So you think you're ready to host a sale...Please allow me the opportunity to give you a few pointers that you might have missed. These are not directly from a book, or transcribed somewhere else, these are my thoughts on how to work a successful sale.
1. Start with the basics. When approaching the idea of a sale, make a list of the things you know are up for grabs. Give yourself a general idea of the complexity that awaits you. Are the items BIG or small? Are they portable? Do you really have to sell it? These are all questions that come up within the first few minutes Once that's settled, and you have all the items in front of you....
2. Price to sell. This is not Sotheby's, you are not in competition. If you chose to let the item go, chances are, you want it gone. Some clients have second thoughts all the way up until the point of sale, and then it's just awkward. Give yourself room to wiggle, they will haggle, and you will feel great when you give the buyer an awesome deal. *
3. Position is everything. When laying out your sale, whether you use tables, blankets, or the grass beneath your feet, you MUST place the items in groups. This makes it so much easier for the buyer to peruse and shop with ease. If the buyer feels comfortable, you will as well. Give the walkways plenty of room, spread out, and feel good about what your doing.
4. Start EARLY. A good sale gets going bright and early on a crisp, weekend morning. The neighborhood walkers catch a glimpse, the commuters drive by a sign, everything is set for a great day. Also, starting early, you give yourself the opportunity to finish at a reasonable time.
5. When your done. So you've successfully made a great day, a good amount of traffic came through, and your all set to close up shop. Now what? 2 things...1. Do yourself a favor, and call a donation center (judging that you have enough to give them...) They will come and pick up whatever is left, and you don't have to worry about it. 2. Get all your signs down. (I'd rather not have random visitors in the evening asking when the sale is happening...)
There you have it....Those are my 5 tips. We've seen a jump in activity with sales, and we're more than happy to oblige.
* - Food for thought: A good way that we've found to price things without thinking too hard is round, colored stickers. Place a guide on the nearest walls or posts around the sale with a color matching a certain price. Go from item to item, placing matching stickers to their price.
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