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Garage Sale
Retail
Tricks |
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Garage
sales will soon appear in neighborhoods throughout the
U.S. and Canada. These sales are a great way to clean out
clutter while making some additional money. "Garage sales
are just another form of retailing. Why not use the
thinking retailers use to get the most of your garage
sale?" asks John Schulz, the academic director for the
advertising, fashion and retail management, and design
management programs at The Art Institutes International
Minnesota.
Approaching the garage sale with a little innovation and
creativity will help maximize sales. Advertising
department chair of Miami International University of Art
and Design, Judith Anderson offers some ideas that can
generate buzz: "The same theory Mr. Schulz uses applies -
it is imperative to use the same thinking advertisers and
event planners use to maximize the opportunities in a
garage sale."
These opportunities include a mix of tried-and-true
tactics blended with newer retail innovations. "Retail
establishments use customer loyalty programs to increase
return business," says Tammy Tavassoli, fashion department
faculty member at The Illinois Institute of Art -
Schaumburg. "Applying some of these tactics can increase
not only your current garage sales, but future sales as
well."
Schulz, Anderson and Tavassoli offer these suggestions
to make the most of your garage sale:
* Scheduling/location/traffic: When scheduling your
sale, think about high traffic times like community events
or neighborhood garage sales.
* Customer convenience/loyalty: Many shoppers will
arrive with children, so offer a designated play area to
help keep them occupied while parents shop. Also, offer
refreshments like lemonade and cookies. Place a welcome
book at the refreshments table. After the sale, send
visitors a thank-you note and notify them of your future
sales.
* Pricing/merchandise: Since garage sales rarely
have a "cost" associated with merchandise, any income is
pure profit. You want to price your wares fairly, and
consider combining large tables or areas to group
like-priced goods - and post the retail on a large sign.
This saves time and eases set up. For those who include
their contact information in the previously mentioned
notebook, you may want to offer a small discount.
*
Advertising/marketing: A garage sale should be
thought of as an event that requires planning and
promotion using advertising strategies to ensure its
success. For example, choosing a theme related to the
merchandise and carrying it throughout the chosen
advertising including the day of the event can be very
effective. Other ideas can include:
* Creating an advertising campaign employing
traditional media - standbys such as neighborhood
signs and fliers (placed in city hall, local business
bulletin boards, PTA and school/church bulletin boards)
and local directory and newspaper listings.
* Continuing the advertising campaign
with new
media by creating a social networking fan page and
creating an event for the garage sale inviting friends and
family.
* Using your Facebook and Twitter updates to inform
your networks of the event at least four times (2 weeks
prior, 1 week prior, 2 days prior, and the day of the
event).
* The day of the sale use Facebook and Twitter
to
offer discounts to customers or promote additional
incentives for referring fans or customers
Successful garage sales require creative planning.
Borrowing effective strategies from the merchandising and
advertising industries can ensure success. It is important
to remember all the tools and resources available, and to
minimize wasted time and resources while maximizing your
profit margin. To learn more about The Art Institutes
schools, visit www.artinstitutes.edu/nz.
Courtesy of ARAcontent |
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