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-- Unrelated, I'm helping organize a garage/yard sale for a theatre company I work with, and need all of your garage/yard-sale advice. :) So, what makes for a succesful sale?
I shall try to bring more cowbell to the garage sale, but I'm not sure if the theatre I work with would find it quite as amusing as you and I. My Walken impression is not the best.
1. Have one central place where people go to pay for things. ALWAYS have someone with the money. Make sure you have plenty of change ($1 bills, quarters, probably a few $5 bills) to start with. I guarantee at least one person will want to buy a $1 with a $20 bill.
2. Group like things together. That way, you can make signs for some things, like Videos -$1, Hardcover books - $1, etc. It saves on individual pricing.
3. Keep a close eye on anything remotely valuable. People will come and steal from your yard sale, even if it is for charity. We had items "walk" from our Lions Club yard sale.
4. Be prepared for Early Birds. People show up as soon as they see you setting up, no matter what the posted start time is.
5. Have some sort of shelter for yourself if you will be sitting out all day. We put up a dining-fly type of thing and set up our payment table under it.
6. Collect plastic and paper bags to be recycled as bags for the customers. Get as many as you can; you'll probably go through all of them.
7. Have as many helpers as you can. Did I mention the thieves?
8. Having a cooler of water or snacks for sale can be a good thing, but it's also good to have that available for the workers.
9. If you can, have some way to hang up clothes, even if it's an improvised rack with a pole between two ladders, but make sure it's sturdy. Clothes tend to sell better when hung up.
10. Be prepared for hagglers, but don't let things go dirt cheap, unless it's the end of the day and you're going to donate it to the charity shop anyway. You're trying to run a fundraiser!!
11. Be prepared that it may wind up a long day for the workers. Have some music to play or just keep a good attitude and enjoy the chance to chat and joke around, in between raising money, of course!
Okay, I think that's enough advice. If you have any questions, let me know. :)) I hope you make lots of money!!!
These are amazing. I'm so just going to print this whole thread out. lol. Thank you! =) These are absolutely fantastic. You guys are the best and I heart you all. *hugs*
i think someone said this already, or something similliar, but its worth saying lots...
always be willing to negotiate. if someone's wavering...
"eh...hmmm...really? that much?"
knock off a few cents or a dollar, throw something else into the deal...
"ok, the cup is still .50, but i'll throw in this place mat for just .10 more, eh?"
be a salesman/woman, be personable. charm the pants off them. you'll have fun, you'll get rid of crap, and you'll make a few bucks you didn't have before.
Well, we're actors, so in theory that shouldn't be too hard.. hehe. ;) Thanks, love. I've totally left garage sales empty handed because people refused to waiver on what I considered a ridiculous price,a nd I wold have bought more then just that one item but I got irritated when they were nasty. So I will definitely keep that in mind.
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