Garden Sheds

A well run garage sale is a way of making some extra cash out of things that you don’t need or want any more. If you only have a couple of things that you would like to sell check with the neighbours and consider a combined sale.

Some points to keep in mind:

1. Don’t choose a long weekend - activities like Anzac Day marches or Show Day that will complete for your customers’ attention.
2. You don’t want to be sitting around all weekend, so run it only on Saturday morning and from say 7 or 8am until 12 or 1pm
3. Do have some change – about $150.00 in change should be a good float, lots of $1, $2 coins and $5 and $10 notes with a couple of $20s for the big spenders.
4. Always keep your float on you. Do not leave it unattended. Try a belt pouch.
5. Promotion – use large signs of black print on yellow background on busy nearby roads clearly directing customers to your sale, as well as ads in the local paper.
6. Even if you don’t think an item will sell, put it out with a price – you’d be surprised at what will sell. The most popular items tend to be sporting and exercise equipment, tools, books and cds. If you are selling clothes, make sure they’re clean.
7. Tables are the best way to display your bits and pieces so that people don’t have to be bending on the ground to look.  Sort your items into groups and try not to have things piled up on top of each other.
8. Larger items can go along the drive way leading your customers’ along the path to your main selling area. If you can, hang up your clothes on a piece of line so your customers can easily browse through the offerings.
9. People are looking for bargains. Price most of your items under $5.00 if possible, with a good range of $1 and $2 items. That doesn’t mean that you can’t sell higher priced items, but the cheapies usually sell best at garage sales.
10. Don’t try to run the sale by yourself. There are all kinds of people in this world and you will have to keep an eye on your goods.
11. Be prepared for the hagglers. They will try to get your price down no matter how cheaply you have priced it. You can play their game or not, but remember the goal of the exercise is to get rid of things you no longer need.

Get the kids involved – they could be running a lemonade stand at the same time. Making their own lemonade is fun and easy and who could resist a child selling their home made lemonade for a few cents – again, it all ads up.

Once your sale is over, take down any signs that you have put out in the surroundings streets.