Yes I held my sale twice in two weeks,but I am so glad I did because it was a hug success the second time,and I would like to talk about my first home sale and lessons learned.
So what did I learn?
Marketing is key!
I thought having such a large Facebook fan base was key.
And it is helpful but most of those likes are for my blog.
So many of you live in other states and countries too!
I asked a very sweet friend of mine for a little advice.
She has held many sales at her own home with success.
She told me it’s marketing!
So I made flyers with the event name,date and time with a brief description of what I would be selling.
I went to several local businesses that sold items similar merchandise, and also businesses that I had a relationship with.
One thing about my business is that I meet people and make friends with many that have the same passion I do with vintage treasures.
I also added my event in two papers reaching out to more people.
This is what my ad included.
White Lace Cottage Vintage Sale Thursday Aug 14th 10am-7pm Friday Aug 15th 10am-3pm No Early Birds!(My Address) Vintage Treasures including: Architectural Salvage Painted Furniture Small Lighting & Linens Vintage Dishes & Clothing Unique Home Decor Some Antiques
www.WhiteLaceCottatge.com
FaceBook.com/WhiteLaceCottage
I also made new signs with the name of my event,address,date and a brief description of what I would be selling.
Everything else was the same as last week.
Oh yes many of you mentioned adding a signup sheet asking people to add an email address for future shows.
I actually did this last week but forgot to mention it.
This is also key because at the next event I have a list of contacts for the next sale ,and I am hoping many will bring a friend,or friends.
Doing this at home was still allot of work,to set up and take down.
I am still cleaning and organizing.
But this will be so much better for me because many years ago I did shows.
It’s a ton of work to pack your car up not only with the merchandise your selling but also the props you need to make your space look pretty.
Rent is usually pretty high,although sometimes you can get a booth for 50.00,they normally range from 150.00 – 300.00 and sometimes a little more.
That’s a big cut in your profit!
And at the end of the day you still have to pack your car back up with what you did not sell and your props.
Many that don’t do shows don’t realize the work that is involved.
It really is work for sure!
Another reason I was thrilled to have this sale again is that I met so many wonderful people!
The first week I had many people showing up for a garage sale so many were disappointed.
This last sale I had people show up for vintage treasures knowing this was an event not just a sale.
I was thrilled to meet one of my daughters close friends Mother,she bought my old farmhouse door!
Thrilled it is going to a lovely home!
So what’s next?
The clean up begins!
Our cars are back in the garage and I am starting to organize and straighten my garage.
We live in the midwest so we really need our garages for the cold weather that will begin in just a few months.
This was also an opportunity to clean and organize my studio,yes I am in the process of changing that around again.
Some of the pieces that did not sell will be enjoyed by me,and some will be listed in my online shop,and some will be donated.
Hoping to list pieces in a few days.
And some may be at the next sale,but I will have lots of new treasures.
I will have plenty of time to search and paint for the next sale.
I am hoping to get something together by next spring.
Not sure if I will do one in the summer or not.
So let’s recap.
Make sure you market yourself!
Advertise in the paper,with flyers,on facebook,if you have a blog do that too!
And if you have a circle of friends that are in the same business ask them to help spread the word!
I am so thankful for all of you that helped get the word out.
I had many that said oh I heard about your sale from The Gilded Junqueyard .
Or Lucky Junk
Spreading the word from friends helped so much!
Thank you sweet friends for putting the word out.
That’s how we roll in the junking world,we are sisters and brothers supporting each other in the world of junking!
And now I want to thank all of you who came out to shop!
It was a pleasure meeting you!
Creative souls that love vintage treasures as much as I do!
And lastly a BIG thank you to all of you for leaving comments of advice and encouragement!
I am hoping if this is something you tried but did not succeed you won’t give up!
I don’t give up very easily,I know this is something I will have to work on and it will grow in time.
But doing this a second time I learned allot!
Joining:
I’m so glad it went well for you!! I would love to find someone near me who does something like this. Now you just need a friend who bakes cookies and makes iced tea to serve. 🙂
Thank you Stacey! Yes..well I bought my cookies from a bakery.Not sure if I can sell homemade cookies or not in my area.Thought I should be safe then sorry.
Anne,
I love the little blue wooden table and wish that I lived close enough to shop your sale. Something tells me that little blue table would have gone home with me. Did you sell it?
Your styling looks wonderful. You have given me some ideas for both styling and how to market a similar sale. For the past 3 years I have had a French Country Christmas event in my garden shed on Fridays-Saturdays leading up to Christmas. This will be my 4th year to hold it. Last year’s sales were very poor due to the unusual ice storm that hit our area the first weekend of my sale and that lasted for 4-5 days. Then we had torrential rain the next weekend, etc… I sold a few things, but not as much as the first 2 years. Fingers crossed the weather will be nice this year.
My sister now is also selling at the same event with me. We plan to do better marketing to reach customers new to us.
Judith
http://botanicbleu.blogspot.com/
Wonderful Judith! Love that you are doing this with your sister.Nope that blue table did not sell,so I added it to my studio for now 🙂 Best wishes on your next event!
I’m so glad that your last sale was so successful! I knew you had some good stuff for sale, so it was just the need to get the word out better that hindered your first sale. I’m tired though just reading about all of the work that went into your sale. I bet it was fun though once everything was set up.
LOL yes it was allot of work Kelly but much less than packing up my car to do a sale off property!
What wonderful news. I am so happy for your success and your new learned marketing skills. It is so true. Marketing a business makes all the difference and it looks like you have great friends to guide you along the way. Good luck with your future sales. I wish I lived closer because you have gorgeous items for sale.
Wishing you a great week.
Janet
Thanks so much Janet!
Hi Anne,
So happy the second time was the charm. So glad you did not give up and tried again. It paid off for you. Now you are over the hurdle and the next show will be even better. So happy for you this was better. I know how hard you worked to make everything looks so great. Now take a nap and enjoy the peaceful beauty of your lovely home.
Kris
Thanks Kris! Yes a nap sounds perfect…well at least I can relax a bit this week 🙂
Hi Anne,
I have had several of these sales over the years..The first one almost 15 yrs ago..I just wanted to add that my town {in PA.}required that I register the sale, and I could only have two sales in a calendar year..You could face a citation/fine if they were not notified.. I have been searching for an old quaint barn in an area that is more lenient, and that I can have zoned for business..I am glad your sale went well..Your pieces are lovely..Doing these vintage sales are so rewarding and are an amazing way to connect with your followers, neighbors, and fellow vintage lovers..Good luck with your next sale..
Karen~
Hi Karen yes I did register my sale and paid for a permit for both :-). Oh a barn would be a wonderful place for a sale!
I really enjoy your blog and have especially enjoyed reading about your sale. I have toyed with this idea myself. So it was good to hear from someone who has actually been there, done that! I use to have booths in craft shops and I’ve done the craft shows. I usually made pretty good money at the shows but as you mentioned, you have to pay rent and for the really good shows, rent can be extremely high. And yes, all that loading, unloading, loading and then unloading once I got home. My poor sweet husband had to help with this and it’s a lot of work. I couldn’t have done it without him. I had quite of bit of display shelving and it was like building a whole room at every show but the “look” is so important. Your garage looked great. I would fee like I was walking into Heaven if I lived close and could go to your shows! If I were to pick a time, I think a Fall show would be best as far as sales go. I have done the email address list and it worked great! I got a lot of feedback from customers telling me they were so happy I let them know. So it sounds like you have started a great thing! While it’s still a lot of work, what’s better than sitting up in your own garage! Thanks for letting us follow along with you on this venture.
Thanks so much Donna! So good to hear your husband is supportive and helpful as my husband and family is too.Maybe next year I will do a spring and fall sale?I have plenty of time between now and then to build up my inventory.
I am so happy for you! It’s really exciting to hear that you did so well this time around. How often do you plan to hold your sales? Are you planning to hold monthly sales?
My sister and I are busy trying to get new items finished to add to our inventory. Our plan is to offer those who signed up for our mailing list a pre sale “sale” the day before the actual event. We are hoping that will kick start things and give us more room for new inventory.
We finished up a couple of special orders for clients. That was a little more challenging than we expected. We were so anxious to please and it made the work rather stressful. Hopefully, if we get more orders, we will gain more confidence. It really is different than just painting from your own inspiration.
I wish you luck with your upcoming events and again, I am so happy to hear that you did well this time.
Thanks Karen! Yes I may eventually do that too,offer those who are on a mailing list and early invite and I may eventually do a invite only sale.Hoping to do at least one a year maybe too.I can’t hold monthly sales because we live in the midwest…enough said LOL!
So happy the second sale was a success!! It’s always a learning experience!!
Thanks so much Cleo!
So excited for you!!!!! We do learn from trial & error don’t we?????…..and a few good friends & great advice…. I do the Village Art Faire here in San Clemente, and it is a lot of work loading the car, unloading, unpacking…….then to do it all over again at the end of the day! 🙂 I love having my 2 shows in my home because I can take my time. (I don’t advertise in the paper, because it is actually in my living room………but I might think upon that next time…. 🙂 CONGRATULATIONS for a great show!!!!!!
Thanks so much Judy! Yes doing a show off property is a ton of work.Been there done that and really don’t want to do it again.
Good for you Anne for hanging in there, giving it another try. Each time you have a sale you’ll learn something about things you sell, your type of customer, how to price. So happy for you it went much better this time. I saw so many things I’d love to have, would have been there.
One advantage we have our here is we’re in county so can do pretty much what we want, it’s also disadvantage since we’re out further from Grand Junction where a better market of buyers might be.
We used to go to shows in MT and KY to sell. Did much better at shows in MT. In KY they’d look at stuff, insult it then want things for nothing. We got discouraged there, quit going to shows. The fees were affordable but buyers not there, especially when they found out we weren’t one of them. I don’t have KY accent so that pretty much left me out. Hubs still have some of his OK accent.
The fees here in Grand Junction, Fruita (Fruita is a good sized bedroom community now that’s about 6 miles east of us) areas to go to local festivals are so prohibitive for us we can’t afford to go. I feel bad for people that come from miles away, pay the high fees and have to pay to stay and eat then barely sell anything. Some bring a travel trailer. Their prices have to be high to make any money. The people that do good are ones selling food, make much more.
People out here don’t like distressed and aren’t familiar with vintage things, furniture. I get discouraged but keep trying. In the Fall when it’s cooler will have a sale out here in our side yard,remember to advertise in papers, other places in Grand Junction. Your experience has been a good learning one for me. Happy week Anne.
Thank you JaneEllen! Wow that is too bad that most don’t like distressed pieces…I can’t imagine!
Anne, I’m so glad the second time went well for you. Just like anything fairly new, you learn as you go. Now you will be so smart next time!..I have done shows and know the tremendous work that goes into one. You are smart to do it as you are..Happy Tuesday..Judy
Thanks so much Judy!
So glad to hear your sale went well! the images of your merchandise look fabulous! I would have loved to attend your sale but I live in Michigan. A vintage sale is so much different than a garage sale.
Thanks so much Sandy!
I am glad you had a great second sale. I have been thinking about doing one next month in my front yard. My garage is just too full to transform it into a shop, although I would love that! I do wonder if it would be worth all the work though as I may end up with just yard salers coming by. I won’t know unless I try though right? I like the marketing ideas. I would also do hot pink road signs.
Yes Lisa I would give it a try! But make sure to advertise and share what you will be selling.You might get a few garage sale customers but most should be coming for a shop sale.Good luck 🙂 !
I am planning a sale soon as well as starting an online shop. Sharing your experiences have helped me a lot to plan. Thanks
Your welcome Marianne! Best wishes on your sale 🙂
Your post was so helpful! I am starting a business selling vintage clothing and it was lovely to read about your experience.
Thank you for sharing.