Yard Sale Tips from a Marketer

I’m an avid yardsale-er.

From May through November you’ll find me hitting the streets every Saturday scoping out light poles with neon-colored signs and arrows pointing this way and that. I don my middle-aged-mom visor, cash-filled fanny pack, comfortable shoes, and head out with my trusty yard sale companion—my 9-year-old son.

Often, those who plan their own yard sales are inexperienced but well-meaning. This blog will show you how to minimize customer frustration and maximize your dollar-bucks.

• Help me find you.
  I look for yard sales on Friday night to prepare for Saturday. I screenshot info and make a list for the next day. If you don’t post about it until Saturday morning, you’ve missed me.
  • At the latest, share the info the night before your sale. Use a picture of the signs you’re making. It helps me know what to keep an eye out for.
  • Include the date/s, times, and address within the description or the image. Some social platforms don’t make the dates clear. I skip most of those sales.
  • Places to share: Nextdoor, neighborhood Facebook Groups, Facebook Marketplace, garagesalefinder.com and yardsalesearch.com
  • Don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed sign. Also put a sign (or balloon, or anything!) by the street in front of your house so it’s easy to spot as you approach.
• Help me feel comfortable. I’ll stay longer.
  I save up my extroversion all week for this. This potential awkwardness is a lot for an introvert.
  • Do not sit in a chair and watch me. I will say “thank you!” and leave. Quickly.
  • Greet me but don’t talk my ear off. A quick “Good morning!” makes it clear that you’re the one in charge (not your hovering neighbor.)
  • Do not watch me look around and tell me the price and each item’s provenance. If I’m interested, I’ll ask.
  • Do not watch me.

• Make it easy to shop. I’ll buy stuff.
  • Do not mix sizes for kids’ clothes. Put baby / kid clothes in boxes marked by sizes. If they’re not labeled I’ll keep moving. If they are, I may buy the whole box!
  • Do not leave adult clothes in boxes. Put adult clothes on a rack. I will not dig through a box of women’s shirts and hold each one up to study it. I will be more likely to buy (a lot) of adult clothes if I can flip through them fast.
  • Do not make me ask you to move so I can see your stuff. If I have to say “Excuse me!” then you’re doing it wrong.
  • Do not put items up on your porch. Unless you have to. And then get the heck out of my way and let me get up there. If you’re standing on your stairs I will not even make an attempt. (Bonus points if you have a sign that says, “More on the porch!” Otherwise I’ll assume it’s your stuff you decided not to sell.)
• What’s actually for sale? If it’s not, tell me.

• • Do not use your garage but then not make it clear what’s “not for sale.” And then yell at me. (Yes it happens.)
  • Do not use your absolute cutest quilt rack or other organizing structure and then not sell it. (If you’re using it for displaying, cool. But put a label on it that says “Not for sale. This is too cute and I love it. Sorry not sorry.”—Or whatever you want to write.)
  • Noting that your adorable dog or cat is not for sale is unnecessary, but bonus points for good banter.

• If I want to pay you, let me.
  • Pricing items will make me more likely to buy it. Pricing stuff is a slog, I know. But it’s worth it. However, be aware that those dot stickers can leave residue and mess up some objects.
  • Do not ignore me when I’m ready to pay you. Avoid the need for me to tap you on the shoulder and say, “Excuse me. Can I interrupt this conversation with your neighbor to pay you for your stuff?”
  • Do not overcharge. If I see a plastic planter labeled $10 (shoot, $5. or $3.) I will just leave.
  • Do not nickel and dime. If you’re counting out each McDonald’s toy that my kid picked out and every pair of baby socks, it’s simply not worth my time. Bundle, baby.
  • If you’re okay with virtual payment, put your Venmo / CashApp / whatever on a sign so I can start to find you in the app even before coming to chat.

Wait wait. I’m writing this whole blog on my agency’s website and I’m not tying in marketing. Or am I? If you’re organizing your own yard sale digital marketing campaign, the same tips can serve as simple reminders:

• Help them find you: Go where your audience is. Don’t expect them to come to you.
• Help them feel comfortable: Hook them with relevant content & they’ll stay awhile.
• Make it easy to shop: Make conversions clear. Use the “big shiny button.”
• What’s for sale? Tell them what they’re getting or why it’s valuable.
• Let them pay you: Keep the user journey clean. Minimize road blocks to conversions.

So are you ready for this yard sale season? You know I am!