If you?ve ever spent a weekend looking for yard sales, one of the things you probably noticed most often was the sales that had plenty of parking, and well laid out merchandise are the ones you stopped at. It?s funny that even when you didn?t see anything you were looking for how you might have been ?drawn? to visit the seller and peruse their merchandise. Why is that?
The most obvious reason was the place (location); followed closely by presentation; and what likely cinched the transaction was personality. The second and third aspects will be dealt with in another article, but the first, place (location) is what will make the difference between people who slow down ? look and go, and those who pull over, get out and browse.
Some people are fortunate enough to live in the perfect area to hold a garage sale; perhaps on a corner lot, or near a well traveled intersection or at the crest or curve of a cul-de-sac. You may find that while yours is the ideal place to sell, you have little or nothing to sell. Even so ? you still have a great opportunity to rake in enough to take your family to lunch or dinner, without selling anything. Here?s how.
To begin with take a ride around your neighborhood and check out those constant yard sellers who may not have as good a location. Chat them up and let them know where you live, and how by moving their sale to your yard, they can increase exposure and subsequently ? profits! Make sure you reach an understanding as to how you will benefit, whether it?s through percentage, or a flat fee for use of a space. Next, let them know that you intend to invite others so that whether they have a little or a lot, you expect a lot of buyer traffic to stop by and see the event! (Notice how you ease from a simple little yard sale to an event?pretty cool).
After visiting with all the regular sellers, it?s time to meet some new people! Perhaps it?s the family that recently moved in and has been longing to have a garage sale but have not found the time to get organized. You can offer assistance by providing them with a space that is going to be frequented by lots of buyers. Provide them the same terms and conditions as the regular seller. Maybe you know of a family that is preparing to move.
Often when people move they really don?t want to take the bowling ball they won three years ago but never use, or the bicycles that the kids have outgrown or the adults never seem to have time to ride, or any of the hundred other items people don?t want to drag to their next home. Again ?you can offer them an opportunity to use your yard and sell their stuff.
In many cases they will simply ?give? you all the stuff and split the profits with you, with the understanding that anything that doesn?t sell you dispose of. That?s s great deal! Initially you might be concerned with inheriting someone else?s stuff, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Whatever doesn?t sell, you can donate to a local charity, Good Will, Salvation Army, Church or other community group. If, however, they wish to retain their goods, then simply offer them the same terms and conditions as everyone else.
If you publicize your efforts correctly, you can run your Mega Yard Sale Event on a monthly basis. There are lots of people you know in your area, or can meet, who would love to reduce their garage or storage shed clutter and make a couple of bucks on the side.
Do you want to kick it up a notch? Borrow tables from your local church or civic organization and offer not only yard space but table ?rentals? to boot. Now you can increase the draw to your event through the professional look of an organized yard sale.
Want to pump it up once more? Try adding flyers advertising the event with you as the point of contact. You can negotiate either space (they supply their own table) or table and space (you supply both).
How much can you expect to make? If you only rent 10 tables at $10.00 each, you?re guaranteed a cool $100 profit. Add to that any percentage deals or other terms you?ve developed and you?re talking about making some real money without doing any real work. There will be some heavy lifting involved in setting up and taking down tables. Perhaps some travel involved in distributing flyers and dropping off excess goods to a local charity. But otherwise, you?re pretty much just allowing your yard to work for you?instead of the other way around.
