by Yvette Chapman (
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Thirty something girl, originally from Sydney but Brisbane is home now. Eats, drinks, socialises, watches art-house, studies the stars, and loves music. I'm a professional copywriter and editor. Hearts writing things.
Picture this. It's still dark out as silhouettes make their way around rows and rows of stalls. Half asleep, I begin to unload my suitcase full of second-hand clothes and shoes. Suddenly a torch shines in my eyes as a lady pushing a shopping cart says, 'What else is in the case, love?' It's an impatient shopper who is trying to bag a bargain before the best things go.
Open every Sunday, Chandler Markets (located at 1699 Old Cleveland Road) are a great place to sell your second-hand clothing or bric-a-brac. A stall will cost you anywhere between $22 to $37.
You need to be prepared for an early start, which means getting there around 4.30am. If you drive onsite and park at your stall, you're pretty much on lockdown until the punters have left, usually around 12 noon. When you arrive there is a lane for pre-booked sites and another for casual visitors who just turn up on the day. Staff are friendly as they greet you at the gate and allocate you a stall number.
I recommend taking a water bottle, some snacks and a packed lunch. Otherwise you might find yourself feasting on a not so hearty lunch of bright blue iced cupcakes (nevertheless delicious), or staring down the eye of a greasy potato stick aka 'heart attack shish'- which is made of fried potato coated with seasoning and shaped like an 80s slinky.
You can hire clothes racks and trestle tables onsite for $5 each, and will need to pay a $2 refundable deposit which is redeemed once you return the loaned items. Or you can bring your own if you have them. I also recommend taking coins and notes of different denominations so you're able to give appropriate change to a buyer.
You can set whatever prices you like, but remember, this is a market like any other and people will want to haggle.
One of the things I like most is swapping stories with fellow stall holders, who are usually very chatty and more than happy to watch your stall while you duck off to the toilet.
I hold clothes stalls a few times a year as it's a great way to spring clean, make reasonable coin, and meet people. Anything I don't sell I take to my local Salvos to donate to people who need them.
