Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market | Tips for Market Shopping
It’s been over a year since I’ve been able to attend a local market. I only do a select few of these a year, but they are always my favorite part of my business because it’s when I get to actually see you face to face, interact and talk with you, share a hug and see what pieces you choose to bring into your life.
To say we’re excited to be back at Junk in the Trunk Vintage Market this year is kind of an understatement! I’m working away at putting together my new booth set up, repainting and making things all spiffed up for you to enjoy and be inspired by. Honestly, creating an atmosphere inside my booth that's calming and eye catching is always my favorite part of setting it all up. This year’s set up was put together by a lot of little hands that were excited to help mama out too.
I thought I’d put together a little guide for you to know some of the things going into the market that are helpful as you browse and shop. Here’s a few tips to get the most enjoyable time out of the weekend and some of my favorite booths to shop from.
What to bring:
A sturdy tote bag (maybe two) or wagon to carry your items in is always helpful. While some vendors may have bags to give you once you’ve purchased, it’s a good idea to bring something along like this just in case. Junk in the Trunk also provides carts to rent out for the day so you can pull around all of those bigger items you find-- trust me, you’ll find some good ones!
Most of the vendors here accept credit cards, but cash is always a good to have. The internet can be wonky sometimes in the venue and having cash ready can help speed the process of checkout too.
Bringing a friend, sister, or your mama who loves to shop vintage and handmade is always a good idea! Not only will they be excited to shop with you, the atmosphere of the market makes it an enjoyable outing to be with the people you love most.
How to shop:
One thing I love to do is go to all of my favorite booths first. While this might not be the most efficient way to see everything--you’ll know that you’re seeing what you love the most before you get distracted by everything else there is to see. Since the layout is so big, a good way to get through every aisle and booth is to snake back and forth through the whole venue, making sure you don’t miss something along the way.
I like to take pictures of booths if I eye something and make a note of where the booth is on the map so I can go back to it later to grab the item I wanted, if it’s still around. Also, it’s a good idea to ask the vendors permission to take pictures as common courtesy too--they’ll feel appreciated for it. :)
Things to know:
My booth is a NEW location this year! I’m so excited for my new set up and I think it will be way more fun to shop through my booth this way. You can find me at booth #89 towards the back on the East side corner.
People usually don’t realize this, but Westworld (the venue) charges $5 for parking on the property which is separate from JITT. I’d recommend carpooling with friends so you can save on that. There are lots of places to grab food and drinks at the venue so you can make a day of it.
All the vendors are being required to wear masks to ensure that shoppers feel safe throughout the weekend. Another reason to grab your tickets early is so you can skip the ticket line and get in first. They will be spacing out groups going into the event to make sure it doesn’t get overly crowded.
Best times to go:
Since a lot of the items in this market are one of a kind, lots of shoppers get there as early as possible so they can get their hands on that perfect, unique find. JITT provides a VIP night on Friday at a higher priced ticket to shop the earliest so you have first dibs on all of the items before anyone else. The ticket price includes a beer or wine, early shopping, and access to shopping the next day as well. Plus it’s less crowded this night and makes for a fun night out. So if you’re the kind that wants to be the first to see all the treasures and get first access I would definitely come on Friday night. Early access is also available for Saturday morning the hour before it opens to the public. This early shopping happens from 8-9am and usually has a light crowd too.
If you’re the kind that isn’t a fan of the crowds but likes to get in to get a good look at booths then I usually tell people to come Sunday afternoon. This time of day is usually a lighter crowd but booths still have great items out to shop from.
Most of the vendors are always restocking and pulling out new items once they sell out of stuff (myself included). So even though some of the bigger pieces might be gone from early shoppers, I know you’ll still get to have a good experience finding unique items.
My favorite booths:
While I usually find a new booth I love each time, here are some of my favorites along with their booth location from the past that will be there this year.
Perspective Design & Antiques (#5)
Coley Kuyper Art- (#89) shameless plug
I usually make a point to stop by the Junk in the Trunk Booth at the front too for some fun JITT apparel and some of the vintage items they have, which are always so great.
I can’t wait to see some of your faces there and be a part of this fun event. Please come say hi if you come, and If you can’t be there this weekend I’m also offering FREE shipping here all weekend long. Use the code JITTFREESHIP from Friday through Sunday night.
Enjoy!