The Perfect Day for (Yard) Saling
Blue skies, light breezes and the sun shining! Saturday was the perfect day for some sailing – yard saling that is! I was happy as a clam because it was our yard sale and Finding Silver Pennies Open Studio that day! I promised you some photos and I thought I’d also share some tips!
We were so crowded with people and they started coming earlier than expected, I didn’t even have time to take shots until later in the day. Here are some of my tips, in no particular order:
1. Be ready for early birds!!!!
Our sale wasn’t starting until 9am but people were trying to start shopping at 7:30 and we were still bringing stuff out! We asked our sons to politely let people know we weren’t open yet. It is up to you if you want to do early bird shopping. We started letting people look earlier than our 9am start time.
2. How long should your sale go?
Our sale was scheduled from 9am until 4pm, but I think this was too long… Next time I’ll do 9-12 or 9-1. The bulk of our sales was the first two hours. At one point we had a traffic jam on our road. If lots of people are stopping this makes more people crane their necks and stop. I guess it is human nature – no one wants to miss out on something good!
3. Spare change?
Make sure you have plenty of spare change. We ended up getting $50 in ones and $50 in fives which was perfect. We also got aprons from Lowe’s for 98 cent which were ideal for holding change, our phones and paper. I also have a square up for my phone so I could take credit cards for my Finding Silver Pennies Open Studio sales.
4. Enlist Help
Luckily I had Luke who was also dealing with shoppers and making change. He was also helping people lug stuff to their cars. Conor and John were giving out free lemonade and treats (although Conor was trying to tell people it cost a $1 – sorry if any of you got conned by my son!!!). John, our 7 year old, was so excited for his lemonade stand he got up at 5am! My parents also came down to help. My mom made lunch and they both helped people who had question, not to mention helping me set everything up.
5. Like with Like
Grouping things together makes it more fun. One dinosaur may look lonely and sad but a whole bunch of dinosaurs and volcanoes, well that is a party waiting to happen! I grouped linens together, coasters, electronics! The train table with the trains. If you think about how they set up displays in a store and let the consumer imagine how they’ll use their new found treasures!
6. Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend…
All girls love jewelry and I didn’t realize just how much until Saturday. So many ladies (young and old) bought jewelry. Some buying multiple pieces. I placed the jewelry in a large galvanized tray and simply said $5 each! I also had a mirror set up near the jewelry just in case anyone wanted to try anything on.
7. One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure
Some things we put out I didn’t think would sell. Like outdoor toys that were faded but people scooped them up. So never try to do other people’s thinking!
8. A Bit Bookish
Books were a huge hit at our sale! I pulled out the kids’ bookshelf and loaded it with books they didn’t want anymore along with cookbooks, older design books and some favorites Luke and I had both read. I marked books 3 for a $1.
9. Shout About It!
Make sure people know you’re having a sale. Get it in the local paper, advertise on Craigslist, put it in your town’s facebook yard sale page. I did this and also put it on surrounding towns’ facebook pages. Hang up signs around town. We bought fluorescent signs from The Dollar Tree for 69 cents.
10. Get Creative!
Use all your space! Don’t just put things on tables or the ground.
Hang them up too! People noticed my fabric scrap garlands more as they flapped gracefully in the breeze.
11. Catch People’s Eye
We had teak furniture on the side of our yard and so many people went straight for it. The loungers, side tables and patio set were gone in the first hour. Also make some pleasing color combinations; these vintage yellow canisters popped against the Paris Grey chalk painted vanity:
Those went home with a local cabinet maker. Other’s really loved the Scituate Subway Chest. This beauty is still available, by the way. Another, new friend may want me to do a Hingham themed one for her new addition!
Finally, my last tip is:
12. Have Fun!
Enjoy the sale and have fun with the people who come. I had so many great laughs on Saturday. I got to catch up with old friends and make some new ones along the way.
For those of you who were able to come, thanks for being there! Can’t wait to host another at our new home (not sure if my hubby will agree).
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Thanks for the tips, Danielle! I have one in my future!
Great tips!!!
Congrats! So glad it was a success! I am teaching a MMS class this week and we have a prom next week so mine keeps getting pushed! But, you’ve inspired me to give it a try…even in my bad spot!
what a beautiful yard sale! hope it went well and thanks for the tips.
x
Great tips! I always put in the ads and a sign in the yard – “Early birds will be charged double!” It seriously has helped keep them at bay. Either that, or the last one I had a couple of years ago, I said the sale started at 9:30 so that I knew I could be ready for them when they showed up at 7!
I definitely need to have a yard sale this summer. Thanks for the tips!
Great post. It is true that you forget that people are looking for all sorts of odd things. I should know because I’m always looking for stuff that most would not even bother to put out, never realizing someone might want it. Fun post!
Liz
You had some really great stuff for sale! I hardly ever see so many quality items (and displayed so nicely) at the sales in my town! I did a sale once and it was exhausting ~ so I’m not sure if there’s another one in my future, but your tips are awesome and can be used for our PTA fundraiser sales! Thanks!
Thank you, Kim. I included an open studio with the yard sale so not all the prices were a $1 a piece but the yard salers did try 🙂 Good luck with your PTA fundraiser.
Hi Danielle, I hope you’re well. So lots of exciting things have been happening to you. I can’t wait to see your new house, I hope the move goes well. How fun it’s going to be to decorate a new place, though it sounds like you’ll be very busy painting furniture.
Btw, I enjoyed looking at all your recipes. I really love halloumi too !
I love this! Such great suggestions and pretty pictures! I honestly could look at more pictures and not get tired of it! Great job and good luck with the move!
Thank you, Rachel. We’re getting pretty excited over here! x
These are great tips! I love the last one! I have been wanting to have a yard sale for years, but because we live in a rural mountain community, our driveway is not flat! It is quite steep, and there is no flat spot at the bottom. My shed is full, but I am afraid that nobody will see, much less hike up the steep driveway to get to the goods!
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As far as yard salers go, I think when there is a will there is a way. If you advertise and put up signs they’ll find your treasures. They’ll probably get there before you’re even ready!!!
Thanks Danielle! Now to get my husband on board! I need someone to haul all of the stuff out of the shed!!!
Tell him you’ll split your earnings with him! x
Great ideas. We had a yard sale last weekend and it was pretty successful but I’ll keep some more of your ideas in mind next time as well 🙂 Stopping by from Classy Clutter!
Love your blog!
I would love for you to share and link up at my TGIF Link Party.
http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/2013/05/tgif-link-party-2.html
The party opens Thursday night and closes on Wednesday night at midnight.
Please, invite your friends to party too! The more the merrier!
Hugs, Cathy
Great tips! I am gearing up for a sale myself so I appreciated your post!
I will be featuring this tonight!
Thanks for sharing!
Stacey of Embracing Change
Love the tips! I had my ‘debut’ for painted pieces at a yard sale this Saturday and was sold out by 10am. Everyone was disappointed they missed out and I had to close early. Forgot to get change..won’t do that again. But I had more fun than ever! Loved it all!
Bev @ Give me a paintbrush
Congratulations, Bev! That is wonderful It is such a fun way to meet people. I wish you luck on your next sale. x
Great tips! Glad it was successful. Thank you for linking up with Rustic Restorations Weekend!
These are great tips! I am pinning this. Thank you for sharing it at to What We Accomplished Wednesdays. Have a great week!
Hugs,
Deborah
Green Willow Pond
I’m not going to lie, I’ve never seen a yard sale that looks as nice as yours did! I would totally top at yours!
Great tips! Looks like it went wonderful! 🙂 Going to take a peak around in your etsy shop 🙂 Happy weekend! xx Holly
Love this post…adore the ideas…THANKS for sharing…I am going to be following your directions for SURE!!! hugs!!!!