Eight tips for a lucrative garage sale
How to really clean up this spring
It’s that beautiful time of year when the brown grass of early spring finally gives way to bright green blades; when garden perennials push through the soil to remind us that we all survived another winter; when sunshine beams through our windows and illuminates all the mess that’s accumulated while we huddled indoors. It’s spring cleaning time.
Nothing helps with spring cleaning like a purge of clutter at a garage sale. But did you know that with a few simple tricks you can do more than tidy and declutter with a garage sale? You can financially clean up as well. Here’s how:
1. Get the word out
Don’t spend money on advertising, but do be sure to market your sale. There are a variety of free advertising resources, including Craigslist, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. Be sure to check for possible advertising opportunities on your community or neighbourhood association website as well as for notice boards at nearby libraries, grocery stores or community centres. Experts say that adding a short video or a few photos of some of the more desirable items you plan to sell will help garner attention and more customers.
2. Signs, signs, signs!
It’s true: the humble cardboard sign has made (or broken) many a yard sale. When it comes to signs, experts say it’s important to think about two things.
- What they look like: signs should be consistent looking, easy to read, have a great headline (i.e. HUGE multi family garage sale!) and a directional arrow.
- Where they’re placed: draw a rough map of your area to plan where your garage sale signs will need to go. Don't forget to cater to traffic going in both directions. Generally speaking, do as many signs as is possible and permitted in your area. When you place signs, put them in a location so that drivers have enough time to read them and then turn. Be sure each sign has an arrow pointing towards your sale. Don’t forget to clean up the signs after the sale is over!
3. Get organized
Too many garage sales are a haphazard collection of stuff dumped in the yard. If you pile your sale items on a table or the ground like junk, that’s what people will assume they’re worth. Be sure you have enough tables to display items and don't be afraid to merchandise in a way that makes what you’re selling look appealing.
4. Be first out of the gate
The early bird gets the customers. Start your sale on Friday afternoon, not Saturday. There will be less competition from other sales on Friday. If you have enough items left, hold it again on Saturday morning. Plan on starting early on Saturday: You’ll have bargain-seekers there at the crack of dawn.
5. Be ready to roll when the sale begins
Make sure all of your items are clearly priced on the day of the sale. Most dollar stores sell stickers that work well for this. Not sure what to charge for larger items? Try checking out other garage sales before your scheduled sale date or go to Statricks , which aggregates pricing data from online auction sites such as eBay and classified sites like Craigslist. Don’t forget to have a float with small bills and coins to make change for your customers. You don’t want to lose sales because you can’t break a $20.
6. Bundle items
People who shop yard sales are looking for deals. Offer discounts for buying in multiples, like three for $5. Look around for ways to make a deal. If it’s the end of the day and you really want to move your items, let customers fill up a bag with items for a $5 or $10 flat rate. It’s a win-win. Customers get a deal, and you clear out the things you don’t want to bring back into the house.
7. Play music
There is a long history of studies showing a positive correlation between background music and retail sales. Why not add this tool to your yard sale toolkit? Pleasing background music will make the experience better for you and your customers may be more inclined to shop for longer.
8. Be friendly
People are far less likely to buy from someone who is surly or talking on a phone. Greet customers when they arrive and be available to provide information and negotiate (but don’t hover). Build goodwill among your customers by finding something to give their kids for no charge or throw in freebies for folks who buy a lot of stuff.
