Promoting Your Sales
You must promote, or they won’t come! First, place ads in local
shoppers and paper and post your sale on community bulletin
boards. On the day of your sale, place signs on the surrounding
roads spacing them strategically so they will eventually lead
people to your house. The words "Garage Sale" work like magic
drawing in large numbers of impulse shoppers.
Look at the garage sale ads in your paper. See which ads
grab your attention. Now, think of how you can make your ad
as good or even better.
Your ad can draw like an electric magnet if you do several
things:
·
Think up an attention getting
opening
·
Give sales times and house
address
-
List some of your best items
-
Use a little sales
puffery
Sure, your ad will be a little longer and cost a little more,
but it will be worth it.
Here are two examples:
DON’T MISS THE MOTHER OF GARAGE SALES! Two
families! 5 Pine St. 8:00-5:00 Sat & Sun pine table,
crystal set, old iron toys, clocks, clothes (baby and adult),
TV, CD’s, tape player, tools, golf clubs, HUGE SELECTION
GARAGE SALE Paradise! Huge Sale. 2 families.
Furniture, books, clothes (3 to 5 yr. Old and adult), antiques,
hooked rug, beer steins, bikes, toys galore, TV, mother-in-law!
Tons of stuff. DON’T MISS THIS ONE! 5 Pine St. 8:00- 5:00
Sat/Sun – Rain Date: Aug 7 and 8.
TIP: Make a sandwich board. Cut two pieces of plywood 2’ x
3’ and fasten them at the top with hinges. Attach a small
chain to the sides control the opening width and place your
large sales sign on both sides. Place it at the end of your
driveway or down the street at the
intersection.
TIP: Make an instant sign by taking a paper bag and placing
a stone or sand in the bottom. Now, fold the top over one
inch and staple it.
Write on both sides for an instant sign.
Security Issues
Many strangers will visit your garage sale, and you can’t
assume that they are all honest. First and foremost, you should
make sure that your house is locked.
Only carry enough cash to make change.
TIP: During slow moments, transfer excessive cash to the
security of your locked house.
Y
ou may wish to consider what you will do in case someone wishes
to use your phone or bathroom. I live in a place where I can
direct someone to a public facility, so this is not a
problem. Here is
my suggestion. Politely say, No!
If you have valuable items like watches or jewelry, these
should be placed where you can see them.
OH NO! It’s Raining
One of the biggest dreads for a garage sale host is a rainy
day. The good news is that a little drizzle will not keep the
hard-core garage sale buyers away! Some people advertise a
"rain date" while others simply postpone the sale for another
weekend. Look at
it this way, you can sell umbrellas! Actually, you will need to
keep your sense of humor after all the work you have
done.
TIP: If you wish to cancel your sale because of the
weather; post a sign on your lawn saying, "Sorry, Rained
Out!" People will understand.
TIP: For those surprise showers, it’s a good idea to have a
supply of inexpensive plastic table covers to throw over
your goods.
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