Hartville, Ohio is known for its antique, secondhand, and flea market shopping and the summer months are a great time to plan a treasure hunting visit!
You’ll find the outdoor portion of Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Look for bonus events like The Night Flea, Maker’s Market, Americana Show, and the 3 major summer holidays (Memorial Day Weekend, Fourth of July Weekend, and Labor Day Weekend) for extra vendors, music, food trucks, and more!
To kick off the season, we asked some local bloggers, thrifters, and Hartville Flea experts to share their best shopping tips. Read on for some of our favorites!
When to Shop
Most of our experts say to shop early to beat the crowds (and heat) but Destinee at Itch 2 Thrift has a great tip on shopping twice.
Plan on shopping twice – early on the first day to grab the things you can’t leave without and late before the market closes on the last day for the best deals, especially on larger items like furniture. Vendors don’t want to have to drag large items back with them if they don’t have to and are much more eager to make a deal!
Destinee @itch2thrift
What to Bring
- An open mind, a full wallet, and an empty trunk (Brielle @littlethimblethriftandvintage)
- Reusable shopping bags, a wagon or rolling cart (Destinee @itch2thrift)
- Measurements for your space and a measuring tape (DeDe @designeddecor)
- $1 bills! You don’t want to lose a deal because the vendor has no change (Jeanne @junxtaposition)
- A friend with a truck (DeDe @designeddecor)
Junk with friends who are in for the long haul, nothing worse than finding the mother lode to look through and having a bored friend impatiently waiting.
Deb @Lakesgirl4
Smart Shopping
- Have cash and don’t be afraid to ask if they give a discount for cash (DeDe @designeddecor)
- Learn to scan quickly and move on, and bundle everything you want from one vendor before making an offer (Deb @Lakesgirl4)
- Having a general idea in mind of what you’re hunting for will help you stay focused. Most of all, enjoy the adventure! (Dina @dinasdays)
- Stay hydrated (Destinee @itch2thrift)
One of the most important tips I can give for shopping the flea is to always look under the tables. What sellers think is valuable and what they feature, may not be at all what is treasure to you! Some of my best finds were underneath the table or buried under something else!
Jeanne @junxtaposition
More than Shopping
I’ve shopped at the Hartville Flea Market since I was a little girl – way before ever having my own thrift and vintage business. The one thing that hasn’t changed: There’s something for everyone at the Hartville Flea Market. It’s a place for the young and young at heart, experienced pickers, and those who are new to the thrill of the flea market treasure hunt.
Brielle @littlethimblethriftandvintage
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Vendors are glad you are interested in their items and are more than happy to answer your questions. You might even get to hear some fun stories or learn some history along the way.
Seth Coblentz, General Manager at Hartville MarketPlace & Flea Market is all about thinking outside of the box. “There is always more to an item than meets the eye, a story behind every item that needs to be uncovered. Be creative in your thinking! You might be able to take an item and repurpose it to something totally different.”
Looking for more Flea Market Tips? Check out Seth and Kirk on the MarketPlace Pickers YouTube Channel to catch up on last season’s episodes. 2021 shows coming soon!
