Garage "SOLD"

Yes! My garage sale was a success -- almost everything was sold (roughly 90+%). I'm thankful to Tess, Tony and the kids for allowing me to use their "garage" for my sale last Saturday. Ria (their 6-year old daughter) kept me company the whole time and always stayed nearby whenever someone would come in and browse. She also helped me cope with my boredom during the lulls in between sales. Gian (their middle son) and his classmates, meanwhile, distributed all my 600 fliers in the village after school. Now that really helped!

Most of the stuff you see in the photos are no longer with me (thank God!). I loved it that most of the people who came were in disbelief upon seeing the items in good condition and their selling price. I sold our 36-pc dining dishes for only P100, our Black & Decker iron for P30, a set of nice glasses (6-pc) and an 8-pc cup and saucer set for P35 each, good Tupperware pitchers for P30 each, etc. A lot of items I also priced at only P1-P10!

I told hubby that that was my 5th garage sale. He said he enjoyed watching me sell our stuff, since it was the first time he saw me "in action" in a garage sale. And since I consider myself a young "veteran" in the biz (as if...), here are some pointers I learned to assure success in any garage sale:

1. Clean the garage!

Just because it's a garage sale doesn't mean it should look like a messy garage. People are more attracted to a clean shopping place and will more likely stay longer and buy more.

2. Promote, promote, promote!

Aside from the 600 fliers we printed and distributed, I also placed an announcement in our clubhouse bulletin board 5 days before the sale. Two weeks before the sale is too early and people will tend to forget about it; 2 days before the sale may not give people enough time to even see the annoucement or prepare for the sale. Tess also helped me with a text brigade announcement to her friends and contacts within the village 3 days before the sale. Lastly, I posted a recycled streamer announcement the day before the sale, to make sure that people who received the fliers or saw the announcement knew where to go. Remember, your garage sale is only as good as the people who come and actually buy stuff.

3. Location, location, location.

It was a big help that Tess' place is located on the main road, 2nd house from the school near the village entrance. I didn't even consider doing the sale in our house because the location was not "strategic". Passers-by had the chance to see the streamer, just browse around and eventually end up buying stuff. I mean, who can refuse a used pair of Reeboks for only P10?

4. Create an attractive merchandise display.

I learned a lot about this from my stint at Cinderella's, but mostly from my personal experience shopping. I do know the psychology of product display (especially in supermarkets) and I applied it to my sale.

My used accessories looked very attractive wrapped inside new plastic bags. I also displayed glassware, decor and other fancy stuff together on a table to create more "bling" and more impact. Books were displayed on a rack lent to me and on a table facing the gate, by category and look. In other words, I tried to re-create a quaint store look to make potential customers take more than a second look. Oh, and I used sticker price tags to make things look a bit more "professional".

And another important tip related to this: always wipe and/or clean your wares before displaying. I, personally, would not take a second look, much less touch, dusty and dirty merchandise. Besides, you can only price an item so much when it looks old and dirty.

5. Price them low.

Remember, it is a garage sale! Price the items low enough for people to want to buy and be happy with their purchase. I have been to one too many garage sales and left disappointed because the used items were priced as if they were brand new! You are not doing the garage sale for profit -- the proceeds are just a bonus. And as my Papa said before, "kung napakinabangan mo na, ibigay mo na lang." I just took it a step further by selling the items at unbelievably low prices, as if I'm giving them away.

Another tip on this: let them name their price. This gives the buyer the "control" and he will be happier with an item he believes he priced himself. I placed the "higher-end" items on "Name Your Price, Best Offer." One lady saw my used luggage and asked how much I was selling it. I told her to name her price and she did: P100. She could not believe I gave it to her at her price. Of course, I do have a "ceiling price" in mind that I would be happy with.

6. Keep re-arranging the items as your display diminishes.

Since the items went fast, I had to get up many times to re-arrange the items. I kept bringing the items closer to each other, still keeping order in my display, so that my "store" would always look "full". I got rid of the "empty spaces" so that people who came later still felt they had stuff to buy that wasn't just a left-over.

7. And finally, don't bring the unsold stuff back into your house.

Unless the items unsold are of a high value (like my SLR camera and some paintings), throw or give the rest away after your sale. I'm a fan of the show Clean House on HGTV and this is one of their principles in garage sales. Once the clutter goes out, do not let it back in. My sis also said, be ruthless when de-cluttering. SO now, our house is de-cluttered once again and I have more space to move around in.

I do get rid of stuff at least once every year to make sure clutter doesn't pile up. I did not have clothes to sell at the garage sale because all of our used clothing went into donations. This is also a great way to de-clutter - just give stuff away. But be sure they are still good enough for you to use or wear when you give them away. I feel that it is not "polite" to give stuff that is very old, tattered or dirty. Would you want to receive stuff like this?

Hope the tips will help you with your future garage sales. Me, I'm happy. I not only made more than my expected amount, I also have less stuff to clean around the house.