purse at a flea market for $30 or $50,” Kingsland said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or Hannah.Poturalski@coxinc.com.
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