Today I wanted to talk about my sale and what I learned.
First I am sure you all want to know how successful my vintage market sale was,how much did I sell,and how many people attended and bought.
Since this was my first sale,not including previous garage sales I had no idea what to expect.
As you know I transformed my garage into a shop.
I think it turned out incredible,looking just like a shop!
I ordered some signs on line that I thought would work,but after ordering them I found out that my town would not let me put these up as they were, so they needed to be adjusted.
I really wanted to make a special first impression when coming to the sale.
I can’t believe I forgot to take a photo,but I placed my pink bike by our tree,and in my bike basket I added fresh hydrangeas.
I also added a chalkboard sign with my business name and the sale days and times on the board so those following the signs would know that they arrived at the right house.
I added a rope drop as people were arriving I did not want anyone entering too early as I wanted everyone to get a fair chance at the sale.
I bought post it notes and pens so all those attending could write down there name and tag a piece that caught there eye,making it easy for them to continue shopping as they found special treasures.
I taped off a holding area to place those items again to make it easier to keep on shopping.
I also make homemade lemonade,and had fresh baked cookies to purchase for a quick snack.
And no I did not bake those cookies,I bought these at the bakery and just repackaged them because I had no time to bake cookies.
But these were a big hit!
The lemonade was free!
I had boxes set up and ready to go for fragile glass pieces and small boxes for those pitchers I was selling with flowers,making it easier for someone to bring it home in there car.
I had tissue and ribbon,bubbles and heavy paper for wrapping.
I also decided to accept credit cards along with cash to make it easier to purchase items if cash was not enough.
I learned quite a bit from going to so many of these sales,I wanted everything to run as smoothly as possible.
I really put allot of detail and thought into my vintage market sale.
So I am sure you are thinking wow you must have sold lots at your sale.
Well I have some news,I am not going to sit here and lie.
And I am not going to sugar coat it.
Well the truth is…..as 9:00 a.m rolled around on Friday…I heard crickets….literally!
At 9:30 I had my first customers,just a few that thought…wow this is the fanciest garage sale they have ever seen!
They saw my not so garage sale prices and walked right on out!
Then I had some wonderful friends that know me and my style and were thrilled to see my set up shop.
Thank you sweet friends in means the world to me that you traveled far to visit my sale!
Kris from Junk Chic cottage was one of my first customers,she bought a very cool chippy post.
Can’t wait to see what she does with it!
Then I had some customers that found me through Facebook and Craigslist.
It was wonderful meeting others who traveled far to shop at my little market!
But for the most part it was a total flop!
I thought all I needed to do for a successful sale was all that I shared with you and also by sharing this on my facebook page and advertise on Craigslist that was all that I needed to do.
But I was wrong!
I did not advertise in our local paper.
I personally do not look at the paper for sales I normally just drive around or look at Craigslist.
But this really hurt my sale big time!
This is what I learned!
Marketing is key!
Advertising the right way as in a local paper, is also key to a successful sale!
If I had done this I would have had people that appreciate vintage style attend my sale,not people looking for a garage sale.
Because this was not a garage sale,but more of a pop up shop.
I talked to a very good friend of mine about my sale.
She has done many of these over the years.
And the first thing she asked me was…….Did you advertise in the paper?
My answer was….no.
She could not believe I did not advertise in the paper.
Lesson learned!
My friend suggested to hold another sale this week since I already have this all set up,but this time advertise and market myself.
Handing out flyers to local shops to put the word out about the sale.
So this week….guess what I will be doing?
Yep holding another sale.
This Thur,Friday and possibly Saturday I will be holding another vintage market sale at my home.
This was a learning experience for me.
Just know what ever happens good or bad I will be sharing with you all.
If you have had sales at your home or and event please share your experience and success in my comments.
We can all learn from each other.
Joining:
Anne,
I loved coming to your “home shop”. It was so pretty and I felt like I was right in a wonderful brick and motar shop. You did such a great job setting everything up to look so nice. I feel your prices were fair too. Not garage sale but very fair for the vintage wonderful items you were selling. I also think you were really clear in saying this was not a garage sale on your blog, facebook and Craig’s list. So if people came thinking it was a garage sale that was their mistake. You were perfectly clear on that point.
I am so happy I came to the sale. It was beautiful. I hope with advertising in the paper this week the sale will bring more people out. Good luck. Your home is beautiful and it was a treat to shop your vintage market. I had to have the post you know me and chippy and white. Not sure what I will do with it yet but I will do something amazing. It is do wonderful so thank you.
Good luck this week with the sale. I hope the newspaper ads will help.
Kris
Thanks so much Kris! I would love to see you :-).
Oh Anne,
I so would have been buying a few pieces here, as for your sale attempt to lure them in, you did great for a first timer, but having this kind of experience will better prepare you for the next one and more to follow! 🙂
I does look beautiful, infact I have been wanting to put on a tag sale much like yours, white a chandelier lite-up in the garage glaring down at the painted cement floors and arranged furniture ready to tap into a new kind of garage sale market :))
I just know with your few good tips you are going to be the talk of the town with the success of your next showing.
Xx
Dore
See you soon!
Thanks so much Dore! I hope the next time it will be more successful.But if it is not…I will be sharing.The good and the bad,it’s the only way to improve what I am doing,and learn too.We can all learn and help one another 🙂
Enjoyed reading your sale remarks……….it helps if some others in the neighborhood/street also have one,
makes it worth their drive worth it…….my daughter lives in a town near by and their road for about
10 miles is now doing it together, talk about crowds…………..
Yes it would be nice Carolyn,but since this is not a garage sale but a pop up shop they would need to have the same set up or people would just view this as another garage sale which I am not.
I am sorry things didn’t turn out as you’d hoped, especially with all the hard work you put into it! It was so amazing that you are willing to honestly share your experience with us so others can learn from it. I hope you have a large vintage loving group next weekend!!
Thanks so much Lisa! I hope we can all learn from each other.I could never lie and say it was a success when it wasn’t.I just can’t do that.
Your display is perfect! I’m sorry it was a flop. Hopefully the next one will be a huge success. If not, maybe you could join forces with a few other people. The pop-up markets/barn sales have been very successful around here.
Thanks so much Robin! I am not going to give up,I know this can be done.I have talked to another friend about doing it.But on short notice I don’t think it will happen this year,maybe next year.
Besides advertising … my only helpful comment is that if you plan to have a sale like this regularly to have it at the same time, i.e. 3rd Sat of the month, or every August, whatever. Hope your sale grows over time.
Thank you Barb C!
Oh my I feel your pain! A friend and I did the same thing! On a Friday and Saturday , Saturday was a total bust! We didn’t advertise on Craig’s list or the newspaper, I think we should have! No one thought it was a garage sale but they didn’t know what to expect! We presented it as a spring open house featuring our two businesses! Curious how it will work for you!
Oh that’s a shame Sue! Well I am giving it another shot.And no matter what I will do this again next spring/summer.Don’t give up keep working on it!
I planned on having a vintage sale myself, so it has helped me to learn. If you email me I will send a link to a facebook page that list vintage/barn/shop/dearler overstock sales in our area. I planned on asking her to list mine.
Cathy
Thanks Cathy!
I’m so sorry. I would have come if I lived closer. It would have been fun to meet you and other fellow bloggers. I hope this weekend proves to be a huge success.
Thanks so much Katie!
Anne:
I didn’t want to give opinions before the sale but I would have been surprised if anything was different. I have had a shop for 27 years….a wonderful shop in a prime location in the heart of the historic district. I can tell you – retail has never been tougher. I would have a couple suggestions. #1 Not a garage – no matter how darling #2 Do this with several other kindred spirits who are creative and think about using some other location. Someplace historic or unique. #3 Form a mailing list all year long – keep adding to it. Most people who do this type of thing do it in the fall when people think Christmas gifts. I have made many many bad decisions in business but I try to not go around the mountain again and again. Always learning here!
Thanks so much Bernideen! Yes a mailing list is something I am working and and something that grows from doing shops.Holding this as an event at another location will have to come later.I have several friends that hold sales at there home and are very successful so Thanks Bernideen,I know it can be done.But I need to work on marketing.As for me doing a show somewhere else which was suggested by another friend is not an option.I just don’t have the cargo space in my car,and I did shows for many years,it’s allot of work with very little income.Lots of work getting all of your product to a location,lots of time setting up and taking things down.Not my thing at all.I really want to try and make this work,and time will tell.I am not giving up just yet.Even if my next sale is a failure….I am not giving up.But I will share the good and the bad 🙂
You set it up so cute!! I sure hope you have better luck next weekend.
Thanks so much Kim,I hope so too!
Oh Anne, I feel your pain. There’s not a lot that’s worse than putting your heart and soul into something, something truly wonderful, and have it not turn out at all the way you expected. Your set up was freakin’ adorable. I was kicking myself for living so far away that I couldn’t shop at your sale! But marketing is key…as is getting to *your* audience. There have to be other people in your area that would love to visit a vintage pop-up shop. I hope you can get the word out to them. I’ll be happy to post a picture of your cute little shop on my Facebook for any friends that might be in that area. Fingers crossed for next weekend!
xo jonni xo
Thanks so much Jonni! I am taking this as a learning experience.Hoping that anyone that reads this post can learn from my mistakes.
Well your sale was not a flop because of lack of effort on your part or not having good things to sell. That’s for sure! I know what you mean by people expecting “garage sale prices” on good things. I think that’s why I don’t sell my stuff at a garage sale anymore. I take it to a consignment store. People around here want something for nothing! I agree that if you had the right clientele you would’ve sold much more. Do you live in a subdivision? You could let your neighbors know what you’re doing and also get some referrals that way too. You could advertise at your swimming pool clubhouse if you have one of those too. I love how your garage is set up and that you’ve included refreshments and even accepting charge cards. Sounds nice to me! I would come if I didn’t live in another state. Good luck with your next one. I’m sure it will go better.
Thanks so much Kelly! I would love to sell on consignment.But it has to be the right place for the things I sell and also the commission has to be fair for both of us.
I know we’ve already talked about this, but, yes, advertise, advertise, advertise. Also, let everyone you know locally, know about your sale. Sometimes the best customers are friends of friends, people who don’t read blogs, aren’t on FB, etc. You did a fabulous job with preparation, and, of course everything looks beautiful! Having a sale before or after the busy summer season works really well too. I’m praying that you sell a ton in your next sale.
Thanks so much Rosemary! I know you have allot of experience with home sales.I value your honest opinion and advice.
I can imagine your disappointment. I’m wondering if a sale like yours will take time to be the kind of success you were hoping for. Advertising in your local paper is a great idea as is word of mouth if you plan to do this often.
I know a woman who started very small in her home, and after several years she has a huge business going. Have you also thought about putting fliers in antique shops around your area, so you’re targeting people who love vintage?
Mary Alice
Yep that is the next move adding flyers to near by shops.It’s good to support one another.Something I did at this sale was had a flyer for local shops.I thought if they traveled far as some did they could visit near by shops that have vintage treasures.I know Kris from Junk Chic Cottage ended up finding a few treasures from a shop I suggested 🙂
Yes, so many people think just because you have a sale in your garage or barn that the items are all going to be “garage sale” priced. I know that when (and if) I ever have a sale to get rid of more vintagey stuff I need to get rid of, my prices will reflect the charm and character of the piece. I think that if you spread the word in your local papers and w/flyers, you’ll do just fine. Your items are so beautiful! If I lived closer, I’d be walking out with that pretty blue table…. lol
xoxo laurie
Thanks so much Laurie! Yes I need to get the word out for sure!
Definitely look at it as a learning experience. I’ve thought of having a similar sale (but with 1/10th the talent that you have), but just haven’t had the time to get everything together. Ugh, and I’d have to clean my garage 🙁 Good luck this next weekend!!!
Thank you Pam! We clean our garage twice a year.It’s not perfectly clean by any means at all.But we straighten,and sweep.Get a friend to help you out 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I know in my area something like this would not go. Everyone is into garage sales and expect super cheap prices. They wouldn’t understand a pop up shop. You sure did a beautiful job setting up though and I a really looking forward to hearing how you do after advertising. Good luck!
Thanks so much Sandy!
Your shop looks terrific, I was thinking of doing the same thing and I was worried about parking, ha ha…think I would have run into the same problem…advertising.
So, Think outside the box, you have tons of friends in blog land and on etsy…do you belong to a local team on etsy for your area/state, start asking those folks what they do and have them help get the word around. They might like to attend, we all want to support one another. Also, put something up at your local Supermarket bulletin board and library. Lots of people read them. Also, when you are out and about shopping at the sales, hand out flyers, business cards or whatever to grab those locals and let them know your blog and etsy site so they can get a feel for your flavor and take on repurposed vintage.
Good luck and thank you for putting yourself out there girl!
Thanks so much Susan,great advice and tips!
What a bummer! On the positive side though, you are set up and ready to roll. Maybe when you post to Facebook this time you can include some of your pictures. It’s very pretty and appealing. I bet the newspaper will make a big difference too.
Thanks so much Stacey! Yes just what my friend said! As long as your set up you should just do it again..so I am 🙂
So sorry your sale was a flop. You set up is so cute. Is seems like you prepared so well. I hope you have better luck this weekend. I work full time but have been buying, repurposing, painting, and selling a little bit lately since my house is pretty full at this point. One day I want to do this full time because I love it. Right now I have a garage full of projects! I love your tips!
Thanks so much Karen!
So sorry your sale did not do well…I would have loved to attend! My kind of sale for sure! I started my shop here at the house after having one downtown and the numbers have been less than impressive so I got to thinking about what you were saying and so you know what…I’m going to run an ad in this weeks Yard Sale section and see if that doesn’t bring me some customers…worth a try right, and our prices in our shop are comparable to what you see at some sales so I think I’m up for this…Thanks for the inspirations this evening and best wishes to you for the upcoming weekend! You will have to let us all know how you do!
Yay….yes Kimberly try it again! Don’t give up,I’m not.Even if this sale is still not successful I will keep on trying.Timing could be part of it for me too.Kids are going to back to school this week.Spring time may be a better time for this…..we will see 🙂
Hi Anne, I wish I lived closer I so would have been there! Good luck with your next sale, I know it’s going to be great!
Thanks so much Rondell!
I have been looking forward to holding this exact type of event at my home. I was very pleased to read your blog post so thank you for sharing your experience.
I live in a small rural community and what you wrote about is my biggest fear. We all put our heart and souls into preparing for an event, no matter the location, in hopes of drawing a large crowd. I have dreams of how successful my first event will be. Ha!! But as they say, if you’re going to dream, dream big. That’s what I’ll continue to do.
I read one suggestion about creating a mailing list. This is something I hadn’t thought of.
Good luck at your next sale. I hope you have them lined up around the block!
Oh yes Gwynn I should have mentioned that.Yes I had a sign in sheet for those attending to sign up for.So I will be sending out emails to those people.Yes it’s only a few,but at the next sale I will do the same thing,with each sale that list will grow and grow.Then it’s word of mouth too 🙂
Hi Anne! Your garage pop-up shop looks amazing! I am so glad to hear that you’re giving it another go! Did you create an “Event” on your facebook page where people can RSVP to say they are coming. Just an idea… And paying Facebook a few dollars to “boost” your post really seems to work wonders! Best of luck to you! You really have a beautiful display! I hope this next go round is a great success for you!
Best Wishes,
Amanda
Thanks so much Amanda!
Your “shop” was just darling! Thanks so much for sharing your insight and experience for those of us who are considering doing a similar sale in the near future. I, like you, thought that “word of mouth” would be “enough”. Looks like I’d better check into some advertising. Best with your next sale…I’m sure that it’ll be great! xo
Thanks so much Kimberly!
First of all, bravo for your set up and preparations, you thought everything through so well-snacks, wrapping, credit cards all brilliant! But, you are right, garage sale goers want a cheap bargain, not chippy vintage! I have done a ton of home shows, by invitation only, but your friends can only help so much. I think attracting the right buyer by advertising in the right market is definitely the way to go, and when they feel pampered, your prices won’t seem high~
Good luck and I hope to hear how it goes this time around!
Thanks so much Jenna!
Love this post – selling out of my garage/shop is on my list of things I’d like to do. Great tips!
Thanks so much Anne!
I love how your “pop-up shop” looks. It may be a new concept in your area, so be brave, pave the way. You of course will learn as you go and thank you for sharing with others. Keep at it, you have a lovely space and word of mouth will spread just how special this little shop is. By all means advertise!!! Best wishes!!
Thank you so much Liz for your sweet words!
Hi Anne! Oh I’m so sorry to hear, but really appreciate your raw honesty so we can all learn. 🙂 I could kick myself because I had planned all week to come, but then at the last minute figured there would be such a huge line that there wouldn’t be anything left by the time I made it through. The advertising I saw for your sale on social media was wonderful!! So sorry I assumed, and a lesson for me as well. We should all go and support each other, no matter what! Hoping for great success this time around! xo
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Don’t be discouraged……this was your first time. It takes time to build up a clientele…
I’ve had numerous sales in my garage, and its always the same, they want garage sale prices!!! I stopped the ads in the city newspaper, it attracted the wrong people….but use the local town paper, the penneysaver, signs all over, Craigs List, FB, passed out flyers, put up ads in grocery stores, local stores and the library. It helps if others on your street are also having sales. The ideal set up is to go in with 3 or 4 other artists and rent a store front for 2 or 3 days. I have yet to do that!!! The other thing is timing……my best sales have been the first weekend in November right after Halloween, people are ready to shop for Christmas, and that is really the biggest sales time of all. I always advertise it as a Holiday Boutique, never use the word ‘sale’. My friends and my sister always come to help on the sale days, you need other people there to talk to the customers and one person to do the cashing out. I have not accepted credit cards yet, and no one ever asked.
Another thing is to have a notebook on a table with pen for everyone to sign their name and address. This is your client list and you will send postcards out when you have your next sale. And if you have a large sale from one person, I send a thank you after the sale. The bags and tissue I use have my name, e-mail, and website stamped on them.
It’s a tough economy right now, so don’t despair!!! Your set up was beautiful and your next sale will be even better……best of luck to you!!! Cleo
Thanks so much Cleo,great advice!
I’m so sorry that your sale didn’t do as well as expected. But, I totally understand what you felt. My sister and I did the same thing. We have a beautiful shop set up in my sister’s garage and the bedroom that it leads into. Everyone ooo’s and ah’s when they walk in. The garage is set up as a garden room and the bedroom as our shop. It’s beautiful. We advertised on Craigslist and in the paper as a special event but people still expected yard sale prices. We are planning another sale in late September but this time we plan on doing flyers and our paper does a once a month full color ad in a special section of the paper. I wish you much luck on your next sale.
Thanks so much Karen!Best wishes to you and your sister on your next sale.I bet the advertising will help allot.Next time I hope to do this way in advance too!
One thing we did at our last sale was to have a guest book for people to sign up for updates on new pieces, etc. Some even gave us a list of things they were looking for in particular. We got one custom order from a woman who ended up being our biggest customer. She still keeps in touch. I love your blog and you have your shop set up beautifully. Can’t wait to see how well you do this weekend. Good luck!
Thanks so much Karen great advice!
Disappointing but an excellent learning experience. We tend to forget that because we expose ourselves to vintage items on daily basis it’s something others do also but not so. I am only person of my age group that spends so much time on a computer let alone blog reading. I’m only person of others I know that likes to fix things up in my home on a more recent pattern. None of them craft. (makes me wonder what they do do.) Even when I worked I did crafts, spent time on computer, sewed, updated decorations in our home. It seems not alot of people do that So many I’ve spoken to say they’re too busy to do any of what we do. Even when my kids were young, still at home I as always working on something around house or sewing something to fix up house.
It can be very discouraging but we have to find the right market and right time and right ways to get people that share our interests to come to our sales. Good for you for putting yourself out there to share your experience, good and bad. I sure appreciated hearing how it went. I feel bad for you but know how it can be So many people where I live aren’t one bit interested in buying any thing that’s distressed or old. They only want brand new shiny things. They’ve never even tried to see how something vintage would look in their homes or on their porches. Aren’t one bit interested in updating anything in their homes, the pat reason is “don’t have time”. So I need to find my right market also.
Not easy out here and without ample funds to do more advertising it does put a damper on what I try to do. So many times people won’t even take time to look at things if they’re not exactly what they usually like. Looks like we have our work cut out for us, I saw so many things in photos of your sale merchandise I’d love to have. My whole style and things I love for my home have changed since I lived in MT and KY, as well as CO. I find my interests in different things keeps evolving. Good luck to you this time. Still wish I could have been there.
I read every one of your comments and learned a great deal. Love blog land, sharing and caring.
Best of luck with your do-over Anne! I hope your ads make a big difference for you!
Thanks so much Jacqueline!
As one of the previous commenters said, retail is tough. As a person who likes to go to shows, it is more worth my while if I have if there are more vendors either at the same place or within a close area. This makes me wonder if it wouldn’t be better for you starting out if you display and sell in some of these shows that are coming up like Nellies or Pickin Chicks pop up where you can be a vendor. That gets your name out there and customers would get an idea of what you have to sell. It might cost you something in the beginning, but it would be a way to develop a following, and also add names to your mailing list. I think it would also be a great networking tool for you. This is just my opinion as a shopper and what would make it “easier” for me to purchase! Trying anything new is usually based on trial and error. Good Luck to you!
Thanks so much Ellen I really appreciate you view 🙂 . Unfortunately one of the reasons I don’t do show is my vehicle.It’s very small.So to rent a truck or van,plus gas and the cost of rent for a space at a show just isn’t worth it for me.I like keeping my prices low.I would have to raise my prices quite high just to make up for the over head of my space and truck.That would be less in sales for me 🙁
I am sure you will figure it out. Everyone has to make it work for themselves. Good Luck.
Thanks so much Ellen!
I did not read the other posts, because I am busy painting…..but just wanted to share this with you. First off, I want to say that your “garage/shop” turned out FANTASTIC….. I have been doing the San Clemente Art Faire since 1991…….and I’ve been doing a show in my home for at least 15-20yrs……they have been very successful…….I have a mailing list….usually with folks I know, groups I’m involved with……..but I do not advertise…..it is by invitation only….my church, former customers from the Faire, ……….I do put a sign out front (look at FB page of Treasures of the Heart)…..I serve wine, and appetizers ……Friday is the best night with candlelight in the garden…..the only advertising I do is with post cards that I hand out to customers who come to the SC Art Faire…….I make it a great night for ladies…..wine & food and music…..It becomes a ladies night out…..Good luck…..it looks GREAT!!!!! ,…i am serious. It looks wonderful…….
Thanks so much Judy! Your event sounds amazing,similar to my friends events.I would love to have a ladies night out event with wine and hors d’oeuvres!
Hi Anne, I’m so sorry your sale didn’t turn out as you had hoped. I know the feeling of putting so much of yourself into a project and being disappointed. I think an ad in your local paper will help a whole lot. If you put it out there just what it is all about then you will only get the interested ones to show up. Don’t lose hope it will turn out. Good luck. I sure wish I was closer. Your set up looks very inviting…Take care, Judy
Thanks so much Judy!
I’m not only impressed with the set-up, but I am impressed that you are mature enough to admit it was a flop. That is rare in blogland- we only see the successes (and the vacations and the new purchases, etc) and rarely see any problems or real life situations. Thank you for sharing.
Marketing is key with anything – the very best doctor/accountant/lawyer etc cannot initially get clients without advertising – otherwise they would just sit in their office all alone, waiting on someone to hopefully stumble upon them and their talent. Once they are successful enough (same applies to you) – then word-of-mouth may be sufficient.
Keep it up! I am proud of you for trying again this weekend!
-Trish
Thanks so much Trish.For me it is easier to be honest than to lie.I can’t sit here and type a huge success story if it’s not true.I just can’t do that…it’s just not me.
Hi, Anne. Loved your sale! Will you be adding new items this week? Wondering if I should make the drive out again. Thanks!
Hi Joy,yes I am adding more items this week 🙂 . I will be sharing a few peeks of some the new items on FB.
Yes, thank you for your honesty. The advice you gave I realize is probably why our yard sales have not been sucessful. We just donate things now. To sell “real” merchandise is different. I do hope it works well the next go round. Have a good day. Linda
Thanks so much Linda…fingers crossed…tomorrow is the big day!
It sure looked pretty amazing Anne! I know how hard you worked, obviously from the looks of it. You always learn something after your first time. Yes, the paper for sure. I always scour the paper, and I am also on a local facebook city group that is great for letting people know about estate sales and garage sales. You may check on line to see if your town has something like that.
Thanks so much Debbie! Yes I just found out that it does,I will make sure to post to that next time too.Great advice thank you!