Would you buy flowers at a vintage sale?
These shots were taken inside my storage unit I use for the Polka Dot Flea....You are going to have to use your imagination with the clip art flowers and look past the mess
I've always wanted a flower cart so, when I saw one for sale at the Polka Dot Flea last year I bought it.
My booth at the Flea will be by the front door Soooooo.....I was thinking, I have a wholesale florist near my house.....What if I sold flowers, people could grab a bouquet on the way out the door.
I found white garbage cans at the dollar store that would be perfect for holding the water and bouquets.
I was all excited until I shared the idea with a girlfriend.....And she didn't quite get my vision.....So now I am second guessing myself....
If you were at a summer sale like the Polka Dot Flea (Indoors/ air conditioned), would you ever entertain the idea of buying a bouquet of flowers on your way out the door? Or should I just use the cart as a display piece......Be honest!
Thank you.....I know you'll steer me in the right direction!
Happy Creating
Carol
56 comments:
Maybe if it were sunflowers or something bright and unique but I'm afraid if people are like me their hands are already full and I'm not sure. It also depends on how hot it is and how far people are traveling too. I would be afraid to invest too much into flowers, maybe a few.
I am so glad you found your flower cart, its , lovely, they are very popular here in the summer,
Carol, that is a fabulous idea!!!! I buy flowers every week at the market after finding all of my treasures. I enjoy them all week long. What goes better with vintage than flowers?
~Debra xxx
Capersofthevintagevixensblogspot.com
Hmm... That's a tough call. I buy fresh flowers but it really depends on whether people are heading straight home to get them back in water. I think I would try it with not too big an investment in the flowers to see how it goes then use that as your guide going forward. Be neat if you could have a mix of fresh and of the vintage plastic ones so something for everybody.
I love this idea -- the only negative is if people can transport the flowers without them wilting. Often i don't buy roadside flowers because I have a 3 hour ride home -- and the blooms will be ka-put by the time I get them to the kitchen sink. If you can provide some way for the buyers to keep the blooms hydrated --- wet paper towels in plastic? -- then I say go for it.
For us it would depend on a couple things: 1). Are we going straight home, or running more errands?
2). What's the temperature like outside?
Around here it's hot and humid for most of the year, so if we ever bought flowers we couldn't leave them in the car without an AC on for even a minute.
If the price is right, YES! I love fresh flowers. LOVE the flower cart!
warmly,
deb
I think they would be a big hit in the flower cart! I thought you were going to say silk flowers but fresh would be even better...or some of both! Hugs!
Hi Carol, First of all your cart is delightful and I think that the idea of having fresh flowers is wonderful. The other side of it is the same as everyone has said, are your shoppers going straight home or not. I think that the idea of trying just a few flowers is best, selling out early is better than being stuck with perishable surplus. Also, I'm sure that word of mouth from your last year shoppers will spread and that this year you will have double the crowd or maybe more. It will be interesting to see :)
Love you girlfriend,
Connie :)
Hi Carol,
I love the cart. How about dried flowers or bundles of lavender. Then customers wouldn't have to worry about hurrying home to get them in water. You could see bundled dried roses, etc and lavender bundles are always a big hit with vintage lovers.
Just my two cents.
hugs
Sissie
First of all, I love the flower cart you found - it's fabulous! As for selling flowers, I'm not sure... I love fresh flowers and if the price was right than I would definitely buy some. I bet the only way you'll know is if you try it :)
Hugs and blessings!
I would buy fresh flowers assuming the price is not too high. They are a perfect impulse buy as people are heading home. Your cart photos show it to be very appealing. I buy fresh flowers as I leave the Farmers Market after I buy fruit and vegetables.
Love that cart!! I really like the idea of fresh flowers, but was also thinking about the problem of transporting them if people aren't going right home. What about dried flowers? Dried roses, bundles of lavender? Or a combination of both.
i would do both..have fresh flowers and use the cart for display. that way you do not have too much invested in flowers and you can see how it goes.
i've seen small plants in really cute vintage containers at shows too and they seem to sell well.
good luck and let us know what you do and how fun the show is!
I do think people would get some flowers! They are nice for decorating the house anyway!
I love the idea of a flower cart! I think there might be people who would buy flowers...especially if they've bought something at the flea that would require flowers.
I can't overlook the mess - as you call it - because that's the most wonderful sight of all for me. So many options, so much beauty ready to be rescued.
And I love the idea of a flower cart.
And I love the idea of allowing someone to just take the cart if they want.
You sell dreams. Don't second guess your intuition. First one if the one to go after. A friend who just arrived Netherlands was showing, in facebook, a bouquet of pink tulips she bought today and my thought was - we don't buy as much flowers as we should. So this would be a nice reminder to take some home and enjoy. Go for it!
Teresa
I absolutely love that cart and definitely would have grabbed it for a display piece. I'm a big fresh flower lover, but I'm not sure I would buy any if I had already spent my money on other things first. I think it could go either way....if they're priced right I guess they'd probably sell, but then you want to make a profit...worst case scenario you use it for a fabulous display piece!
xoKathleen
Hi Carol, I just got your post and it arrived in my spam~~ and the glitch goes on!!
I love the flower cart you got at the flea. What a treasure. I would say, you don't know how it will go till you try it out. Maybe mix up the cart with fresh and dried so there is not too much of an investment that could wilt and die if they don't sell. If the price is right they will find a way to carry them out. You could also just do stems with it't own water tube at the end. (maybe pick those up wholesale too) You could still place them in those great white buckets but the customers would be purchasing just stems instead of whole bouquets. Easy to carry and who doesn't love a single stem rose.
Just a thought.
I know you will figure it out and the cart is a great piece to sell from. So French chic~
XO
Ahhhhhhhh! What a gorgeous chippy flower cart that you don't have to "shabby" up 'cause it's already perfect! I would SO buy flowers off it. It puts me in mind of tussie-mussies & bunches of violets and "My Fair Lady"...
You have the best ideas & just because another might not see your vision doesn't mean you should rethink creative impulse.
Love the flower cart,,,but honestly, I'm not sure I would buy live flowers after being at the show all day, and probably broke, haha, maybe display something else to sell,,,like a food item??? I'd be hungry after all that shopping, like something sweet and savory and decadent? You can see I must be hungry as I write. Love your cart, perfect for something!!!
Hi Carol, I would buy flowers for sure. It might be a great way to sell some vintage vases or other great containers too, if you have them in your booth already. How exciting!
Hi Carol,
I'm not sure. If they were super fabulous cabbage roses, yes I would.
Blessings,
Amy Jo
I think it's something that I would say "oh how pretty", but at the end of a sale my hands and cart are full and my pocket is usually pretty empty so I most likely wouldn't purchase anything. Love the idea of it though!
First off, Love that cart!!! If it was right by the exit of the show I would grab flowers. Give it a try.
Cindy
I'm chuckling as I write what I now see is not a very creative comment. I was going to start with "first, I LOVE the cart," then as I cursor down through the comments several others had the same thought. No matter what--the cart was an awesome buy!! My first warning would be that you'll probably be able to re-sell it, so put a NFS tag on it, and LOAD it with flowers!! If they sell fine, if not, it was a lovely display. I love fresh flowers, but if I'm weighed down with other purchases the idea might not click with me to buy fresh flowers on my way out, so I would suggest that you put a cute sign on it to instill the idea on your shoppers.
I had to go back and look at the cart again when you said they were clip art flowers! I'm not nuts about pink, but all the pink looked great! You might consider selling the vases too--display some in the white containers and some in vases!
Love, love, love that cart!! :) ~Zuni
I would buy them IF I were going straight home...or barring that if the vase would fit into a box that would hold a vase (or mason jar or something) that would hold water until I got home. I LOVE the idea though. xo Diana
I'd buy flowers if they were something unusual--a mixed bouquet of wildflowers or old fashioned types. Your florist could suggest something lovely, I'm sure.
I do like the idea of dried flowers, but your sweet cart just begs for fresh flowers. Or what about 4" pots of summer flowers from a nursery? Worst case scenario: they don't sell and you go home and plant them and enjoy them for months and months!
I would love to buy flowers anywhere - anytime but I am an asthma patient and my choice is looking at nature's beauty or breathing. At least I can enjoy silk flowers.
Chris
super cute idea! keep them low cost, maybe in cheap mason jars or old recycled jars? someone mentioned sunflowers.... you could market it like "something to brighten your day!"
Love the cart but I wouldn't buy flowers at an antique market. I would rather spend on antique treasures. In my antique store we have a garden weekend and dealers decorate with a garden theme. Many have potted plants and also vintage planters. BTW I have been selling a lot of planters lately (rabbit, chicken, swan planters).
A display of nice planters & vases with a few flowers and summer plants scattered throughout may be all you need.
Can't wait to see what you come up with.
Love the flower cart.....a great display item!
I like the idea about flowers in old jars but how about succulents in different sizes of vintage containers or rusty cans and such? I am sure anything you choose will be a hit!! Have fun!
I love the idea if flowers, the biggest selling point for me is the packaging... So some vintage theme floral paper and pretty ribbon are huge for me...maybe some lavender bouquets..
Love the flowers on the cart! So cheery! Nancy
I can only speak from my experience. If I am going to a flea the size of The PolKa Dot, that and lunch would be my plan. I think fresh would be the way to go. I would certainly buy them. Maybe just have a small amount to sell, next year you will know your customers better. Blessing on your flea.
awesome cart, carol! my 2 cents--if i was local, i'd buy flowers. if i drove awhile to get to the fair, probably not:) try just a few, see what happens:)
Love the flower car . I think dried lavender and flower related items. You can do satchets, dried wreaths and others. There will be little waste this way. I am always thinking of shelf life at my store.
I get your vision... and it would look adorable... but... who is going to have any money left? lol I think you should whip up some "flower" pins/brooches and use the cart to sell those. I think you'd have a large gathering around your adorable display. Again, I think most people want to carry away treasures rather than flowers that are readily available to them.
big hugs,
Cheryl
Also...you need to make a polka dot awning for the top!
buy it buy it buy it you can use it for a thousand different things how could you not?Susie
yes m'am....I would buy flowers! I like what some other readers said, and sell dried lavender...people love that stuff! Maybe along with fresh. But my question is, why in the world is that cart in storage...why isn't that gorgeous piece in your house? ;)
I don't go to the grocery store to buy a new computer so I probably wouldn't be looking for fresh flowers at a flea market. But you never know.
I'd just use it for display. A great piece! I think I wouldn't be interested in purchasing fresh flowers after slogging through a flea market all day.
Remember, a thing is not always what it seems - a flower cart need not be a flower cart. It can be a food cart for quick easy snacks. I like the idea of flowers but as others have stated, it may not be convenient for the shopper. Or better yet, how about some interesting flower containers that are displayed with silk flowers just to show their use but the buyer can use fresh flowers when taken home.
If they look this gorgeous, yes I would buy the flowers. They are stunning. Never second guess your inner voice, if it fails you learn, if it succeeds it helps build faith in yourself.
Carol, your cart is divine. It has the perfect patina. I will tell you honestly when I sell at Little French, I have fresh green ivy plants that are gorgeous and they never sell even when I put big price tags out. People comment on how beautiful they are but they don't buy. I also put beautiful white rose bushes in burlap bags with cute little ties and I only sold two of the four. People think they are part of the props. I guess you'll never know unless you try it. Either way you can use the cart for a lot of things. Great display piece.
If you do not try you will never know. I say go for it. I hope it works out. I love fresh flowers.
Hugs,
Cindy
I love the idea, but I think most folk want to spend every dime on a cute vintage find, which I know you have in spades! Fill that cart up!
Hugs,
Patti
I think potted herbs or plants would go better from what have seen at "markets". June is not too late to plant and they wouldn't die on the way home! Have a few bouquets and see how they do. Fall, dried hydrangea and lumineria (money plant pods) or mini pumpkins/"indian" corn, raspberry popcorn. Dried lavender is always a good idea for your target customer...didn't you do sheet music flowers? Or stem some of your pretty layered fabric flowers.
Oh the dilemma of what to do. Love the flower cart! Such a fabulous display piece for selling lots of items. I am thinking heat, tired, hands full of treasures, purse empty of money and a long drive home. Sooo...my thought is use this cart to display and sell your gorgeous fabric flowers...larger than life sizes and brooches! A true flower cart of Creative Bliss my friend.
The flowercart is pretty! Really love the idea :)
Well you know I love the idea ! Guess that means I can't have my cart with lavender though. Still I think it would be wonderful.
So pretty...if the price is right...lots of flowers would stop me every time...spray roses, hydrangea, snapdragon, daisies...
YES I would consider buying some pretty flowers on my way out the door if I was headed home instead of an all day shopping trip
Love the flower cart, that would be so cute in my kitchen
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