SPREAD THE WORD
◗ Market your sale in your local community at places like day care centers , churches , grocery stores and neighborhood businesses . Also post on community forums , websites and social media pages
◗ Share news about your efforts on social media by creating an event on Facebook or by using a well recognized hashtag like # Yard- Sale on Instagram and Twitter . ( Do not post your address on social media , instead , try something like , “ We ’ re having a # YardSale in Oak Haven today from 2-6PM ! Message me for details !”)
◗ Make sure that you emphasize that your sale will be for charity . Many people will shop feeling good that their money is going to a worthy cause .
MANAGE DELIVERY How will you get your items from your home and out the door ? Do you need bins or boxes ? A car or a moving truck ?
◗ When the community of West Annapolis hosted a community yard sale on the grounds of their local elementary school , they offered participants the use of a rented box truck and arranged for pick up from elderly or shut in neighbors . The J . Melvin Group donates use of their two moving trucks and their pick up truck to community groups for free .
◗ Draw up a plan for where items will go ahead of time . Put items in categories that will make sense to shoppers . For example , baby items in one area , home goods in another , and clothes or recreational items in still another .
◗ Even if your community decides to divide the sale into family groups instead of categories , you still need to make shopping easy by having each family organize their goods .
LABEL & TAKE INVENTORY
◗ Create a common-sense price list . You can do this by determining the value of goods ahead of time . For example , all lamps $ 10 , all shirts $ 5 , etc .
◗ If your items have a range of values , tag and label using the price list as a reference if tags are lost . If you have time or manpower , you can cross off each item on your list as they were sold , and the price , so you can easily tally how much you earned .
◗ Your price sheet can also be used if you have to declare values on donation of any leftover items for a tax deduction .
◗ Refer to your pricing sheet for any customer questions , and be prepared to haggle or negotiate on certain items in order to get rid of them quickly .
◗ Price accordingly ; yard sales shoppers are there to find thrifty goods , so expect anywhere from 55 % to 95 % depreciation for most of your items .
◗ Make sure to have small bills for change and keep the cashbox locked and in your eyesight at all times . If you don ’ t have a cashbox , use a fanny pack .
AFTER THE FACT
◗ After the sale , sort out leftover items and re-inspect to see if they can be consigned or donated .
◗ Have a plan to remove anything leftover so it doesn ’ t end up back in your basement . Can you use the box truck for this delivery ? Having a plan in places means you won ’ t lose momentum on your dual goal of a ) getting rid of junk and b ) doing a good deed .
◗ Share your earnings with your favorite local charity . Contact Anne Arundel County Volunteer Center for a list of possible groups and their management team .
◗ Be sure to let your supporters know via social media and emails how much you sold and how much you donated . As always , photos drive traffic and let people know about the success of your effort .
GREENBOOK | SUMMER 2017 41