Having a courtyard mart? My husband and I are thinking of having a patio sale...we...
My husband and I are thinking of having a patio sale...we own so many things to deal in but we have never have one before...Any tips?
Answers: Run an personal ad in the daily, or post it on craigslist. Put out signs the day since so folks who might not see the ads will see your signs. Your signs should be written, or painted next to bold black letters so they are natural to read from a distance.
We always set up the table the night up to that time the sale. As you marshal things, go ahead and price them, that will liberate a little time.
Get out as impulsive as possible to set your items out. Many bargain hunters are early-birds and will be showing up even until that time your advertised time.
Also own a bunch of change on foot. I always hang on to coins, a few fives and then give or take a few 20 one-dollar bills in a fanny pack to brand name change. Store your extra chage sheltered inside so it doesnt get stolen.
Have some friends or neighbors come beside their stuff! Whenever possible, we always have huge family patio sales and they attracted alot of empire.
Good luck and have fun!
Island Girl have it right, have a great deal of change arranged. Also if you run the ad contained by the paper, remember that a great deal of people take the FRIDAY paper to capture ready for the subsequent day of patio sale'in. Some people take home the mistake of running the ad single in the weekend Sat. and Sunday edition. If you have some items that you are intensely sure about how much you want to draw from for it, stand firm! some people will try to bargen for everything, even items that are just 25 cents. Other things you want to get rid of, be a sale person, don't be shy when inhabitants show up, "we have some nice things on this table! a definite bargain! I'll produce you a deal!" Also clothes that are for mart...don't just hang down them on a fence or put on a pile on the ground, try to swing them or at least fold them on the table, and try to build them clean looking. I get rid of a bunch of t-shirts once by selling them 2 for $1. Borrow some tables from friends if you don't enjoy any, when I go patio saleing I will admit I dance to (and buy from) items that were on table more, some people enjoy bad back or are elderly and just can't bend down to search out for stuff on the ground. OH, I know that 7am sounds early, but most courtyard sales start impulsive, cause those like to overpower others to the sales, and be first to procure the good stuff. Don't carry upset if people don't buy anything, sometimes we purely can't use what you have for public sale or are looking for things like ornaments you might not have. Have fun!! I love courtyard sales, and they are work to put together but can be fun too!!
PS: if you live on a tiny street, please put out clear signs "this process to sale ---->" I enjoy looked for sales when I see a sign and the family only put out one or 2 signs, and it took so long to find it I give up (sometimes even google maps is no help). Also on your signs please put the DATEs of the public sale, if you forget to take down a sign (please don't forget) and relatives see the signs the next weekend, they won't be looking for a Dutch auction that isn't there.