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How to Hold a Garage Sale to Raise Funds for Your Nonprofit

Looking for fundraising ideas for your nonprofit club, organization, school, or team? How about we organize a garage sale?

Garage sales, tag sales, rummage sales, garage sales. Whatever you call them in your part of the country, we’ve all been to them, and we all know that people love finding a bargain at a garage sale. Some nonprofits hold an annual “spring cleaning” garage sale. Or, your club could also hold a sale twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Members of your organization can save things throughout the year and accumulate many items to donate to the cause. Most members are usually very happy to get rid of their unnecessary items.

Anyone who has ever held a garage sale knows that it takes a lot of planning and work, but the rewards can be substantial. Your club should plan well in advance and allow about a month to collect all the donations and prepare for the sale.

Tips for a Successful Garage Sale Fundraiser

before sale

Check with your city to find out if you need a permit to hold a garage sale. Ask if there are any regulations regarding when and where you can post signs to advertise your garage sale. For example, some cities prohibit posting signs on utility poles.Announce the sale to the group. Tell them when and where it will be held and when and where to drop off donations. Decide if the price of the items will be set by the person donating them or by the organizers. Designate a person in charge of receiving donations and choose a place to store donations

Advertising- Plan your advertising well in advance to place classified ads in your local newspapers. Send press releases to your local newspaper and radio stations. Post flyers in public places such as supermarkets, libraries, bookstores, schools and churches. The night before the sale, put up billboards and street signs announcing your sale. Be sure to remove signs and banners after the sale.Contingency plans – It is better to plan to make the sale in any type of weather. Try to hold the sale indoors or under tarps. You will have advertised and contracted the services of your volunteers for a specific day. If you have to cancel your sale due to weather, you will have lost your publicity and your volunteers may not be available for a later date.

Garage Sale Item Prices – The price must be in round numbers. This will make pricing and selling much easier. You can buy pre-made price tags at office supply stores or make your own on a printer. Generally speaking, items in good condition should be priced at one-third of their retail price. Of course there will be expectations. For example, you might want to price hardcover books at $2.00 a piece, no matter what the retail price is. Or, you may want to price CDs, DVDs, and tapes at $2.00 each. You must group like items together during the sale and sell them all for the same price unless otherwise stated.

Necessary supplies – Tables, chairs, umbrellas, extension cords, coat racks, boxes, plastic bags.

the day of the sale

Have as many volunteers available as possible. You’ll need people to help shoppers and keep things running smoothly. You will need people who will take the money and provide security. You may want to offer to deliver items if your group has access to a willing person with a truck. Please note that “marugadores” will appear, so try to be ready to sell an hour before the advertised start time. To attract vehicle traffic, you can have volunteers hold signs on nearby streets.

Have a departure table with chairs for your volunteers to sit at. Have plastic bags, boxes, scissors, a yardstick, tape measure, and wrapping supplies like newspaper on the table. and tape Make sure you have access to electricity so shoppers can try on items. Display valuable items, such as jewelry, at the checkout table to prevent them from being stolen. You can use a cash box or fanny pack to store money. A fanny pack is recommended for safety reasons. Make sure your money is never left unprotected. Have plenty of change in small bills at the beginning and throughout the sale. No doubt you will receive many twenty dollar bills. Take only cash, unless you are willing to accept a check from someone you know.

If the sale is taking place at a personal residence, take precautions against theft by buyers. Never let buyers into the home and make sure outside items not for sale are not stolen. Pets must also be confined. As your cash accumulates throughout the day, bring it inside to keep it safe.

Selling tips to maximize your sales and raise more money

Let your buyers know that your garage sale is a fundraiser. Make sure your signs say what you’re raising money for. You may want to make a display board at your tee box that provides information about your organization and cause. Have your volunteers wear your club’s t-shirts or uniforms, if you have them, so buyers know who’s working the sale.

Decide in advance whether you will haggle over prices. Expect your buyers to want to haggle. You may want to tell buyers that you can’t drop prices until the afternoon. Let your buyers know that your garage sale is a fundraiser and tell them how the money the sale raises will be used.

Additional ways to earn money during a garage sale

Have a donation jar at your departure table to collect donations.

Hold a raffle for a special item. You can display the actual item or a picture of the item you are giving away. Sell ​​tickets throughout the sale and have the raffle drawing at the end of the sale. However, sell raffle tickets for a raffle that ends at a later date.

sell baked goods, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, soft drinks, coffee, tea, bottled water, candy, etc.

Sell ​​products your organization has produced such as cookbooks, calendars, CDs, t-shirts or other spirit items.

Sell ​​fundraising products like cookie dough, chocolate bars, wrapping paper and more. There are a wide variety of items available from fundraising companies that clubs and non-profits can sell to raise money.

In addition to raising money, garage sales are a great way to raise awareness for your cause and your nonprofit. Who knows, you might even recruit new members during your garage sale.

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