Need Help! i need some advice on swap meets....

Hey guys! I need some advice on what swap meets would be good for me to go to to do some business. Let me explain.....

I'm a gl***man, and I specialize in hot rod gl***. I want to make a mobile gl*** shop out of a 20' enclosed trailer and hit the road with my patterns and tools and a buncha gl***! My plan is to leave Billings right after the 4th of july and be at a big swap meet somewhere by the next weekend and go to a different one the week after that and then do another one the next week. I think i'll do about 3 weeks and then come home and get caught back up at the shop for a while and then do another 'tour' in early fall if the first one goes well.

I don't have my trailer yet and am in the beginning stages of puttin this to work, but it would help me if I could come up with my route now and then have some dates to plan around. I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row early.

Whatta you guys think of my idea? I plan on cutting and boxing up a lot of gl*** for some of the popular ones before I go, and i'm gonna do a stock order of a bunch of different channels and fuzzies and other window paraphenalia to peddle while I cut gl*** to order for people at the shows. I'd stick around town for a few days after the show and finish up the work I plan on getting while i'm at the swap meets and maybe even travel around to shops and do some installs for people if they need me to. Chop their windshields or what have ya, ya know?

I haven't been to a helluva lotta swap meets so that's why I wanna get some tips and advice, and I know you guys KNOW. Have you ever seen anybody cut laminated gl*** before? At a car show? Well,in case you haven't, ya gotta light it on fire to do it, and if I have my shop doors open, the people walkin by or the ones that hang out in the bar next door to me ALWAYS come watch me do it and oooo and aaaaah and they just think its the coolest thing. Maybe it because theyre half lit, i dunno, but I'm betting i'd draw a crowd at the swap meets just because its fun to watch....

I would consider this an 'unofficial' hamb sponsored idea, as it is the business that i'm getting from you folks, and only you at this point, that is paying for this dream of mine to become a reality. Yes, that's right, you guys are buying me the trailer and the gas to get to the shows, cuz i've been saving all the money i've made cutting and shippin hot rod gl*** for the past few weeks, and will continue to save it till I leave in july.

I wanna get the biggest bang for my buck when I go, so i'm wondering where and when the biggest and best swap meets are in July and August......

Come on guys, help me out!

 

Chris...I'm sure you know this, but make sure you book outside swaps. Indoor swaps are closely regulated when it comes to safety, and fire is not allowed.

 

There's several websites out there with lists of all of the swap meets across the country. Mark down the ones you'd like to attend, and be sure to pre-register so you don't show up and can't get in.

Be sure your trailer has good signage that states that you can cut gl*** right there on the spot, that way some folks might run home to get their patterns and bring it back to you. Exposure is everything. Make sure your trailer is clean and professional, make sure your signage is visible from across the grounds. Even if that means some signs that can easily be setup on the roof, or a-frame style signs on the ground.

Since you haven't gotten the trailer yet, and if your truck is up for it, I'd opt for a larger trailer with a small living quarters up front, that way you can camp out in the trailer at the swap meet grounds (if they allow it, most do), you would save yourself the cost of hotels. A small AC window unit, gas generator, and icechest or small fridge and would be cheaper than a week of hotel stays.

Set up a website or blog or something where you update any new products/patterns, and be sure to list all the events you plan on being at. Have that website on a business card so folks can see where you'll be and p*** them out like candy. Websites are cheap/free and business cards are cheap.

Good luck.

 

The cost of gas/fuel, entry fees, living on the road etc is going to be high.
If you have an engine on a start up stand with Zoomies and can fire that up occasionally - THAT ALWAYS DRAWS A CROWD!

 

Chris I think you may be heading in the wrong direction with the cost of gas, commercial rate for swap meet space and expenses you're going to have a lot of over head trying to sell at a swap meet, why not try e-bay or craigslist with an ad for your cut gl***, there only a couple of guys doing that now so there is room for another, check the e-bay picture of 49-50-51 Mercury gl*** and you'll see what I mean. Good luck.........

 

See, i'm thinking the opposite, I think the cost to the customers would be lower if I brought my gl*** to them, rather than havin' 'em pay the 50 bucks it cost to ship 'em, and therefore they'd be more apt to make the spontaneous decision to just buy the gl*** now while the guy's here" sorta deal. I'm thinking i could do a couple thousand $ a day pretty easy at the car shows, plus line out work to keep me in town for a few days after the show. And the exposure i'd get and the contacts i'd make at the swap meets would keep the business comin' in once I got back home. I would venture a guess that >90% of the cars you all are restoring or building are going to need gl***. I hear a lot of people tell me "i'm a month or two away from needing gl***, but i'll keep your info", and then i'd say maybe 50% of those people actually order gl*** down the road from me. I think if i had a bunch of sets already cut and boxed and sitting there, people are gonna buy them because #1-they came to the swap meet lookin' for parts, with $$ in their pocket, and #2-they almost all need gl*** at some point, right? i'll have to punch the gas numbers a little harder, but i think i could pull it off if i used a toy hauler or something with living quarters and just stayed at the shows. And Ebay's fees are ridonculous, by the time its all said and done on ebay, if the customer uses paypal, those ***s at abay wind up with about 12%-15% of mine, and your money. I think its a ripoff, myself. I've done some ads on craigslist, with limited success, but so far the hamb has been my best avenue. You guys have been good to me.

Keep the thoughts comin'!

 

Any more feedack, opinions, or advice out there? Is this a good idea or am I nuts for thinkin' it up?

 

I think it would take you years to be established enough to sell enough gl*** to make it worth it. Do you have all the patterns needed to do any gl*** on the fly? If not people will need to bring patterns and wont have them if they just walk up to your trailer. I just bought a full set of gl*** from a company that sells on ebay and lists their phone number, great service and delivered when they said it would be. No patterns needed which was a big time saver. If not for ebay I would nto have found them, not sure if they even have a website.

 

auto city cl***ic from MI and vintage gl*** from GA set up at shows like Carlisle, Hershey, and Daytona Turkey Rod. They have sets of side gl*** for the popular pickups, tri-five chevys, etc and some V **** windshields. They'll also take orders for sets and offer free shipping on certain stuff if ordered at the show. Never seen anyone cut on site. I guess you'd have to advertise in advance so you could get people to bring templates for any custom chopped stuff.
I would be great to see the cutting demonstration, but with all the creepy rules that keep getting imposed on vendors, I don't know how the fire thing would work out.
Maybe contact the show promoters and they may be receptive to setting up a demostration area, rather than just a vendor space.

 

Yes! There was a company bringing gl*** to the Pate Texas Swap Meet.
Recently, I called and they told me the cost of shipping equaled the cost of the gl***! $45 for gl***, $45 for shipping In other words I did NOT buy their gl***.
Let us know which swap you will be at so we can bring our patterns
Pate is the 3rd largest in America, be there!

 

I pretty much have every pattern for every car starting in the late 20's going clear thru the 60's

Plus i'm thinking about selling the channelling and all other installation paraphenalia that I can think of.

If somebody has chopped stuff, they can always send the patterns to me in a round tube or even a manilla envelope if they traced them onto paper, i've had lots of people do that over the years!

Plus, I can whip a 6 piece set out for somebody in about an hour & 15 minutes, or just 2 vent gl***es in 15 minutes, and these times are cut and polished! I have this down to a fine science folks, people stop by the shop sometimes just to ******** with me and watch me do it! I recon it takes every bit of steadiness in the hands that a pinstriper would have, and I seriously think i'm one of the best around, i've SEEN other people's work!

 

Make sure you have enough business at the shop to take care of your expences,it will take a while to get established at swapmeets. Selling one set of windows won"t even pay your fuel bill. Good idea with selling the channeling and parts. As a vendor at the swapmeet you have to have the smaller items to sell to make up for the large items not selling .As said earlier good idea to set your trailer up with sleeping quarters,with traveling to different shows. Heard countless vendors complaining that just traveling 200 miles,fuel,motel,food,vendor spot they have already spent $300 to $400 and haven"t even set up yet.The way the economy is now,wouldn"t hurt to actually go check out some of the swapmeets to see what the demand is for your product before you dive in head first just to find the water to shallow.

 

All great advice, I appreciate it....lots to consider with it that's for sure!

 

Good signage, with some sample prices-human nature that lots of folks won't ask a price, even if interested. They'd rather just keep walking. While busy cutting gl*** you might miss out on some sales-sounds like you will be doing this alone?

 

chris,can you post a vid of you doing the cutting?

 

Chris, Put a window in the side of the trailer so they can watch you work, and make sure you whistle.......
"Are you sure it will fit? " Tinted gl***?

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. There are only so many hours in a day. You will have to not only do the cutting but answer a BUNCH of questions and sell your services. If it takes 1 1/4 hour to cut a set during that time will you also be selling? If you get intrupted every so often by potential customers that takes away from "production" time.

Great idea though, and I hope it works out for you.

 

I've got some options, but nothing firmed up, I think i'd be a fool to try and do it all myself. Anybody wanna partner up? Lol

I've been cutting 2 sets for every order i've been getting and just boxing and labeling the extra sets, I plan on taking them to try and sell at the shows. I've also been trying out other places online to peddle my gl***, but I tell ya, the hamb is the BEST i've found so far. Everybody has been great to talk to, and i've gotten over 250 PM's in the last 3 weeks or so since I started my thread in the hamb o'dex! I've cut and shipped 11 orders so far and have at least 5 more coming in the next few days. Can you believe that? I usually answer the PM's within a few minutes though because I have one a these here smart phones, and everything I need is right here in the palm of my hand! Its amazing to me, I am even in the process of being able to process credit cards with it!

 

This is the moment to hire a travel-with pinup model, simple teach her the basics of gl*** measurements/cost per square foot, and answers to standard questions. She works the counter with you, and when you have to cut she takes over greeting customers and answering MOST questions.
Guys seem to want to talk to pinup types, so you'll have a crowd of interested guys with cash in hand. Hey, they sell magazines when they're on the covers!

 

Mike, that's the best idea i've heard on here so far man, it really is, but there's noooo way my ol' lady is gonna let me go galavantin' around the country sleepin in a toy hauler, with a pinup model. I can see the look on her face already, and it means "nuh-uh dude, nice try"

 

Cool idea. The biggestshows for July and August are National Street Rod ***oc. and The Goodguys Shows. Go to their website and chech for time and location. It seems you may be on to something. My advice don't sinks alot of cash the first year. Test the waters first. Good luck.
Tony

 

From the posts I think I would forget the shows and cutting onsite but try and increase your online exposure. My son in law started a home business and was just getting by untill the website went online. Amazing the exposure and business with NO effort on his part after the initial site was operational. His web expenses were very minimal which must be compared to your expenses of being on the road and away from your shop. Good luck either way you go!

 

The point you guys bring up are all great and very valid. I know the first thing I need is a good website, I do know the potential they provide to marketing products on a very large scale, and that most people turn straight to the internet for lots of things.

To be real honest with ya, I think I may be pushing hard in my mind to make this happen because I think I would just love being on the road for trips like that, and it would give me a helluva good excuse to go travelin' around to car shows to see all the beautiful scenery I see in the magazines! I can imagine it would be fun as hell for awhile, but I know i'd only wanna do it a couple times a year at the most, and if I could make a buck or two doin' it, great, but at least I get my name out there so people would start to recognize me. I would actually also love to be able to go around to people's shops and do some installs with 'em, kinda show some tricks i've learned over the years.

I know that the right thing to do is dump my profits back into the business like with a website to get it built up, but you guys don't know how bad I want another hot rod!! I dunno if I told ya, but I sold my 36 plymouth, which I just got done building and only had got to put a few hundred miles on, to put the money together to buy the set of NAGS patterns I got, and it's effin' killin' me havin' to drive my stupid avalanche around, especially since the weathers turnin' warm now. Killin' me. So on the orders I get where people paypal the money to me for their gl***, I just been leavin it in paypal tryin' to sa e up, but at the rate i'm goin' this way, hell its gonna be next winter till I have enough to buy another rod.

 

Heres some shows that you could probably do good at ,Jalopy showdown,goodguys Hershey ,Road angels show in virginia.Thats only a few of the best shows I know about ,Send me a brochure and and your phone number ,,,,carcrazyjohn@comcast.net

 

Chris... as a small businessman you can't afford to put all your eggs in one basket, which you have realized by coming back and keeping your shop as well. I'd say do it all, the website, eBay, ads in the various old car publications, all of it. And use every element to build traffic for your swap meet appearances. Have it so people can order on eBay, pay you then and you can deliver their gl*** at the swapmeet. Have it so your website can take orders. Promote your swap meet appearances in your eBay listings and on your website. And, as others have said, give out business cards like they are free!

One thing to watch for is state sales tax filings. You will need to have a way to deal with that at each location.

And, don't forget other venues like car shows, Goodguys, and the like!

 

The state sales tax filing.........do I still have to worry about the sales tax since i'm from Montana? We don't have a sales tax here, so I was under the impression that I don't have to charge taxes, even if i'm in a state that has a sales tax......does anybody know how that works?

 

It will vary from state to state. Generally it doesn't matter where you live, but rather where the transaction takes place. Think of it this way: when you buy something at Auto Zone in Montana, you pay whatever Montana has as a sales tax (in your case, zero). When you go out of state, and buy something from Auto Zone in say, Colorado, you pay the Colorado sales tax even though you live in Montana and Auto Zone is based in Memphis, TN.

The people you talk with to get info on booth space and such at each swap meet should be able to tell you how the sales tax works at each location.

 

Maybe for the first year or two go to the swapmeets,set up a simple booth maybe just a table and some flyers and business cards with your website and what you can do on them. Test the waters see what swapmeets are worth your time and which ones are a waste of time. Sell yourself and your product and if it looks good then put the money in a trailer and equipment to do it onsite. Im not sure how much work would be local for you to stay after the shows and work because I think most people travel a fair distance to go to most large swapmeets. The closest large swapmeet for me is 2hrs or more away. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Are you gunna be at teh monroe WA swap meets? I might bring some of my own templates....

 

I hadn't planned on doin' 'em, but maybe if you told me more about 'em I might! WA is pretty close by, when are they? And how big are they?