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WFMW: Tips for Yard Sale Success
Today’s Works for Me Wednesday (WFMW) tip has to do with some tips for having a yard sale.First off- have someone to help you. My mom and I always put on a yard sale together. This is good for many reasons. First is more items for the sale- if you sale looks bigger it will draw more people. Second is that you are not alone- you have someone to talk to when there’s a lull and someone to help bag items and count change. You also have someone to watch the sale while you take a bathroom break or eat lunch.
Another good way to draw attention to your sale is to have some “big ticket items” meaning LARGE. People are more apt to stop at a sale that has tables full of goodies but also larger items like furniture pieces, bikes, lawn mowers, tools and such.
Storing money- my mom and I use an old fanny pack and carpenters apron to store the money in. This is great because it stays right with you. You can walk around the sale and help out people without fear that someone will run off with the money box. The fanny pack zips closed so we use that to store large bills in. The carpenter’s apron has those nifty pockets- one for change, one for one dollar bills and one for 5’s and 10’s. Keep track of your money- when you find you’ve accumulated a larger amount than you would like to be carrying on your person- take it in the house and put it in a safe place (another good reason to have 2 people running the sale).
Have different size batteries on hand for people to try out items to make sure they really work. People are more apt to buy the item if they are for sure it works. Also have an electrical cord out where you are at for people to test plug-in appliances. If you are selling CDs or cassette tapes (yes, some people still have them) have a portable player out at your check-out table for people to make sure these items work. One thing we never worry about testing is VHS tapes and DVDs- you don’t want to have to carry out all that equipment.
Have a free box. All those little McDonalds toys and little bits of this and that- throw it all in a big box and mark it “FREE BOX”. This is great for little kids and I’m amazed at the stuff people will take from the free box just because it’s free (used make up, mate-less socks, books with torn covers etc.).
Group like items together- clothing on one table (with shoes underneith), kitchen items on another, kids toys on another (actually we put the kids toys out on a big tarp so there is something for littles to play with and be enticed).
Be willing to dicker- there are always people who “want something for nothing” as my mama puts it. But also be willing to be firm. If you really want at least $5 for that baby swing then don’t let someone talk you lower- yes that person may leave your sale without buying a thing but there is usually another person who will stop by later and pay the $5 gladly.
Make sure your items are clean and well presented. Don’t try and sell clothing that is stained or ripped. Clean up the dried old crusties on the old high chair before setting it out- you will get a bit more money if your items look as nice as possible.
Don’t underestimate the power of seasonal items either- Christmas and Halloween decorations sell very well. And don’t forget to group them all together!
Don’t forget to advertise- run an ad in the local paper- put up flyers at the laundry-mat and library and such. Another great deal is to advertise that on the last day of your sale everything is 50% off after a certain time (we run our sales until 5ishso we say
Don’t forget to take your gentle used items that didn’t sell and donate them to local free stores/domestic assault shelter/Goodwill etc. [Get a donation receipt for tax purposes].
Check out other great WFMW tips over at Rocks in my Dryer. Enjoy!
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{ Last Page } { Page 511 of 1515 } { Next Page }Untitled Comment
1:28 PM, 2007-Jun-20 .. Posted by AnonymousI'd like you and your mom to come over and join me in organizing my garage sale.
http://happywonderer.wordpress.com/
ellen b
Untitled Comment
5:01 PM, 2007-Jun-20 .. Posted by AnonymousGreat tips. Thanks!
Lorie
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