Bargain Bonanza: How to Hold a Winning Garage Sale
Join the fun and make a profit at the Garage Sale Trail weekend on October 21-22 – here's how to run a garage sale right
Holding a garage sale is an easy way to get rid of things you don’t need and make way for new favourite finds, and the weekend to do it is coming up soon – 21-22 October, 2017. More than 10,000 garage sales are likely to be held across Australia this year by households, community groups, charities, local businesses and schools, with two million items and $3 million likely to change hands.
The idea for an annual Garage Sale Trail weekend started in Bondi in 2010 as a way to reduce useable items going to landfill, and to foster some friendly community connection. It has grown at an astounding rate ever since, garnering numerous sustainability and community awards along the way and receiving the support of more than 150 local councils. “The community response was amazing and it has kind of just grown from there,” says Darryl Nichols, co-founder of the Australian not-for-profit Garage Sale Trail Foundation. “It’s not like we set out to build the world’s biggest garage sale, but that’s actually what’s happened.”
Below, Nichols reveals his tips and tricks for holding a successful garage sale, and takes us behind the scenes at Garage Sale Trail.
The idea for an annual Garage Sale Trail weekend started in Bondi in 2010 as a way to reduce useable items going to landfill, and to foster some friendly community connection. It has grown at an astounding rate ever since, garnering numerous sustainability and community awards along the way and receiving the support of more than 150 local councils. “The community response was amazing and it has kind of just grown from there,” says Darryl Nichols, co-founder of the Australian not-for-profit Garage Sale Trail Foundation. “It’s not like we set out to build the world’s biggest garage sale, but that’s actually what’s happened.”
Below, Nichols reveals his tips and tricks for holding a successful garage sale, and takes us behind the scenes at Garage Sale Trail.
Over the years, we’ve seen everything from a definitive collection of 1970s Rolling Stone magazines, a miniature goat, a beachside apartment, a reverend who was offering free pet baptisms with every purchase, and even a couple of grandpas who’d listed themselves for sale – on their sale page they said, ‘good for mowing the grass or cups of tea on the balcony’.
Garage sale prices are traditionally much lower than retail or online marketplaces. For high-value items, my recommendation would be to list them on eBay but otherwise be ready to find a new home for your pre-loved stuff. At the heart of Garage Sale Trail is the idea that passing on what you don’t want to someone who does want it is a great form of sustainability.
Cast-Offs Reinvented as Storage
Cast-Offs Reinvented as Storage
We love the creative spirit and colour that sellers bring to their sale names, and the unexpected items on offer.
Registering a garage sale is a free and easy process via the Garage Sale Trail website. It takes approximately 5-7 mins, and every sale has a unique name so we encourage sellers to have a little fun with their name. Some past examples include: The Only Lionel Vinyl Sale, The Almost Deceased Estate, A Disco Declutter and The Man Sale.
Registering a garage sale is a free and easy process via the Garage Sale Trail website. It takes approximately 5-7 mins, and every sale has a unique name so we encourage sellers to have a little fun with their name. Some past examples include: The Only Lionel Vinyl Sale, The Almost Deceased Estate, A Disco Declutter and The Man Sale.
Every sale is different, but traditionally tools and anything vintage seem to sell quick, as do kids’ toys.
Australia has a waste problem. The amount of waste we churn out has grown six times faster than the population. We’ve long been a nation that loves to recycle, but in recent years we’ve seen a growing interest in reuse. Reuse is simply the act of using again and actually sits higher up in the ‘waste hierarchy’ than recycling, meaning that it’s better for the environment – that’s the idea behind Garage Sale Trail.
Houzz Tour: Earthship Te Timatanga
Houzz Tour: Earthship Te Timatanga
We’d recommend having about $100 in change for your sale, and would encourage all sellers to have a Square reader on hand to accept cashless transactions. Traditionally garage sales are a cash-based economy, but we’re continually surprised by the number of high-value items sold. Over the years we’ve seen a vintage Jaguar (car), antique dining tables, banana trees and near on everything in between sold at garage sales. In fact, in many areas we see ATMs run out of cash over the Garage Sale Trail weekend.
Sellers can set their own hours of operation when they register, but I’d say holding a garage sale from 8am to 3pm would make for a strong day.
The average sale held as part of the Garage Sale Trail involves two families or households – coming together is a great idea. We’ve seen whole streets involved, which makes for more of a street-party vibe, and is more attractive to shoppers as there’s more to see and hopefully purchase. The average household garage sale makes $379.
All sellers registered with Garage Sale Trail receive promotional materials to help ensure their sale is a success. These include pole posters, price tags, letterbox slips (to let your neighbours know you’re having a sale), sale success tips and images to share online and via social media.
Promoting your sale online and to your friends and colleagues via social media is probably the best way to drive awareness.
Promoting your sale online and to your friends and colleagues via social media is probably the best way to drive awareness.
I started Garage Sale Trail with Andrew Valder – that’s him on the left. We’re honoured by all the various awards and accolades we’ve received over the years, and they’ve all played a role in helping build the Garage Sale Trail idea to where it is today.
Our first award was the NSW government’s Green Globe Award. It really made us consider the idea of bringing it to life on a bigger scale. We’ve since been fortunate to receive virtually every environment and sustainability award in Australia, but the International Green Award in London was a special one for us. It was a super-posh dinner at the Museum of Natural History in Kensington, which is such an inspiring place.
In our early years, the awards helped validate the concept and give prospective partners the confidence to back something as outrageous as a national Garage Sale Trail.
Our first award was the NSW government’s Green Globe Award. It really made us consider the idea of bringing it to life on a bigger scale. We’ve since been fortunate to receive virtually every environment and sustainability award in Australia, but the International Green Award in London was a special one for us. It was a super-posh dinner at the Museum of Natural History in Kensington, which is such an inspiring place.
In our early years, the awards helped validate the concept and give prospective partners the confidence to back something as outrageous as a national Garage Sale Trail.
Register your garage sale for free at Garage Sale Trail.
Tell us
Have you ever held your own garage sale, or are you interested in getting involved this year? Share your thoughts in the Comments below and join the conversation.
More
Read more stories about living more sustainably
Tell us
Have you ever held your own garage sale, or are you interested in getting involved this year? Share your thoughts in the Comments below and join the conversation.
More
Read more stories about living more sustainably