4 Ways to Set Up Your Garage Sale for Success
It’s garage sale season, and neighborhoods are getting ready to declutter after a busy summer. Garage sales can be a great solution if you want a fresh start and a little extra spending money. Plus, if you plan them right, they can also be a lot of fun.
But don’t be fooled “” garage sales require a lot of work “” and if you’re not careful, you can end up with almost as much clutter as you started with! (Remember, if you’re not up for the challenge and hassle of hosting a garage sale, you can always donate unwanted items to your local Ohio Valley Goodwill donation center.)
Before planning an end-of-summer sale, check out these four great tips:
Choose the Right Date
The art of garage sale hosting is a fickle one. When you’re choosing your dates, remember that Fridays and Saturdays tend to work best. And in some places, Thursdays are successful since many dedicated garage sale shoppers want to get a leg-up on the merchandise before the crowds come on the weekends.
Consider the weather, too. If your garage sale is more of a yard sale without cover, keep a close eye on the forecast. A pop-up thunderstorm could seriously derail your plans!
Simplify Your Pricing System
Pricing your items can be stressful and complicated. It’s easiest to use cheap stickers or safety pins and strips of paper for soft items that won’t hold something sticky. If you have a bunch of like-items, you might even consider leaving them in a box that’s marked with the price per item. Just be sure to include initials on the tags if you have multiple sellers at the same sale.
If you need boxes or baskets for your sale displays, check out Goodwill’s thrift stores. Use them for your sale, and then donate them back when you’re done. It’s that easy!
Advertise & Display Your Best
There are three types of audiences you’re going to want to attract: The casual garage sale shopper, the drive-by shopper, and the die-hard shopper. Give them what they want, and you’ll be cleaned out in no time!
Some garage sale shoppers will start planning their day well in advance. Be sure to advertise online, so your sale makes it to their agenda. There are many free sites available for posting, including GarageSaleFinder.com, Yard Sale Treasure Map, Facebook, and more.
To attract casual shoppers, spread the word strategically. If your sale has kids’ items, for example, look for parent groups on social media where you could post. Always highlight the most sought-after items you’ll offer at your sale.
Lastly, for the drive-by customers, be sure to place signage in the blocks surrounding the site of your sale. And remember, the way you display your inventory is also part of your advertising strategy. Place the most attractive items toward the front of the sale, so people who drive by can see them. They might just hit the brakes and make an unplanned shopping stop!
Take Nothing Back
Once you’ve selected which items you’re ready to part with, the worst thing you can do is store them back in your home if they don’t sell. That defeats the entire purpose of decluttering! Instead, make yourself a promise that no leftover inventory will come back.
To make the most of your decluttering process, pack up your leftover garage sale items and drop them off at your nearest Ohio Valley Goodwill Donation Center. This final step is by far the easiest part of garage sale hosting! When you choose to donate to Goodwill in Cincinnati, you’ll be free of clutter with little time or effort required.
Find a Cincinnati Goodwill Donation Center near you and drop off your donations of clothing, accessories, shoes, household goods, small electronics, and more!
