When I decided I was ready to open my very first antique booth, I didn’t know where to begin searching for booth space for rent near me. I simply typed “antique mall” into Google Maps and drove around town, from one location to the next. I walked into each mall, wandered up and down the aisles, and asked questions to the employees when possible.
While this is certainly one way to find your perfect mall-match, there are many other ways that can save you time, frustration, and gas. There is a lot you can learn about your mall choices without even visiting their physical locations. So, if you are googling “booth space for rent near me,” read a few recommendations below from a girl who has ‘been there, done that’ and wants to make your life a little easier.
1. Participate in social networks
I am a member of several Facebook groups of likeminded people within my local community. Some of these groups were recommended to me by friends and fellow antiques dealers, and others I found by doing a general search in Facebook for subject matters that interest me: antiques, vintage, restorations, resellers, artists, DIY, painted furniture, etc.
Through participating in conversations within these groups, I have learned a wealth of information about where people have success selling different types of goods. My advice to you would be to join a Facebook group where you can ask your questions and learn from the experience of others.
One other tip I’ll share about this is that many antique malls have their own private FB groups. Even before you are a dealer, you may be able to request to be a member of those groups. (Just say that you are interested in becoming a dealer at the mall.) Let me tell you, participating in these groups can be immeasurably enlightening!
2. Do some targeted online research (more than just googling, “booth space for rent near me”)
I’m talking about getting the most you can—in the least amount of time-- from the internet. The search for an antique mall has never been easier than it is right now. And, to prove my point, click on any of the links below, and they will lead you to many of the malls in your local area! Who knows, your perfect mall-match could be one click away! (This is starting to feel like e-harmony. It’s like mall-matchmaking!)
In addition to finding mall locations, you can also read customer reviews and ratings on websites like these:
Customer feedback about local antique malls should be a key consideration in your final selection. If you would like to read about more key considerations, read my blog post about Choosing an Antique Mall.
Once you have a list of potential malls within your area, check to see if any of them have their own websites. Some mall websites include information for potential dealers, including available booths for rent and prices. I love when I can find answers to my questions without having to pick up the phone or drive across town, don’t you?!
Of course, you can also do a generalized internet search for antique mall information using your choice of search engine such as Google, Bing, or Duck Duck Go. If you decide to go that route, though, maybe you’ll find some of these search tips helpful:
Don't make the mistake of picking the wrong antique mall!
Get the Free Antique Mall Evaluation Tool to help you choose the right mall for your antique booth business.
Limit your words and be specific
There is an innumerable amount of data out there, and it can be overwhelming! For example, if I type, “Where can I find booth rental space in St. Louis, Missouri?” into my search engine, I get over six million results! That’d keep me busy for a while, now, wouldn’t it!
If I narrow that to, “Antique booth rental O’Fallon Missouri” (a smaller suburb of St. Louis), I get 26,100 results. That’s a little better, but I’m still going to need a big cup of coffee to get through that list!
My point is that by being as specific and localized as possible in your search, you will find more of what you are looking for—and faster. Typing something general like “booth space for rent near me” is not an efficient use of time.
Use quotations to search for phrases instead of separate words
For example, you may have noticed that your searches for booth rentals gave you results for every possible type of booth, including photo booths, dunking booths, kissing booths, phone booths, etc. You can prevent this by using quotation marks. Doing this tells the search engine that the words must appear as the exact phrase.
Try some of the advanced search options and tools
For example, notice under the search bar, you can search for images or videos. And, if you click on Tools, you can filter your results to the most current information. For more google search tips, click here: (Some of these changed my life!)
3. Check out antique publications
Antique Trader has been one of the leading printed publications for all things antique for more than six decades. Their newsletters and magazines are educational, informational, and even inspirational. And, often, they will highlight antique shops around the country. Check them out at AntiqueTrader.com. You might find stories about a mall in your local area.
Many states (and some cities) have their own antique publications. In Arizona, we have TheAntiqueRegister. New issues are available every two months. Many include featured stories from local antique malls. This is wonderful advertisement for the malls (and booth sellers!!)! And, you know those racks of brochures found in hotel lobbies and other tourist destinations? Often you'll find antique publications and other information about antique shopping in those racks. So, take a look there, and see which malls come highly recommended!
Next Steps
So, say you’ve got several potential malls in mind now, and you’ve researched each of these individually to find out all you can from their websites and the internet. And, you've checked out all the printed publications in your areas to see which malls are being promoted and advertised to the public. At this point, it’s time to either make phone calls or drive to their physical locations to ask any of your remaining questions, such as:
- “Do you have booth space available to rent?” or “Is there a waiting list?”
- “What do you charge for rent, (typically $2-$4 per square foot) commission, (average 10%) and additional fees? (i.e. credit cards, advertising, etc.)”
- “What are your mall policies?”
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get into your “dream location” initially. Maybe you end up on a waiting list. A lot of new dealers start out this way. And, the old saying can be true that some of the best things in life are worth waiting for. You could always make your second choice your temporary home. You can start small, save money, learn by experience, and eventually rent your dream space exactly where you want to be.
And, my last bit of advice for you (if you have not already) is to read my blog post about Choosing an Antique Mall. You ultimately will visit your potential mall-matches, and you will want to be armed with all of the tips and advice that I shared in that blog post. You will also find a link below to receive our free mall evaluation tool that you can print and use to help you choose the right mall for your antique booth business.
Don’t forget, you can always reach out to me with your questions, comments, or concerns. I am more than happy to support a fellow small business entrepreneur!
Best Wishes for Much Success!
Joanna
Don't make the mistake of picking the wrong antique mall!
Get the Free Antique Mall Evaluation Tool to help you choose the right mall for your antique booth business.