Table sale advice please

[fran]

Hi Grapes! Any of you got any advice on table sales? I've rather foolishly said I will take a table at a local sale on Saturday - and I'm not sure now if I have enough stuff to go on it. Has anyone got any experience such as what sells well and how best to display the stuff? I said I would have books, bric-a-brac and a few decent clothes.

Thank you!

[jackie j]

You would be suprised once all put together how much stuff you have got, any chance of a clearout before then ? to add to what you already have. Kiddies clothes go better but anything that is decent should be ok, I use a hanging rail as well as it looks better, cover the table with a cloth first, move things that dont catch people's eye. Take lots of change and carrier bags.
Good luck

[SlugLobber]

Whatever you do, DON'T put the clothes in a pile on the floor/in a basket. If you can, borrow a clothing rail, or rig *something* up. I'm always put off by having to rummage through stuff and avoid elbows of 'competitors'.

Also, label things with prices as much as you possibly can. I'm a bit shy at asking people 'How much?', plus often they haven't really thought about it and come out with something ridiculously expensive or cheap (so they lose out, too!). Round up/down prices to help with change and have a sign saying 'make an offer' if you're willing to bend. I've been to sales with friends that simply won't haggle unless they've 'got it in writing'!

Agree with moving things around.

Good luck! I need to do a clear-out and sale, too. One day...

[Pumpkin Becki]

Definately move things round (even you touching/moving stock will attract customers interest - I've learnt that at bootfairs), and raise things up if you can, by popping a cardboard box under the tablecloth.

[janeyo]

I have been to several through schools and pre-schools etc and have to say that round here most of the sellers leave with the same amount of stuff as not much gets bought. Friends have told me it has bene a waste of their time and effort. I've not bought anything at them either.
I will be interested to hear how you get on.

[fran]

Well.....hardly anyone turned up - the weather could hardly have been worse, but I did sell a few books, jewelery etc and covered my costs. I also made some new friends and bought a few good clothes for me and grandchildren. Now what shall I do with the leftovers? Car boot sales in the summer might be a better option. Charity shops here I come!!

[Bigmallly]

Well.....hardly anyone turned up - the weather could hardly have been worse, but I did sell a few books, jewelery etc and covered my costs. I also made some new friends and bought a few good clothes for me and grandchildren. Now what shall I do with the leftovers? Car boot sales in the summer might be a better option. Charity shops here I come!!

Or you could freecycle them.

[Pumpkin Becki]

What a shame fran. Does the school hold any other events like this coming up to Christmas? I've just done the village 'Remembrance Sunday' coffee morning (well attended, but weather was lovely). and soon I've got the 'Christmas Lights' fundraising coffee morning, and I know that will be well attended too. Could you hang on to your things for the next event?

[northepaul]

I took part in the local 'Victorian Craft Fayre' last Christmas, you had to dress up in Victorian outfit and I sold some of my artwork etc. It was a lovely setting and very frosty, so couldnt have been more topical. However sales were ok-ish, I made the money back for the stall price, but didnt make any real money for all the effort I put in. Needless to say I am not doing it this year.

[bluemoon]

Mum's church does these all the time, the things which sell best are homemade cakes, followed by homemade jams and preserves followed by homemade bits and bobs such as lavender bags and herb pillows; the stalls selling these are always sold out. Mum quite often runs the bric-a-brac stall and tries to make sure that there is lots of jewelery and soap/bubble bath type things and dried flower arrangements (table centre pieces too for the Christmas one) on it. Because they hold these events frequently anything unsold is kept until next time, but I think the trick is to make your stall look attractive rather than like something from the old jumble sales. It's surprising what people will 'donate' to one of these events, occasionally they have been given quite valuable and beautiful items, but more often it's rubbish. OH has frequently had to take things to the dump-it site for them, one woman once sent several boxes full and not a single thing was of any use, I mean, did she really think that someone would buy a plastic egg poacher that she hadn't even washed after its last use?