Summertime is garage sale time! I like to stop at garage sales while I’m out and about. I enjoy having them as well. Over the years I’ve learned a few things about how to host a successful sale and if you plan carefully and follow a few easy steps you can have a successful sale, too!
CHOOSE DATES: Decide when you’d like to host your sale. You can start as early in the week as Wednesday. I typically do Thursday – Saturday. Do what works for you, it’s your sale. You can also go to the neighbors and ask if they’d like to have a sale as well. Block sales ROCK! For everyone! You’ll get much more traffic with a block sale, or a neighborhood sale. Coordinating available dates may be a challenge but I promise you it’ll be worth the minor hassle.
GATHER: Go through your house, garage, basement, and gather up everything that is no longer useful to you, things the kids no longer play with, clothing that no longer fits, etc. Make sure your items are CLEAN, unbroken, free of stains and not missing any pieces.
PRICING: Listen closely to me right now . . . You MUST price everything. With clear, easy to read labels or signs. I can’t tell you how many sales I’ve walked away from because nothing was priced and the seller was too busy to give me that information. While we’re at it, please make your prices reasonable. I guarantee nobody cares what you paid retail. The better your prices, the less you’ll have to pack up afterward. Also on the topic of prices, be prepared for HAGGLERS! They will come, they always do. And they will wheel n deal to save a buck. You need to decide right from the start how you plan to handle them. Decide which prices are negotiable and which are firm. Then be ready to stand your ground. This is YOUR sale, YOUR time, YOUR say!
PRESENTATION: Use folding tables, laundry baskets, even an old door laid across two saw horses to set out your items. Neatly fold clothing and stack by size and gender. Group similar items together, use baggies for smaller items. Be mindful of electronics, record albums, CD’s, DVD’s, video games, etc. and be sure to place them where they won’t be in direct sunlight. I like to keep all those things, glass items, kitchen wares and anything delicate INSIDE the garage on a table near where I have myself stationed. This way I can keep them safe. Remember: anything you have on or close to the ground is TODDLER BAIT! Larger toys, bikes, scooters, furniture are best out front. They can serve to attract shoppers.
ADVERTISEMENT: Social media is a great place to advertise your sale. Local swap pages on Facebook, for instance. Post an ad on Craig’s List. Don’t forget the signs. Write clearly and large enough for people to read as they drive past. Your signs should have all the pertinent information: WHAT: Garage Sale, Yard Sale, Rummage Sale, Block Sale. WHERE: Your address, block, subdivision. WHEN: What time will you open and close? DAYS: You don’t necessarily need the dates, just the days, this way you can reuse your signs another time if you choose. Post your signs on every major cross street and corner leading to your sale. I like to add a couple balloons tied onto the mailbox.
EXTRAS: If it’s a really hot day I have a cooler full of ice with bottled waters for sale! My kid also gets in on the action and likes to host a lemonade and candy stand. It’s great way to include the kids, and BONUS: they get to practice making change, counting, adding . . . all the math! Another way to include the kids and to get them to give up their prized possessions is to give them a percentage of the profits. (Just don’t let them be in charge of pricing! One Hot Wheel car will end up at $6, or 27 books for a quarter. Bless their little giant hearts.)
MONEY: Make sure you have loads of singles and change when you begin. You’d be surprised how quickly you go through it. I also like to keep a tally in a notebook. I write down the items and how much they sold for.
One last thing, whenever possible have another adult with you during your sales. Another adult is an extra set of eyes when you have multiple shoppers perusing your treasures. That extra adult also comes in handy when you have small children who may need your attention or when you need to use the little mommy’s room.
Did I leave anything out? Nahhhhh! Go! Have a great sale!
