Paint footprints or draw big chalk arrows on the sidewalk or road leading up to your garage sale. Stock plenty of Polariod film to take pictures of high-priced items for anyone who wants to go home and "talk it over with the husband or wife." And you may want to set out an extension cord so people can immediately make sure that your electric appliances work. (Don't forget to have lightbulbs handy also)
Concoct brown paper grab bags stuffed with several small items suitable for children or teens and charge a low price so that kids can buy them, contents unseen. Start with stuff that you probably need to get rid of anyhow-costume jewelry, convention giveaways, hotel soap and shampoo freebies, easter seals holiday stamps, shells-and consider picking up a few other items from the dollar store,like bubbles and pencils. The mystery will draw more young buyers.
Provide some free amusement and refreshments that might draw people to the sale. Ideas include a "guess your weight, guess your age" table, this will get people talking and laughing. And you can sell soda, lemonade and cookies, and even ice cream treats.
Borrow an idea for the estate sale market and leave large items in the house and in their natural setting for a tag sale. Put an oversize price tag on the item. Seeing it in your home might inspire people to realize it would be perfect in their own home. Just make sure a family member or someone else you trust is in the house to make sure nothing "walks off."
In the last hours or on the last day of the sale, slash prices with a catchy gimmick. A "buy one, get one free" table is one idea, or try a "bring a friend and you buy for half-price" tactic.
I know the sale is technically over by this point, and thus this tip doesn't really apply, but please, people, when your sale is over, TAKE DOWN YOUR SIGNS so that people won't be driving around your neighborhood looking for you! High five!
Nice tips on how to have a better rummage sale.
select one here...