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Extension Cord Help

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Submitted by: betty

semmes, AL
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From Rummage to Riches!

Has your spring cleaning unearthed a cache of treasures you no longer need? Then it's time for a garage sale! Here's how to make money while making sure none of those sale items returns to your basement.

Marketing

Try to organize a neighborhood-wide garage sale. You'll attract more traffic and business by having numerous sales in one easy-to-shop locale.
As a group, you can share the cost of advertising in your local paper. Hard-core yard sale shoppers will be on the lookout for multiple-house sales.
Use flags and attention-grabbing signs to direct drive-by traffic. (Be sure to check your local ordinances about where you can legally post signs.) Use rugged sign materials that will hold up to wind and rain, and don't try to include too much information. A few bold words and a big arrow will do the trick.
If you don't have a large number of items to sell, combine your sale with another family's. If your yard sale looks too empty, potential buyers will drive right by. (Keep track of who's selling what by putting your initials on your price tags.)

Display

Think like a store manager. Put your most desirable items up front (furniture, bikes, strollers, cribs, etc.,) and create an inviting traffic pattern through the yard.
Display items so shoppers can see them easily, such as on tables instead of in boxes on the ground. Hang clothes on hangers so they stay neat and people can get a good look at them.
Have access to an electrical outlet to demonstrate that electronic items are in good working order.

Pricing

A good rule of thumb for pricing is 10-25 percent of the original cost.
To make pricing easier, have tables for items that are all $1, $5, etc. All you need is a yellow sticker to indicate that something came from the $1 table and green for $5, in case they get moved around.
Decide up front how much you are willing to bargain and if you will accept checks from strangers.
Keep money on you - in a fanny pack, for instance - so you aren't distracted away from the cash box. Start with plenty of change, just in case your first few customers have big bills.

Atmosphere