Markets a great spot for savings
TO MARKET, TO MARKET: Bev Dunford loves a bargain and also sells wooden roses.
THE markets across the Tweed offer great savings and an opportunity to pick up treasures unavailable in shopping centres.
Bev Dunford, of Banora Point, is a regular visitor to markets from the Gold Coast to Lismore, and speaks highly of the farmers markets for bargains.
Ms Dunford experiences both sides of the market tables with her own enterprise of selling wooden roses.
"Farmers' markets (are the best) because markets have all the fresh food and vegetables," Ms Dunford said.
"At farmers' markets they always seem to give you an extra bit.
"They usually give a little more but they never take a little bit off.
"They just don't do it that way in the stores."
Farmers markets also give visitors the opportunity to buy something unique straight from the person who made it so costs are lower.
"There are things there that you don't see anywhere else," she said.
Although Ms Dunford haggles at most markets she visits, she says there is less haggling at the farmers' markets than at the trash-and-treasure markets in the area.
"They (shoppers) don't haggle as much at farmers markets," she said.
"At the trash-and-treasure markets on Recreation St, people go there wanting everything for a dollar and they really haggle," she said.
Anyone visiting markets should shop around and be prepared to spend time exploring the entire market.
Tips for shopping at the markets:
Shop around to get the best prices. Several stall might be selling the same product so a bit of exploring can pay off.
Shop early if you want quality or shop late to pick up reduced price stock.
Know what you want to spend before you arrive at the market.
At farmers markets in particular, most vendors will be there next time so avoid impulse purchase.
Shopping tips
Shop around to get the best prices. Several stalls might be selling the same product so a bit of exploring can pay off.
Shop early if you want quality or shop late to pick up reduced-price stock.
Know what you want to spend before you arrive at the market.
At farmers' markets in particular, most vendors will be there next time so avoid impulse buying.
