If you're like most Americans, you have lots of stuff. We are a country of
consumers. We buy, buy, buy, and most of it ends up in boxes in our
closets and basements.
Unfortunately, we don't clear out our house as much as we clutter it up.
To avoid the pack-rat syndrome, consider having a garage sale. A garage
sale is a great way to get rid of unwanted junk, plus make some money. Here are
some tips to help make your sale a success:
Collect Items
You can never start too early when it comes to collecting items for a
garage sale. I keep a large box in my basement for garage sale items all
year long. During the year when I come across an item I no longer need
or want, I throw it in the box. An even better idea is to mark the items
before they go in the box. Marking your items will take longer than you think.
Don't leave it until the last minute. If you do, you may be up very late
the night before your sale!
Advertise
You'll want to include the following information in your ad: Date and
times of the sale, your address, and special items you have for sale
that will draw customers. Be sure to mention specific items that are in
demand (Little Tikes toys; collectibles; furniture items). If you're
selling kids' clothing, list the sizes you have. If a lot of your items
(especially clothing) are
name-brand, it doesn't hurt to mention the specific name brands as well.
In my area, people make tracks to sales with kids' clothes from BabyGap
and Gymboree.
Make sure that you have
signs strategically placed in your community. Place them in
high-traffic intersections within a few miles of your home. If you
live in the boonies, include directions in your ad. Use bright
(yellow or lime green work well), paper with BIG lettering. Using
your home printer works well, since the ink in laser printer/copiers
won't run in the rain. Staple your bright, easy-to-read sign to
cardboard for stability. Drive by your own signs to make sure that they
are visible from a distance.
Price Your Items
Mark every item. You'll avoid a lot of questions and haggling this
way. Groups of similar items like books or video cassettes are an exception; it might be easier
to just mark them 25 cents each rather than mark each one. Items such
as this are also great to offer a deal: 25 cents each or 5 for $1. A
general guideline is to price items at 1/4 or 1/5 of the retail price.
However, this is a VERY general guideline. You may be able to get more on
some items and much less on others. Obviously new items will bring more
(especially if the price tag is still on it!). You'll want to consider the demand
for the item you're pricing. Clean and repair your toys. It is amazing how much
more money a shiny toy will bring than a dull, dingy one. When
pricing, use quarter-dollar increments. Making change will be much
easier.
A Note on Clothing
I've found that people are willing to spend good money on quality kids' clothing at garage sales, but not adult clothing. If you have a
lot of adult clothing that is in good condition and still in style, consider
taking it to a consignment shop instead. Kids' clothing can sell anywhere from
$1 to $5. If it's stained, however, don't mark it more than a
quarter.
Make it a Group Thing
Invite friends to join you. You'll be able to advertise a wider
variety of merchandise and attract more shoppers. You can split the cost of
the ad and take turns at the checkout counter. Plus, you'll have more fun
that way! You may also want to recruit neighbors for a block-wide sale.
Display Your Stuff
Arrange to have plenty of clothing racks and tables. People won't want
to go through piles of junk. Hang clothing if at all possible. Not
only will they be easier to view; their perceived value will be higher.
Be sure to put away any items you DON'T want to sell, otherwise
customers will ask about them. If you have
a lot of things in your garage you don't want to move, consider putting
up a curtain or tarp to hide them from view. If you have a long
driveway, make sure to use it. Put high-interest items on the side
of your driveway (Kids' toys, Furniture, Tools (so the men will want to
stop!) so they're easily visible from the road. As your sale gets
picked over, be sure to re-arrange merchandise to fill holes.
Create the Atmosphere
Have pleasant easy-listening music playing in the background; shoppers
will
linger longer. If your sale is on a hot day, you may want to
have a large tub filled with ice and cans of pop for sale. Have proper
lighting; be sure that it isn't too dark in your garage.
Open your doors!
As a courtesy to your customers, don't allow early sales. I've
been to many a sale at the time they SAID they would open, only to find they opened
early and the item I wanted was already gone. Don't allow people to come
inside your home. Some customers may ask to use the bathroom, phone, or
try on clothes. Be prepared for this, and be ready to tell them
no.
Finishing Up
Be sure to remove your signs
promptly. You won't want people knocking on your door after the
sale is over. Now comes the fun part... counting the money!
