Today’s (Oct 12th 2024) Monster Flea Market at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA, was a major disappointment for many vendors who had high hopes for a busy, profitable day. For an event that’s typically a staple of the local community, drawing crowds of eager shoppers and generating much-needed income for hardworking vendors, this one fell far short. The disappointment was evident in the faces of the vendors, many of whom rely on these events to supplement their income. What should have been a bustling market full of energy and transactions turned into a quiet, underwhelming day due to one major issue: a complete lack of promotion by the Berglund Center.
It’s heartbreaking to think that so many vendors, many of them local to Roanoke and surrounding areas, poured their time, effort, and money into preparing for this event, only to be greeted by an empty hall. These are vendors who spent days, if not weeks, organizing their goods, setting up booths, and investing in multiple spaces—some paying $30 per space and taking up several spots. Unfortunately, because of the minimal promotion by the Berglund Center, many of these vendors didn’t even make enough to cover their costs, let alone turn a profit.
The Lack of Promotion
Typically, the Monster Flea is one of the biggest flea markets in the area, with lines wrapped around the building and eager shoppers flooding in, excited to hunt for treasures and unique finds. This time, the turnout was shocking—and not in a good way. From what I could gather, there was only about two weeks’ notice given to the vendors, and the promotion for the event was laughably insufficient. Normally, you’d expect the Berglund Center to put its full weight behind promoting an event like this—ads, flyers, social media posts, and more. But this time? A lackluster effort at best.
Yes, they may claim that they promoted it on their Facebook page and had it on the billboard, but anyone who’s been part of this event in the past knows that’s not enough. People simply didn’t know it was happening. I, along with other vendors, had to take matters into our own hands, organizing a Facebook sharing blitz among ourselves to get the word out. We managed to pull in some last-minute foot traffic, but many of those people told us they had no idea the event was happening—and these were people who had been on the lookout for it.
The lack of promotion didn’t just hurt the event—it hurt the vendors. There were families who counted on the income from this event to help with essentials, and they were left empty-handed.
Minimal Promotion with Almost No Engagement
The first public mention of the Monster Flea Market was made on the Berglund Center’s Facebook page on October 2nd, giving the event only 9 full days of possible promotion time. And even then, the post had nearly no engagement—very few likes, comments, or shares. In the past, the Monster Flea Market was heavily advertised, with flyers, multiple social media pushes, and even radio and print ads to drum up excitement. This time? Almost nothing. A couple of low-effort Facebook posts and a mention on their billboard, and that was it.
This was a far cry from the usual promotional efforts that have, in previous years, brought in lines wrapped around the building and eager shoppers hunting for bargains. Many shoppers I spoke to mentioned that they had no idea the event was happening until they saw last-minute posts from vendors like me. And even then, people were still trickling in after 11 a.m., long after the event was in full swing, simply because they hadn’t heard about it earlier.
Shoppers Turned Away at the Door
Adding to the frustration, several customers were turned away at the door simply because they were carrying pocketbooks. While this might have been a security policy, it clearly left a bad taste in the mouths of would-be shoppers. Some may have left and not come back, meaning fewer sales for vendors who were already struggling with low foot traffic. But honestly, that wasn’t even the biggest issue. The real problem was that not enough people knew the event was happening in the first place.
The Vendors’ Perspective
I personally did okay because of the support of loyal shoppers and friends who came out specifically to see me. But I saw vendor after vendor, especially the older ones or those less fortunate, sitting at their booths watching as hours passed with little to no traffic. These vendors rely on these sales to afford the little things many of us take for granted. Some of them told me they were considering requesting refunds for their space rentals because they didn’t make enough to justify the cost.
While some of us have built up enough of a following to weather a poorly attended event, it’s the smaller vendors who really felt the sting. These are people who, for one reason or another, rely on flea markets like the Monster Flea to help pay for medications, groceries, and other essentials. To see them struggle because of the Berglund Center’s lack of action is incredibly frustrating.
The Urgent Need for Action
The Berglund Center has to do better. They owe it to the vendors who make these events possible to promote them properly. I urge them to consider the time, energy, and resources that these vendors invested into this event and to think about offering refunds to those who were most impacted by the poor turnout. The vendors did their part. They spent days preparing, they showed up, and they tried to make the best of a bad situation. The failure here was not on the part of the vendors; it was on the lack of promotion by the Berglund Center.
This event could have been a success—just like previous Monster Fleas—but instead, it ended in disappointment for so many. I hope the Berglund Center acknowledges this and makes things right for the vendors who were left holding the short end of the stick. These are local businesses, hardworking families, and people trying to make a living. They deserve better than what happened today.
HOW TO MAKE CONTACT:
The best person to contact with concerns about the lack of promotion for the Monster Flea event would be Robert Knight, the Director of Marketing and Sales. As the person responsible for marketing and sales, Robert Knight would be in charge of the event’s promotion efforts and can address issues related to the event’s visibility and attendance.
Here’s his contact information:
- Robert Knight: (540) 853-2988 or Robert.Knight@roanokeva.gov
If you feel the issue needs to be escalated further, you might also want to loop in Robyn Schon, the General Manager, as she oversees overall operations.
- Robyn Schon: (540) 853-2241 or Robyn.Schon@roanokeva.gov
If your concerns include how the event was organized or if the lack of foot traffic affected operations (like staff not being informed properly or logistical issues with the event), contacting Tyler Johnson could be helpful.
Here’s his contact info:
- Tyler Johnson: (540) 853-5803 or Tyler.Johnson@roanokeva.gov
COMMENT IF YOU WENT OR WERE A VENDOR AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.