If you google “successful garage sale”, you’ll find lots of articles about how to have a successful garage sale, written by people who have garage sales at least once a year if not several.
My take is a little different. I don’t have garage sales, I just like to shop garage sales. This has been a favorite pastime of mine since girlhood. Over the years, I’ve developed a short list of criteria for what I think makes a successful garage sale from a customer perspective. A successful garage sale basically boils down to being intentional and organized.
Inventory
My favorite garage sales have lots of inventory.
Shopping
My favorite garage sales display items in a way that is easy for customers to see and sort through.
- Clothing is divided into women’s, men’s and children. Baby clothes are separated from older children’s sizes.
- Other items are sorted by type i.e. housewares, tools, trinkets, toys, etc.
- If possible, items are displayed on tables or hung so shoppers do not have to bend down or dig through boxes.
My favorite garage sales use attention getting, easy to follow signage.
- Signs are clearly printed large enough to read when driving by.
- In a neighborhood with winding roads or several turns, signs are a single, bright color and placed strategically to guide the shopper in using arrows.
Pricing
My favorite garage sales have clearly marked prices on every item.
- I don’t like to have to ask the price of an item. As soon as I pick it up, I want to know if it’s a price I’ll pay.
- I also don’t want to pick an item up from the 50¢ table only to find that it was supposed to be on the $2 table.
My favorite garage sales have items priced to sell
- I garage sale for one reason…to get a bargain. I’m choosing to buy used items because I’m trying to save as much money as I can. I don’t want to pay nearly new prices. I don’t want to pay reasonable prices. I want a rock bottom bargain.
- Personally, I’m not a haggler and most garage sale shoppers aren’t. If an item is priced too high, we’ll walk away.
Do you have garage sales or just like to shop them? Do you have any tips for throwing a garage sale?