Flea Markets are basically Garage Sales, they're a collection of People cleaning out their houses of clutter. They got their start in the 1800s. But, more recently, they became popular when owners of vacant lots and drive-in movies rented out their properties, on the weekends, in the daytime, to merchants, who then sold spaces to individuals who wanted to have more people to see their stuff! They grew to a weekly event in the spring, summer, and fall, where thousands of buyers would walk through the rows of sellers.

Flea Markets are now both indoor and outdoor. Flea Markets are known as the bargain basement of merchants, but now many resale stores call themselves by the name. You never know what you can find there!

Thrift Stores have a charitable history in helping the poor.

In the 1820s used clothing was sold by charity fairs. By the 1890s used clothes were sold by rag dealers who were mostly immigrants. At the time, prejudices and the filthy personal hygiene of the sellers made the clothes seem like a health hazard. Thus the fear of catching a disease was a deterrent to buying second hand clothing, bargain or not.

In 1887, the industry was changed by The Salvation Army when they started the Salvage Brigade in New York. This was a program that offered the poor food and shelter as an exchange for their work in collecting paper, scraps and other discarded items that they would repaired for resale. In 1902, Goodwill was founded and followed this practice as did Churches and Settlement Houses.

The profits from the resale of refurbished items funded these charities. To combat the health risk concerns, both of these charities made it known that they washed and sanitized the clothing, towels, sheets and blankets resold to the public.

The term "Thrift Shop" came into being in 1919. By the 1920s more religious organizations had become involved in the practice and the stigma of buying from them was less of a symbol of the status of being poor and needy. People looked at buying these items as a way to helping the poor, thus acknowledging that they should be helped rather than being scorned.

During the Great Depression those stores increased in popularity as demand skyrocketed. But, by the 50s, thrift stores began to be seen as a place to find Vintage Items. That is the same view we have today.

Consignment Stores are retail shops where people can display their goods for sale and the shop owner takes a percentage of the sale as a commission. Consignment stores sell most anything and everything, but clothing is the most popular.

Consignment Stores grew from the Thrift Store industry in the 1950s, but they started as high end used clothing outlets in the more wealthier areas of towns. The Vintage Trends make this type of Store even more popular.

Unlike Thrift Stores, Consignment Stores are not based in Charity, they're a "For Profit" business for both the shop owner and those people selling their items. Also, most Consignment Stores will only accept items in good quality condition, stains dirt and excessive ware is not acceptable.

Consignment Stores want "High-End, Name Brand" items, designer clothes, not generic brands like JC Penny or Walmart. Think Gucci! It's also a great place to find Formal Ware, Wedding Dresses, Tuxedos, Prom Dresses, Purses, Shoes, Baby Clothes, Furniture and more.

Antique Stores are filled with relics from the past, memories of a time gone by and treasures of art. Antiques is a VERY BROAD array of items, literally anything can be considered an antique if it's from days gone by.

The strict criteria for antiques is that they are 100 years old or more and have aesthetic value, historical value or both. The age requirement varies per item, as an example, cars are considered antiques when 25 years old or older. If the age criteria is not met, the item is considered Vintage or a Collectible.

Even the Federal Government passed a law defining Antiques, The Smoot-Hawley Act of 1930 defined antiques as, "...works of art (except rugs and carpets made after the year 1700), collections in illustration of the progress of the arts, works in bronze, marble, terra cotta, parian, pottery, or porcelain, artistic antiquities and objects of ornamental character or educational value which shall have been produced prior to the year 1830." Prior to 1830 was considered the time before the beginning of mass production.

More reasonably, an item is considered collectible because of its age and/or is collected because of its beauty, historical significance, rare, a work of art, highly valued craftmanship, unique in some way, has emotional value or historical value.

The industry has standards that help with consistent pricing and value for investors and sellers. But, antiquing is a personal choice and a personal determination of value.