Bangalore is always open to something new and the newest kid on the block has to be flea markets. Practically every weekend you have a flea market teeming with quirky, handmade, upcycled, recycled products. Jumping on the bandwagon is Hetal Majithia who started Flea080. “The ‘080’ is the Bangalore code,” she says.
Hetal says she quit her corporate job and started Flea080, a monthly flea market. because “You meet people who have a passion for handmade crafts. I love such crafts and love being associated with it.”
Hetal she says that she did months of research looking for unique products. “You can buy second-hand products or look forward to reasonably priced products be it jewellery or cup cakes or clothes etc.
“The maximum price is Rs. 3,000. Most of the flea market vendors are into hand-made products that come with a twist. One finds a lot of ‘arty’ products here.”
Hetal then goes on to add that people who generally participate or sell their products at flea markets are hobbyist and so you will find “unique products from made from up-cycled products such as bags from old denims, jewellery from tetra packs or beads and so on. These products are made by people who are passionate about crafts and you will find them only in flea markets. They come up with variety and the designs are different each time. I also try to create a new theme for my flea market every time. The themes done so far were village theme, circus theme and so on, where the whole ambience, the vendors’ clothes and the products to a certain extent are co-ordinated to match the theme. Like for the circus theme there were stilt walkers, magic and tarot card reading and so on.”
Today she works with more than 400 to 500 crafts persons across the country and uses social media networking “to promote my crafts people.” Hetal organises flea markets once a month on a three-day basis. “I started having flea markets over three days. The reason for a three-day sale was because I could not afford to advertise. So on the first day the response would be good and by the third day we do awesome thanks to word of mouth.”
Hetal adds that she takes pains to provide creative and utilitarian stuff each time. Some of the exclusive products that she can boast about are the Rajastani range that “come with a modern twist”. Hetal also has a lady who custom-makes jewellery for shoppers on the spot!
Hetal says that she uses social media to promote her vendors. “It is not just about selling but about building a relationship with both the vendors and the customers.”
For more about her you can visit hetal.flea080@gmail.com
This column features those who choose to veer off the beaten track.
