How Does a Yard Sale Work?
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An American Tradition
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Yard sales, rummage sales, garage sales--the name varies by area and location, but they all have the same concept: People put their junk out and let other people sort through it until the shoppers find something they want. Yard sales descend from estate sales, but they have none of the grim finality; they are generally pleasant opportunities to meet neighbors. As Americans became more affluent after World War II, they created an informal version of the estate sale to divest themselves of old or unwanted furniture, children's toys, clothes and other possessions.
How it Starts
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The purpose of a yard sale is to decrease the volume of space filled by stuff you don't need. To this end, yard sales are scheduled in the spring or when an organization (often the Chamber of Commerce) sponsors a community-wide weekend with publicity and maps for shoppers. Once scheduled, the yard sale host must quickly place advertising and begin to pull items for the sale, clean and sort them and make signs to guide buyers to her sale. Successful yard sales take place before the majority of yearly sales, are easy to find (a main street is best) and have easy parking nearby. Once the plans are completed, inspect merchandise closely and value it at a price that reflects the resale value of the piece and its condition. Check old furniture, dishes and toys to insure that no antiques or collectibles get priced at less than their current value. Antique dealers get some of their most profitable items at yard sales. Early on the morning of the sale, easy-to-read, informative signs should lead shoppers to the yard sale.
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The Event
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The sale itself works fairly simply. The seller arranges his merchandise on tables and hanging rods in an attractive way so that buyers don't have to dig through boxes or ask what things cost. Often merchandise is arranged by theme (kids, adults, housewares and games) or grouped by price. Good organization makes it easier for everyone. The smart yard sale host makes it easy on herself and establishes a policy on negotiating (some haggle and some don't) and arranges merchandise so she can keep an eye out for buyers who have questions or need some "extra" attention to make the sale. The goal is to sell it all. A neighborhood yard sale makes supervision and selling easier because more people are involved and everyone gets a break. At the end of the sale, goods should be de-tagged, boxed up and taken to a local charity outlet but, all too often, they are taken back to the attic to sit until it's time for another yard sale.
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Resources
- Photo Credit DRW & Associates, Inc
