- How To Make
Your Garage Sale A Success
Like to exchange
that gold mine of junk in your basement for a fistful of dollars?
You can, by holding a garage sale.
You don't necessarily
need a garage to hold a garage sale, but you do need to know
the secrets of success. Some careful planning will assure you
of a successful sale.
First, consider
your location. If you're too far off the beaten track, you might
like to ask a friend if you can hold the sale in their yard.
Next, check
the bylaws in your area to find out if you might need a permit
to hold a garage sale. You may be required to pay a fee, or to
collect sales tax. Also, find out if you can put up signs in
the neighborhood to advertise your sale.
Choosing the
date and hours for your sale should be easy. Naturally, a weekend
day would be the best and the morning (not too early, though)
and afternoon the best hours.
Make use of
free advertising bulletin boards in your community to publicize
your sale. You can also advertise in your local newspaper.
Now, what to
sell. You may be surprised that what you have no use for and
in fact think is junk, someone else is thrilled with. The following
list will give you some ideas of what you
can sell:
- appliances
- large and small
- books - paperback
and hard cover
- costume jewelery
- sports equipment
- plants
- linens / bedding
- children's
toys
- flatware -
silver and stainless steel
- baby equipment
- records /
tapes
- shoes / boots
- patio equipment
- garden tools
- kitchen utensils
/ gadgets
- china / bric-a-brac
- clothing,
especially children's
- pictures /
frames
Now that you've
decided when your sale will be held and just what you're going
to sell, the following tips will help make your day a success:
- Put a price
tag on every item. Mark your prices clearly. This makes it easier
for a customer to browse. Masking tape is excellent for price
tags.
- Make sure
your merchandise is very clean. Goods that are polished and in
good condition will sell faster than old dusty items.
- Be ready to
deal with customers promptly at opening time. Have everything
ready and be wearing a smile.
- Be prepared
to give your customers change by having coins and small bills
on hand.
- Save your
bags for a few weeks before your sale, so you can offer your
customers some wrapping for their purchases.
- Be prepared
to haggle with customers.
After your
sale, if you should have any leftovers, perhaps you would like
to donate them to a local charity. Or you can always save the
leftovers for your next sale.
Garage sales
are a lot of fun. Plan yours properly and you'll be assured of
a good time and a successful sale.
_______________________________________
Tips & Ideas
BY LINDA MACKAY
1. Put a sign
up about a week before at a major crossroads intersection in
your community. Bargain hunters plan early in the week on where
they will go. Gives great exposure.
2. For linen, bundle up the linen;ie.bath towels, hand towels
etc that match. For bedroom linen put the size on it; i.e. Queen.
Put a ribbon around the bundle to make it look attractive and
to prevent people from taking things apart.
3. If you have the time and personal to help offer coffee and
donuts (you charge of course) to increase their browsing time.
4. Rent tables to make it easier for people to view versus boxes
on the floor that may be difficult for older people to sort through.
5. Use your network of friends and business associates by sending
them an e-mail of your impending sale. They will send it on
to others as well who they may know are interested in purchasing
items at a reduced cost.
6. In addition to plastic bags, get small boxes of various sizes
to give to people who buy more than two or three things. Makes
it easier for them to continue browsing if they know they have
something that they can cart their new purchases in. |
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