Salem Trading Post opens
SALEM – Selling just about anything, the Salem Trading Post opened six weeks ago at 421 E. State St., and owner Rod Herron said purchases he makes from wholesalers move fast.
Much of the merchandise comes from his business partner, Dan Gallagher’s North Jackson auction center, and Herron added live, weekly, QVC-type webcasts that not only draw attention to the merchadise but to the Salem businesses that he highlights each week at the Salem Trading Post on his Facebook site.
The show has featured Angels for Animals in its hour-long format and will continue each Sunday with a show. Jan. 8 will be the next show, which Herron said he uses to promote all of Salem and its businesses.
“I want to start doing one business owner each week,” he said, noting the idea is to share their story, product and merchandise.
The 2,000 square foot showroom features aisles of household goods, cleaning supplies and toiletries to toys, candy, tools, electronics, computer monitors, guitars, bottled water, furniture, bed wear and many more items.
“There’s too much to list, you can’t believe the stuff that comes in,” he said, eyeing a sewing machine, laptop computers, printers and flat-screen monitors on shelves across the aisle.
He added, “I knew Salem needed a trading post, but we’re not a pawn shop or consignment shop.”
There was a 1978 Wizard of Oz collectible doll set that came and a customer, a man, came in, saw it “and bought them all,” Herron said, “the weirdest things sell.”
There is a brand new iCade game station that sells for anywhere from $1,200 to $1,400 on eBay and Amazon.com. The Salem Trading Post has it for $900.
He purchased an overstock order of new electric heaters from Walmart and sold them all. Herron said returned or blemished items he sells are all tested personally and are in working condition when they go out the door.
“I test everything out,” he said.
He had a load of bed-bags that are popular with college students and dorm residents that he sold for $10 each.
“I had 50 and blew them right out (the door),” he said, adding, “I kind of take the price and cut it almost in half.”
There is a brand new Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini Mahoning Valley Scrappers bobble-head doll standing on a shelf and Herron said he’s even sold sets of bocce balls.
“There are certain things the Salem Trading Post doesn’t have,” he said, “but not yet.”
The store will help customers search for hard-to-get items like Lionel train sets.
Herron said he knew the trading post concept with many household goods and odds and ends products would work.
“It’s fun, I like it,” he said.
Store hours are from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information visit the Salem Trading Post on Facebook.