Spring cleaning is a wonderful accomplishment. Everything’s fresh and clean. Doesn’t it feel great? But what do you do with all those odds and ends unearthed from your closets and the back recesses of the garage?
Making a few extra pennies by holding a Garage/Yard Sale could be just the ticket. After a number of successful sales over the years, here are some of my favorite tips for making the most of your time and effort:
1) When choosing what to sell, don’t sort things out according to what you think will sell. Try to sell everything. One person’s junk is another’s treasure. Even broken appliances can be sold for parts.
2) Don’t throw out your old magazines — stick them all in a box and sell them for a quarter a piece.
3) Think “store” when you’re setting up. Try to think how traffic patterns of browsing customers would walk around your garage or driveway.
4) Arrange your tables according to categories: all kitchen stuff on one table, bedding on another, clothing on another, gift items grouped together, jewelry displayed next to a mirror, etc. Decide in advance which categories you have, and then sort accordingly.
5) Rather than pricing each piece of clothing individually, put a big easy-to-read sign over the table. Something like: “All clothing 50 cents each, or 3 for $1 (unless otherwise marked).”
6) Play background music while people shop. You want your customers to relax … shop … take their time … enjoy the process. Probably an easy-listening station that plays familiar songs from the 70’s and 80’s would be ideal.
7) Make people feel comfortable and welcome. I’ve been to so many garage sales where the people holding the sale just sat there and glared at you as you shopped. Be sure to smile warmly and greet everyone.
8.) On those large colorful signs you post around town, list some of the individual items at your sale: tools, baby gear, clothing, housewares, collectibles, etc. And don’t forget to take your signs down after the sale’s over.
9) Stock up on bags from the grocery store so you can bag up purchases for customers with armloads of small items.
10) If your goal is to clear out as much as possible, offer a great deal on the afternoon of the last day such as: “Everything you can stuff into a shopping bag for $1,” or “Half price on all items after 12 noon on Sunday.”
By thinking and planning ahead, it’s possible to make your garage sale into a high profit, sociable, and fun way to spend a sunny springtime weekend.
3 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 13, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Cheap Guy
this is a great check list you have here for clearing out the clutter.
the only ideas i would add are to maybe think about ebay for some of the items that could be collector pieces to someone. like the magazines you talked about.
maybe try placing some online adds too in places like craigslist under your closest city. great list. thanks
April 29, 2008 at 9:36 am
Karen Andersen
I got some new ideas from your article, thanks! Re. Craig’s List, in my town when one lists a garage sale, the town newspaper automatically picks it up from Craig’s List and advertises in newspaper for no charge. You might want to check that out.
I have some other thoughts but will contact you another time (late for appointment).
Karen A.
Boise, ID
April 29, 2008 at 9:47 am
Karen Andersen
P.S. Just a couple more quick comments:
1. Don’t post signs until the evening before sale - if you post afternoon of day before, people will guess it’s for that day and not the next. When driving by signs, one doesn’t always see the small print; write in big letters and use arrows leading to your house.
2. Don’t leave young children in charge while you go in house to do something or leave premises; it’s not a safe thing to do because of predators.
3. Don’t leave your husband in charge either, unless he’s sworn to abide by your prices. He’s apt to practically give things away! We yard salers love these guys!
4. Take your signs down almost immediately after sale ends. Leaving them up all day or forever is very annoying to people who follow goose chases because of your sign and sale is over; very frustrating.
5. Give leftover books and childrens’ toys to Pediatrician for waiting room or to a hospital for underprivleged children with terminal diseases and/or family who do not visit. This is sad but true.
6. Give leftover towels or blankets in fair to good condition to your local humane society or pet shelter. They use them in cages for cats and dogs.
7. Give leftover yarn to your local senior chapter.
Karen A.
Boise, ID