Holding a garage sale can be a profitable and fun way to make sure items are reused. It’s true that garage sales are a lot of hard work, but the returns are more than worth the effort. You should be pleased at how easy the planning of a garage sale can be.
Plan -
Don’t discard those old clothes and items just yet. In fact, don’t throw anything away! You will be surprised at what people will buy. Your trash truly is another person’s treasure. Check with family, friends, and neighbors to see if they would like to hold a joint sale. More sellers mean less work, and more items mean more buyers. Also, advertising will be lower with more people to share the cost.
Promote -
Most community newspapers have a weekly garage sale section to advertise in. Put up signs in your neighborhood a few days before the sale. Make sure the signs are large, readable, and if possible, waterproof. On the day of the sale, put a large sign and some balloons at the intersection closest to your house. Remember to take down all of your signs after the sale.
Be Organized -
If possible, plan to set up items in a covered area so that you can still hold the sale if the weather is bad. Have each family mark their items with a different color dot to prevent mix-ups. Make sure that every item is priced and set up in a secure place by at least the night before the sale. Price your items fairly, but not too low. Some people will want to bargain with you. Have plenty of change on hand, as you will be dealing with a lot of paper money.
You will be surprised how the day of the sale can take a toll on you. Try not to let your sale go past noon, and it helps to have someone there to take turns managing the sale, so that you can each take breaks.
The customers you already have could be your biggest lead source, and you may not even realize it.