How to Stage a Garage Sale
Making great money at a garage sale is easy, provided you know how to stage your sale. Having a successful garage sale requires more than just dragging all your unwanted junk to the driveway and hanging up a few signs around the neighborhood. With a little preparation, retail know-how and creativity, you can stage a garage sale that will get you the most money for your unwanted items.
Things You'll Need
- Boxes
- Prepriced garage sale stickers
- Hangers
- Clothesline or clothing rack
- Tables
Instructions
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1
Sort your items into the boxes according to category--clothing, kitchen items, books, etc.
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Using the prepriced garage sale stickers, price items as you sort. Be consistent; two similar items, in similar condition, should not be priced at drastically different rates.
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Stage your garage sale in the garage or in a covered area--even under a tent--if possible, as this both protects your items and is appealing to customers.
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Display your items retail fashion. Set up as many tables as possible at an easily navigable distance, and group items on the tables according to category: kitchenware on one table, home decor items on another, purses and accessories on another. If you have lots of books, use shallow boxes to display the books spine out, or bring a bookshelf from your home to display the books on.
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Hang clothing on a clothesline or clothing rack, and as your sale progresses, check to make sure that items are still on the rack or line. Messy piles of clothing are less appealing than neatly hung items. Hang clothing according to size and gender. Display shoes, purses and accessories near clothing.
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Display electronics so that they are clearly operational. Have radios playing, televisions turned on, computers running. Buyers should be able to test items that it is not feasible to leave running, such as vacuums and irons, so have plug-ins at the ready.
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Put big-ticket items and colorful items, such as furniture and toys, closest to the street to draw buyers in.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared to prepare for a great garage sale. Staging a garage sale to make your items look appealing will take some time, but the returns will make it worth the extra effort.
Making a garage sale buyer-friendly is more than just pricing items to sell. It's about making the items look appealing. Display items in a way that emphasizes their use or attractiveness. If you are selling an old computer, set it up and turn it on, so that buyers can see it is operational. If you're selling clothing, make sure it is clean and unwrinkled.
One way to make a garage sale easier to stage is group pricing. For instance, price paperback books at 50 cents each or five for a dollar. Provide grocery bags, and price children's clothing at $10 per bag.
If you're unsure how to price items, visit a local Goodwill or thrift store to get an idea of how much your items sell for in these stores.
References
Resources
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Comments
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Retail on and off the job!
