The Inaugural College Park Flea Market
Image credit: Lindsay Garbacik for The Campus Trainer
Have you ever thought about selling all those clothes in the back of your closet? Or have you been thinking about getting rid of all those tailgate clothes you won’t wear after you graduate? Senior business management majors Julia Hurwit, Jamie Fanaroff and Caleb Merkel did just that.
On Sunday, April 28, the group hosted a flea market in College Park with vendors selling everything from clothing to artwork from local artists. The event came as a requirement for the group’s business management class, where students were tasked with coming up with an entrepreneurial idea. Then, the whole class voted on the ideas presented by students and the best ideas were chosen to be done, Hurwit said.
“We’re all so poor but have so much clothing, so it seemed like a good idea,” Hurwit said.
Image credit: Lindsay Garbacik for The Campus Trainer
Fanaroff and Hurwit both agreed that finding a location for the event was the hardest part of the planning process. They eventually settled on the lot of the Episcopal Student Center on College Avenue, where 15 individuals set up tables to sell their merchandise.
One of the easier parts of the process was finding vendors. They reached out to many of their friends to offer them tables at the event, while also offering spots to art students and anyone who heard about the event through word of mouth. In order for people to get a table to sell from at the event, they were asked to pay $10 for half a table and $15 for a full table. There were five tables selling clothes and five selling art and some were a mix of both, according to Hurwit.
Sophomore government and politics major Carly Specht was selling her art in the form of prints. Art is more of a side hobby for Specht, but she also runs a website where she sells her work.
“We’ve had good business so far,” Specht said.
Image credit: Lindsay Garbacik for The Campus Trainer
Other artists sold their work at the flea market, including University of Maryland students Camila Tapia, Karli Lawrence and Jasmine Garcia, who are part of an art collective coming to Baltimore Avenue. Work at the art collective will range from paintings to prints, but as a collective, they will have options for art in different mediums as well.
The group was selling their work together at the event, which is exactly what they plan to do when the storefront for their art collective opens this summer.
Tapia described this as a living studio and art lounge where people can buy and sell art, while also functioning like a pop-up shop.
Other vendors used the flea market as a place to sell things they did not want anymore. Senior studio art major Linda Aparicio was selling clothing, jewelry and accessories. She chose what to sell based on what she thought would sell best, but really just looked at what she could clean out of her own belongings.
“I definitely think the flea market is a really good idea,” Aparicio said.
Senior government and politics major Olivia Jones used the flea market as a place to sell the clothes she won’t need once she graduates in May. This includes tailgate clothes and dresses from previous formals, among other items.
“I think the flea market is a great idea. We borrow each other’s clothes all the time anyways and whatever isn’t bought can be donated,” Jones said.
Freshman journalism major Nicole O’Neill was at the event to snag some good deals. She bought a sticker, tank top and Patagonia shirt at a fraction of what they retail for.
“There are some super good deals and finds. There should be more of these,” O’Neill said.
Image credit: Lindsay Garbacik for The Campus Trainer
Hurwit and Fanaroff don’t feel like this idea of flea markets will catch on unless other individuals begin to organize them, since the pair are seniors. If they would’ve had more time to plan the event, there could have been two flea markets this year. This event allowed the group to practice using their business skills and was also a strong resume builder for them.
But really, who doesn’t love discounted clothing and original artwork sold by your peers and friends in the College Park community.
Editor’s note: Unfortunately, The Campus Trainer was unable to get in touch with Caleb Merkel for a comment.
