Ever wonder where all that lost luggage goes to? Well, a great number are never found until after the airlines have compensated their owners monetarily for their loss. Do you ever wish to find a specialty store where every member of your family can enjoy shopping? Enter the emergence of a new term to our technical age shopping vocabulary: Extreme Stores. Extreme Superstores are megastores/markets where you can find almost anything and everything from designer apparel, electronics, food, antiques, home decor, and more at great prices…plus be entertained. Their claim to fame is that they are the world’s largest in their field. Check out these sites for the bargains:

Jungle Jim’s International Market (Farfield, Ohio)

• 50,000 customers/day
• Guided tours available
• Rows upon rows of food from around the world
• Several unique food items, food company displays, and events
• Trams, giraffes, cooking school, and more–oh my!

Archie McPhee® (Seattle, WA)

• Collectibles, silly gag gifts
• Most popular items: devil duckie, largest pair of underwear (100 inch waist), bacon-themed items, pirates, and action figures.
• They have a bridal registry, games, contests and prizes
• 80,000 visitors/year

Rei®

• 1.5 million visitors/year
• Sports exporium, bike repair shop, and indoor and outdoor real-life trails in one
• Motto: “Try before you buy”-they have an indoor hike trail, 65 ft (7 story high) indoor climbing wall and outdoor bicycle course
• Find the right outdoor sport’s gear here
• Bonus: Check out Rei-Outlet.com for extra savings

Unclaimed Baggage Center™ (Scottsborough, Alabama)

• 800,000 visitors/year
• 80% markdowns
• Airlines have 90 days to give back lost luggage, then they refund individual’s money, so this store buys stuff from airline companies
• More than 7,000 stock items: jewelry, wallets, luggage, scuba gear, golf items, and more!

Bonanza Gift Shop-World’s Largest Gift Shop (Las Vegas, NV)

• Largest gift store in the world
• Vegas trinkets, nasty items and kitch
• T-shirts, magnets, postcards, key chains, clocks, casino gear, Elvis sunglasses and memorabilia, music, etc…
• Wedding area inside
• Best gag gift: Insulting Parrot Polly. $19.99
• 0.5 million customers/year

Daffin’s Candy (Sharon, Pennsylvania)

• Largest candy store (20,000 sq feet)
• 320 barrels of hard candy throughout the world
• 1,000 different items
• Chocolate factory nearby produces 1.2 million lbs chocolate/year
• Customers get to sample everything in the store
• Cocoa Display: large dioramas and animals, e.g. 400 lb solid chocolate turtle
• 10,000 people in one day (on busiest)

San Jose Flea Market (San Jose, California)

• 8-mile long, 120 acres
• Vendors, Farmer’s market, Auto dealership, Entertainment Showroom: arcade games, Mariachi band
• 4 million people/yr come

There was an item for every kind of hobby and collection:

• Antique Ceramics: e.g. McCoy, Wagner
• Antique Furniture: e.g. Mahogany or yellow birch furniture, Mission, motion lamps
• Books: e.g. signed copies of first-edition classics, antique children’s books
  
• Ethnic artistry
• Kitchenware: e.g. Fire King, bakkelite
• Prints, portraits, and old photography (both signed and unsigned)
  
• Toys & Trinkets: e.g. antique cars, dolls, games, and Star Wars, Star Trek, and old monster movies paraphenalia and posters
  
• Vintage clothes, handbags, hats, shoes, and accessories
• Vintage jewelry, and more!
  

Click Here to View Mark Down Mom’s Flea Market Finds!

The next flea show will be held at the Minnesota Fairgrounds, Grandstand September 27-28, so mark your calendars!

List of selected retailers from flea market:

Abby’s Vintage
Unforgettable Vintage Clothes & Accessories
Ebay ID: abbysvintage1
(952) 836-6701

Antiques & Collectibles-Memories for You
Cash Paid-Appraisals Made
Marlys & Chris Munkelwitz
(651) 459-8031

Heirloom Jewelry

Saho & Brothers African Imports
Baskets*Beads*Wood Carvings*Clothing
David Esako
521 Indiana SE #B2
Albuquerque, NM 87108
(505) 259-9238
(505) 270-6694

Silver Eagle Indian Crafts

Sisters Antiques
Buy*Jewelry, Antiques and Collectibles*Sell
PO Box 48742
Minneapolis, MN 55448
(612) 281-2096

T & M Antiques and Collectibles
Buy*Sell*Appraisals*Estate Sales
Mary Gaspers
(651) 636-7112

Twins’ Treasures
Vintage Costume Jewelry & Hats
Sandra ‘Bjorndahl (651) 429-6042
Susan Jorgerson (651) 777-4778
11th Avenue Antique Mall
North St. Paul, MN

With budget constraints placed upon our school districts by an archaic funding system based upon property taxes, the resulting disparity between schools make it a necessity for some to raise funds for athletic, music and art programs and extracurricular activities. Private schools have a advantage of having been in the business of raising monies for programs oftentimes prior to their inception.
One such local school is Marshall High School, initially religious-based, it is now a nondenominational private school that creates diversity through strong academic and athletic programs and by offering partial and full scholarships to disadvantaged but talented students. One of the ways that they fund especially their athletic program is an annual Spring rummage sale. This was held today, Saturday, March 29th. MDM feels that this particular event is a first rate example of how to get a school or church rummage sale right, and, in fact, anyone thinking about holding a rummage sale can gain from studying their organization of the sale.

From the parking lot with numerous students and parents directing traffic including handicapped parking and drop-off near the entrance of the school to the stands and table and chairs to buy food and drink prior, during, after finding your bargains. The sale is held in the gym with the wooden floors are covered and all access is blocked but save one large entrance where greeters meet each customer with a plastic bag and a merchandise price list. Items are priced as follows:

1. Men’s Clothes. From 25¢ for sox & underwear to $5.00 for suits, jackets & coats.
2. Women’s Clothes. From 25¢ for sox & underwear to %5.00 for jackets & coats.
3. Children’s Clothes. From 50¢ for t-shirts to 4.00 for jackets & snowsuits.
4. Misc. Clothing. 25¢belts to $1.00 purses & backpacks.
5. Toys. From 50¢ puzzles to $1.00 for large stuffed animals.
6. Books & Music. From 50¢ tapes& records to $1.50 DVD’s and videos.

And furniture, electronics, linens, and rugs individually priced. Plenty of floaters were available to answer questions, check prices, and to assist with removal of large pieces.

There was one exit open and the hallway was cordoned off directing the customer to several checkout lines and an express line for limited items. Shopping carts were available to carry numerous purchases to individual cars.

Within one hour tables were cleared of merchandise. Later on that afternoon, the sale will turn into a bag sale where everything that you stuff into a bag is sold for $5 or $10 rather than by the piece. This will clear the remaining merchandise, and some bargain hunters stick around solely for this part of the sale. Any remaining merchandise can be donated.

What is S.O.S. for a successful sale? Staff, Organization, and Stuff!

Spanning 450 miles and 4 states, it’s hard to keep track of the number of vendors and shoppers the Hwy 127 Corridor Sale attracts.  The start line for the Wold’s Longest Yard Sale is at Covington, Kentucky and ends in Alabama following the majority of highway 127.   The sale begins on August 3rd and ends on the 6th.  Vendors come from various backgrounds; some are homeowners selling items that they have collected over the years, while others are professional dealers that have geared up for this event. 

The idea for the Hwy 127 Corridor Sale originated with Mr. Mike Walker of Fentress County, TN.  He wanted to bring Interstate System tourists to the highway less traveled by in Tennesse and Kentucky.  Since its start in 1987, the event has multiplied and has become the best thing since sliced bread.

The only additional tip with this yard sale as opposed to other yard/tag/rummage sales is that you will have to book lodging along the route, preferably a year in advance.  If you are taking an RV or trailer, make sure to plan and confirm campsights that you will be staying at.   Consider this as a vacation destination.   Can’t attend this year?  Mark your calendars next year and enjoy the World’s Longest Yard Sale!

More and more neighbors are banding together to offer a community rummage sale event.  This is a fabulous idea since it promotes a convivial atmosphere to what would be a daunting task by individuals. Our annual community rummage sale is an event that takes place on a sandy peninsula on Lake Superior.  It has been held for the last 25 years and has taken on a life of its’ own.  You will find anything from antique trucks needing restoration, to the sundry items of apparel.  Some interesting items reflect the locale of the area like a small, one person homemade boat, wooden corbels, and driftwood.  Since this event can cover miles, it is best for the rummager to attack it like a large flea market.

1.  Bring a partner.   Split the area up into sections to be able to cover the entire sale.  At this sale, some rummagers handheld walkie-talkies and the ubiquitous cell phone.

2. Bring a wagon or small cart.  This is important if you are interested in furniture.  At any rate, a receptacle on wheels is a plus and will save numerous trips back to the car.

3.  Bring cash since many vendors will not accept out -of- town checks.

4.  Remember dealers will be present. Not all the vendors will be neighborhood residents.  Besides competing for your finds, dealers will also set-up their stands to sell antiques and other items at a profit.

5.  Don’t be afraid to haggle.  Since this event was held Friday and Saturday, most of the earlybirds swooned in on Friday morning.  However, when MDM joined the crowd it was 10:00 A.M. on Saturday.  Not late, but early enough to haggle.  MDM spotted these retro chairs and was able to purchase both for $25.  After scraping and repainting, these will be spectacular addition to the lawn furniture! 

6.  Bring refreshments and food if the sale is a large one and make an afternoon of it.  This sale is really organized after 25 years with mini donuts, hot dogs, beverages, and  port-a-potties.

7.  Have fun, take the time to gab with fellow rummagers and to make a few more neighborhood friends!  This can be a fun outing if you let yourself get caught up in its’ carnival atmosphere.

View Park Point Rummage Sale Slideshow.