Hosting a garage sale to raise money for charity is a fantastic way to support your community. Raising money for a cause you care about on top of decluttering your home is the ultimate win win. And while hosting a garage sale is a fairly straightforward process, if you can manage to get it right, you can considerably increase your chances of attracting a big crowd and raising even more money than you hoped for.
To help you, here are some of the best tips for hosting a successful garage sale that raises plenty of money for a cause of your choice.
Price Items Wisely
In the world of garage sales, pricing things too high will only turn away buyers, yet pricing things too low will only shoot yourself in the foot. After all, you want to make money at the end of the day! Finding a happy medium between high and low is the perfect way to make sure that you raise enough money for your charity.
Remember, people will try to negotiate with you, so you need to be open to that whether you like it or not. Perhaps most importantly, make sure that you’re pricing things barely according to their worth. An old sneaker isn’t going to have the same value as something like a vintage leather watch. Know your items’ value, and price accordingly.
Set Goals
When you’re raising money for a charity, it helps to have goals in mind. Objectives will help you determine how to price your items, and whether you’re making the kind of progress you need throughout the day. Counting your money up after a few hours of selling will help you determine whether you’ve reached your objectives or if you still have a long way to go. Having a specific target in mind can help you stay motivated, and ultimately encourage your supporters to keep buying more.
Advertise
Word of mouth only gets you so far. You need to advertise your garage sale if you hope to get as many people present as possible. When advertising, make sure that you are clear about where the garage sale is, which date, and what time it is.
Missing any important information like this could cost you customers, so promote effectively by including the right information and also including eye-catching graphics. Post your posters in high traffic areas, and consider sharing on social media and forums as well. A combination of real world marketing with digital marketing will ensure you reach the widest audience possible.
Create an Inviting Layout
The more inviting you can make your garage sale, the more effective it will be at generating sales. Arrange everything neatly, and this will encourage people to stop by and check out your items. If you really want to go the extra mile, consider offering beverages or snacks to draw people in.