Free Garage Sale Tips,   Anita Spero,   Anita's Eclectic Cottage

Part 1_Getting Prepared
Most of us know that garage sales are not just a weekend thing anymore. You will find them throughout the week everywhere. Why not? If you think about it, people shop in stores Monday though Sunday, so why not garage sale all week?
 The most important part is to make sure your garage sale lasts for at least 2 days, 3 if possible. Make the last day a markdown day- it’s a great way to get rid of “stuff” you don’t want. I think Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the best days; Thursday, Friday, Saturday are the second best alternative.

You really need to plan your garage sale in advance. For starters, devote an area in your house or garage for organizing everything several days in advance. As you find the items that are going into the garage sale, clean them and tag them. Clearly mark the price, so there are no misunderstandings.
If you plan to display items according to price, DON’T shove them in a box with “Everything in here $x.xx”. Have them out where people don’t need to dig through boxes. Most people find that unpleasant.
Arrange items in categories or groupings. When it comes time to set them out for the sale, you will have a general idea where everything will go.

As you clean and price items, make a list of everything you’re selling. The night before the sale, or whenever you start setting up, you can make sure you have everything out. As items sell, cross them off the list.

If it will be a multi-family sale, it’s especially important to keep a running list of sold items. This will prevent squabbling when the sale ends!

If your sale will be in an indoor space, make sure you have good lighting. This will attract more people and make them feel welcome. It also makes you items look better.

Checkout area-make sure you have a good spot to work in. Have a calculator and lock box.
It’s always better to have a second person there. This way, someone can always be watching the register, while the other person is walking around, assisting customers, etc. It makes it easier to take bathroom breaks, as well!

Part2-Advertising is key
Advertising is the most essential part of any good garage sale. There are many avenues for this.
Yard signs- Make sure they are sturdy, and easy to read. A sign that is steady in a mild breeze is much easier to read than one that flops all over. Be direct in your wording. All you need to say is that it is a garage sale, with days and hours, and location.  You don’t need to tell people everything you are selling-keep them in suspense. Curiosity will draw people in. The exception is, if you are primarily selling one type of item, ie: baby items, then list that on your signs. Not everyone is looking for baby clothes- if that’s all you have, you’re just wasting people’s time. If you can’t get a good description on all your signs, have one big one in the front yard. For example, “Fantastic Baby and Toddler Sale”.
Place signs by at least three major intersections near you home. Make the print large and bold. If people can’t read them, they won’t bring in any customers.  It helps to have signs with arrows, which direct people to your home. Set up one at a corner, with the arrow pointing the way. Make sure to place signs telling people to turn if necessary.

Newspapers are another inexpensive way to advertise. Most local newspapers have Garage Sale headings, and the ads are usually cheap. Other ideas would be church bulletins and posting boards at grocery stores. Don’t forget to email friends and family in the area and ask them to spread the word.

It doesn’t hurt to have a “freecycle” area-mention it in your advertising. People love the thought of free stuff, and it helps get them in front of your “for sale” items

Part 3- Merchandising  (Setting up your items to look pleasing and inviting)

It seems that many garage sales I walk up to have a pile of  kids’ stuffed animals on a blanket on the lawn,  and the tables way in back. No one wants to walk up to see an old foot massager and used bathmat greet them. It just doesn’t say “Welcome”.
You want people to think “Store”. Stores are set up with displays and groupings, not piles!
Put a variety of nice items in a neat grouping towards the front. Use bold colors on your signs. Have balloons! Make it festive!
Make sure everything is displayed on a table. It’s uncomfortable to have to look down and bend down to see items. Ditto on the “piles of stuff on blankets”. This makes someone just want to walk on by.
BTW- You can rent tables at your local rental center. If that’s too expensive, check with your church, VFW, or other local civic organization. Often times, they will loan out tables to members or residents.
Organize clothing in rows, and categorize them. It takes a little more time and effort, but you will sell more. Clearly label the rows, such as “0-6 months, 6-12 months, men’s large”, etc. Straighten and refold items as needed.
When it comes to hanging up clothing, do the same. Set up any area where clothing can be neatly hung on hangers. This will increase your sales. Try to group outfits together, rather than have them sprawled out all over. This gives more of the feeling your customers are in a store.
Have pretty displays in the front, middle, and back. Set up a painting with candle holders and a bouquet in front of it. This makes items look more attractive to customers. They also may buy more. (“Oh those candleholders look nice with that painting.”)  Think of it as a cross-promotion. A customer is drawn to one item, and one or two other, complimentary items yell out “Buy me!”.

Other ways to draw more customers are to hold a raffle for a specific item, or even have a bake sale.

Part 4-Greetings!
Say hello. Be friendly, but not overbearing. Be helpful and accommodating, but don’t crowd your customers. Remember, it already feels awkward to most people to walk up onto someone else’s property and start rummaging through their stuff. Don’t make them feel more uncomfortable.
Don’t sit and stare at them. Walk around and straighten things up. Read a book or magazine. You can keep on eye on people, but just don’t let them see you keeping an eye on them. No one likes the feeling of being watched. You can certainly make small talk, but keep it light. Avoid politics and religion-it’s bad business. Talk about the weather or your favorite sports team. Ask how garage sale hunting is going. It will be advantageous to find out if there’s a sale on every block, or if there are “parades” of garage sale-ers coming your way.
Never get pushy. Don’t try to be Mr. Salesman. It makes people want to leave. Give people space to look around and make decisions. If someone has a question, they’ll ask.
Have bags, boxes, and newspaper on hand. Wrap up fragile items in newspaper, and place them in bags. Make it easy for people to transport items home.

Part 5-Last day of the sale
On the night before the last day of the sale, go around and add to all your signs a “half-price sale” or “prices slashed”, or something to that effect. It tends to draw more shoppers. Don’t be afraid to let people wheel and deal with you. That’s half the fun for many hardcore garage salers! Add to your “free-cycle” area as you can. Keep your bake sale going until the very end. The last day can get pretty dreary, so do your best to keep it lively.

To Review-
1) Pick three consecutive days for your sale, with the last one a mark-down day.
2) Devote an area to collect everything in advance.
3) As you collect items, clean them up and tag them.
4) Don’t shove things in boxes or piles. Merchandise them.
5) Arrange items in categories or groups. When it’s time to set up, it will go smoother.
6) Make a list of everything you’re selling. Do this as you clean and tag them.
7) Make sure the lighting is good if you’ll be indoors.
8) Have a good area for the “cash register”. Make sure someone else can be there to help.

Advertising is key-
1) Make easy to read signs
2) Be direct with wording
3) Make clear if you’re selling very specific types of items
4) Signs by at least three major intersections
5) Have signs which lead the way to your sale
6) Newspapers, bulletin boards, church bulletins, emails

Setting up-
1) Think of how a store would display items.
2) Put varieties of nice groupings towards the front. Use bold colors.
3) Balloons get attention
4) Ad an exciting “free cycle” sign
5) Nothing laying on the ground or in piles
6) Put clothing in neat rows-straighten them out often
7) If hanging clothes, follow the same rules
8) Set up pretty displays front, middle, and back. You’re trying to draw people through the whole area.
9) A raffle or bake sale can get extra attention.

Greetings!
1) Greet people when they arrive
2) Look busy- don’t make people feel like they’re being stared at.
3) Small talk-light conversation. Avoid anything that gets people riled up.
4) Be helpful-never pushy
5) Have boxes, newspaper, and bags on hand

Last Day of Sale
1) Night before, do your markdowns. Put that on all your signs
2) Keep it fun
3) Keep the raffle or bake sale going until the very end

If you follow these guidelines, your garage sale should go a bit smoother and you’ll sell more.