DFW Swap Meet at Lone Star Park

I spent the last two days (Friday & Saturday) at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, TX as a vendor at the annual DFW Swap Meet.  Unlike the April ordeal at Texas Motor Speedway, this was only a two day event . . . actually more like 1-1/2, because many vendors started folding their canopies just after noon on the second day.  Suzanne spent half of each day there, helping me set-up and tear-down our display.  The weather was clear & sunny with temps in the upper 80's both days, which was right up near the record high for these dates.  After the last four months of mostly temperatures in the mid-90's, this was deemed excellent weather by the locals.  After two outdoor swap meets this year I have found that two-days is my limit for this type of event.

The DFW Swap Meet takes place in the outer reaches of the asphalt parking lot in front of Lone Star Park, a horse racing facility.  As a new vendor at this event I was allotted a spot at the back of the show area.  However. many people made the trek all the way to the end of the aisle, either on foot or on their mobility device.  Some brought their own gas or electric carts and many rented electric mobility chairs at the venue.  (I might make more money renting  out mobility devices)

As one would expect, Saturday was the busy day.  I sold one item on Friday - a business car holder with a C2-Corvette emblem and a 'Vette crossed-flags emblem, both mounted on a vertical wood stand with the business card holder affixed to the front.  I asked the fellow what he was going to do with it and he said it would be a Christmas present for his mother-in-law.  I asked what she would want with a Corvette business card holder and he pointed to his companion and said, "This is my father-in-law and they have five Corvettes."  Sounds like a great use for it to me.

​Saturday tripled my Friday business.  Three items to two buyers.  The last buyer was a fellow I met at the April swap meet.  He had purchased an item there that I had not yet completed - he admired the spot-light clock I had sold earlier, so I made another for him on order.  Then he gave me two Rambler/AMC items for me to mount for him.  This time he bought a Harley-Davidson engine cover plate on a block of mesquite wood and the table lamp built on the hollow end of a mesquite log..  He also said he will send me another AMC item to be mounted for him.
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​The outdoor swap meets are focused mainly on people who are looking for parts for their own car projects.   Not many people are shopping for decorative or gift items.  What I have gained at this type of venue is contacts with people who share an interest and are potential future customers or sources of material for me.   I am doing one more show this year - the annual November bazaar at the Denton Senior Center.  I did well there with my automotive stuff last year, so if this year is similar I will try to focus on this type of venue and avoid the outdoor parts swap meets next year.