How to organize a market in front of the house

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Are you looking for a quick and easy way to get rid of the junk and earn something at the same time? A market in front of the house could just be for you. This type of sale is easy to plan and manage, and can turn an old lamp or bulky plates into a much more convenient stack of money to store in a drawer. Depending on how many things you have to sell, you could realistically earn up to a thousand euros in a single weekend. Let the sale begin!

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Setting up a market

Step 1. Gather the items you intend to sell

Look in boxes in the attic, basement, closet, or garage. Go from room to room and take all the items you no longer need.

Many find it hard to separate from objects, even those they never use: if you find an object that you haven't used for more than a year, you can be sure you won't miss it!
You can sell all the items you no longer want to keep: clothes that no longer fit, dishes you never use, outdated game consoles, shoes, art or craft items you made yourself, photo frames and junk ! Sell things you would like to buy.
People will buy almost anything. While some items are arguably more in demand (children's toys, old tools, books, antiques, and simple kitchen items), don't be afraid to sell things you would never buy. Remember the saying: "One man's waste is another's treasure."
Make sure the merchandise is fairly clean and undamaged so it can't hurt anyone. As mentioned, though, you might be surprised at how many people are willing to buy broken, old items, patched pumps, old doors, and other items that seem undesirable.

Step 2. Take an inventory, listing each item on a sheet of paper, complete with price

Many people skip this step, but it can make selling a lot easier. [Image: Hold a Garage Sale Step 2 Version 2-j.webp

Price tags are always mysteriously lost during this type of sale and it is difficult to choose an honest price on the spot, especially if you have other people asking you questions or if you are managing the sale at a multi-family level. An inventory solves this problem.
Remember that you don't need to mark everything. If you have a box of books that are all worth 50 cents, inventorying them all would be a waste of time.
The more items you try to sell, the more important it is to register them.

Step 3. Price each item

Check the inventory and assign a reasonable price to everything. Record each price.

If you really want to get rid of old junk, you'd better assign them a low price. For more valuable items, the general rule is to sell them for a quarter of their original price or less. Nobody will buy an item that costs too much, whatever amount you paid for it!
Of course, you can make exceptions for some items, such as near-new ones or valuable antiques.
Remember: you are trying to get rid of your stuff, not making a big profit. Those who buy in these markets are looking for good deals. If you don't want to bring all that junk back home at the end of the day, you would do well to give people the low price they want. Some would pay no more than a tenth of the value for items found in flea markets. Assign prices that allow you to sell and earn.
If you can't decide the price of an item, ask for an "offer". Remember that some customers may try to rip you off with very low prices. You can also write, for example, "40 euros or best offer" if you want to suggest a base price, but remember that you are more interested in getting rid of the item than getting the amount indicated.
Pricing doesn't have to be fixed, even if customers appreciate consistency. You may decide to change the price of an item according to the demand and the need to sell it.

Step 4. Label the objects

Attach a price tag to each item with the clearly written price. This will protect you - even if only partially - from constant pricing questions.

If you use labels with bright colors, you will make it easier for buyers to identify the price and save time during the sale day.
You can get some sticky labels, or you can use a label maker. If you don't have labels, you can make them with tape, or make them yourself.
If you have a lot of similar items that have the same price (books for example), don't worry about pricing them one by one. Put them in a box on which you will mark the price of each. Customers will rummage through the box if they're interested, and some collectors may even make you an offer for the whole box.

Step 5. Make the market as large as you can

Those who attend these events usually tend to prefer larger sales. If it seems like there isn't much to choose from, people don't even get out of the car. Plus, by attracting the most interested shoppers you can also increase the number of passersby, who will wonder why there are so many people.

Ask friends, family and neighbors to contribute their items. You may know people who want to sell some items but are unwilling to set up a flea market. If you know they're interested in selling, save them a later hassle by taking inventory of what friends, family, or neighbors have brought. They should tell you exactly what they are giving you, as well as the amount they are asking for.
You should bargain over friends' items only with their permission. If a customer is unwilling to pay the set price, tell them, "It's not mine. I'm selling it for a friend and I'm not allowed to bargain."

Part 2 of 5: Planning and Promoting a Market

Step 1. Obtain a permit if required

Ask the Municipality for more information.

Many cities impose restrictions on private markets, regulating the position of advertising signs, the hours of sale and the frequency of the markets. This serves to distinguish private sellers - who conduct their business in a residential area - from real commercial activities.
Better to spend time searching for information and paying the price of the authorization than risking losing more money to pay hefty fines.

Step 2. Consider organizing a multi-family or community sale

This means having many families and neighbors participating in the market at the same time. Each family or home will attract its own buyers, who may visit other homes and their markets. Multi-family sales are often more successful than single-family sales.

If you mix items in a multi-family sale, colored price tags can help mark the items so the cashier knows who should get the money for each item.
Let the other families or the cashier know which items are available for bargaining and which are not, especially if all items are mixed together.

Step 3. Choose a date and time for your sale

Choose the most convenient period for potential customers. Weekends are a good choice; Sunday is the most common day for private sales.

If you advertise the sale, consider indicating a time. Most sales start early in the morning - at 8 or at dawn - and last at the seller's discretion. Schedule a full day for the sale. Keep it, for example, from 8:00 to 18:00.
Check the weather to avoid rain and be careful not to plan the market during some particular event or holiday, as many potential customers may be busy somewhere else.
A two-day sale is usually enough to sell all unwanted items, and summer weekends are the perfect days. Choose a time when there will be a lot of potential buyers.
In some neighborhoods and streets, certain days of the year are reserved for private markets. Always choose these periods if possible. On those days, everyone is looking for markets in your area and you can avoid advertising your sale. You may receive information about these days by post. be careful!
Avoid holding a sale when road works make it difficult to get to your home. The jobs could keep away potential customers who don't like traffic or detours.

Step 4. Choose an area for your sale

If you are doing a family sale, the sales location is already decided: keep it in front of the house, in the driveway or in an open garage.

If, on the other hand, the market is multi-family or you are organizing a charity market, remember to find a location large enough for everyone's items and choose a place that is easy to reach and find, preferably - but not necessarily - near a main road

Step 5. Advertise your sale

You don't need to advertise too early, but the number of customers could increase dramatically.

The local newspaper probably offers space for such ads. For a sale that takes place on Fridays and Saturdays or Saturdays and Sundays, you just need to advertise the event on Thursdays, Fridays and possibly even Saturdays, but remember to contact the newspaper at least a few days in advance.
You should also advertise your event in the weekly newspapers found in shops and on the city bulletin board. Also use word of mouth.
Don't underestimate the internet: Craigslist great to start and most of all free, or you can try eBay classifieds or Kijiji.
Advertise the sale on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social networks. Invite your contacts to view your merchandise. For example: "Tomorrow I will organize a private market in front of the house. I offer clothes, books, old furniture and a flat screen TV. Via Cavour, 12. Hurry up!". Make sure you include the address. You can include pictures of the wares displayed on the stalls in front of the house to attract potential buyers.

Step 6. Make signs a few days before the sale.

Write the date and time of the sale, the location and, if there is space, some of the items for sale.

The signs can be simple: "Private sale: 8: 00-14: 00 Saturday, via Cavour 12", or "Private market Saturday: via Cavour 12" with an arrow pointing towards your street. Try to find the right balance between useful, fun and easy-to-read information from a moving vehicle. Make sure the word "Market" or "Sale" is clearly visible.
If you're lucky, the local newspaper may give you signs as part of your ad purchase. You can also buy signs, or make your own with cardboard.
It is very important that the signs are written in a simple way and that they are clear, colorful and resistant. Remember that they should be perfectly legible to people passing by and that they must withstand wind, rain or heat for a few days. Do not write anything smaller than 5 cm.
Use a strong material for the signs, such as a few layers of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, so that they cannot be bent by the wind. Use a light-colored background and large dark letters at least 5cm high so people in the car can read the signs without any problems.

Step 7. Place signs in the neighborhood

Post the signs a couple of days before the sale, in the places where they will be most visible. Consider tying them to telephone poles, street lamps, trees, and stop signs.

Don't forget to put a sign at the entrance to the neighborhood or in front of your house!
If you live near a main road, post signs on telephone poles or sign posts at intersections on that road (stop or traffic lights are particularly useful).
It is a good idea to ask Council if it is possible to post signs to the posts before doing so.

Part 3 of 5: Preparing the Sale

Step 1. Clean up the place where you will display the goods

You would clean the house if you were to sell it, wouldn't you? Market buyers are more inclined to buy if the merchandise comes from a good home and the seller shows that he cares about his things. They will even more willingly stop if the space is pleasant and clean.

Mow the lawn. Rake the leaves. There's no need to overdo it, but make sure the house looks good.
Make sure there is enough parking space. Consider moving cars that are usually parked in front of the house - you can move yours further down the street or put it in the garage.

Step 2. Make sure you have enough space on the tables

You can use tables and bookcases from the house, but if you don't have enough space, you can rent folding tables.

Even if customers look and buy items on the floor, it is important to have enough tables to display smaller items, to protect them, and to make sure shoppers see and analyze them.
If you are using home furniture to display merchandise, make sure this non-for-sale furniture is not mistaken for items to buy. Consider lining the tables with a tablecloth or blanket to hide the furniture without losing display space.

Step 3. Get lots of coins to give change

Customers often won't have the exact figures on hand, and being able to give them change can make the difference between a sale and a lost customer.

If you don't have a lot of coins to give change, you will need to go to the bank a few days before the market and have some money exchanged for money.
You'll definitely have to give change to a lot of people, so get something to organize your coins well, like a fanny pack or apron. Many baby carriers have two pockets: you can keep bills in the larger one and coins in the smaller one.
Keep larger bills in the house until they are needed.
If you have a smartphone or tablet, you can offer credit card payment. This is a professional touch, which may entice customers to spend more.

Step 4. Organize the market on the morning of the sale

Make sure you have enough time.

Wake up early in order to have enough time to organize the market area. Consider asking some friends or family early risers for help to get the job done faster.
Organize an action plan the night before: you should know where to put the tables, where to arrange the various items, the price to be assigned to each item and where to store the money. If there is a good influx of people, sales will go very fast - be ready!
More experienced buyers usually show up first to take a look at the most delicious items and, usually, arrive ready to buy. Make sure everything is ready an hour or two before opening time.
Don't prepare for the market the night before, even if you live in a safe neighborhood. You never know who is prowling at night. Additionally, the merchandise may become dampened by morning dew, which may discourage potential buyers or even spoil some items.
To prevent people from arriving before you are ready, do not put up signs in the neighborhood until you have made preparations. Put the sign closest to home last. Customers who show up first (usually looking for items to resell) can distract you, and even be pushy, while you're busy preparing.

Step 5. Display the objects in an inviting manner

Many potential customers will drive by before stopping, so the flea market should have an intriguing and well-organized look to entice them to stop by.

Take out the items and put them on display, so that people passing by can see them, instead of a pile of stacked boxes.
Place the most interesting items (near-new items, antiques, large tools, etc.) near the road.
Arrange the tables so that the items are displayed and well spaced to allow people to inspect them well.
Instead of arranging folded clothes on the table, hang them on hangers on a tree or metal bar. This way they will be easier to see and you won't have to worry about folding them all the time.
Helium balloons are inexpensive means of drawing attention to your sale. Stick them to the tables or at the end of the street.

Step 6. Consider offering refreshments

Add more interest to the sale by offering homemade treats or drinks.

Offering coffee and pastries encourages people to stay and shop more.
People attract people. People will rarely stop at an empty flea market.

Part 4 of 5: Running a Market

Step 1. Be an active seller

Running a flea market isn't like being a clerk in a retail store, so bring out the salesperson in you.

Greet customers with a friendly smile as they approach.
You want people to be comfortable with the sale, so greet them as if you were a shop owner. Promote the goods with pride.
Offer promotional packages (if a person buys a blender, for example, why shouldn't they buy those beautiful margarita glasses too?), And reward those who buy in bulk with nice discounts. Don't expect things to sell themselves.

Step 2. Get someone to help you

Always try to have someone by your side for personal safety and convenience.

This way you can take breaks to go to the bathroom when you need it, and you can keep everything in order.
Do not leave the market unattended for more than a few moments and avoid leaving a child in charge of keeping everything under control.

Step 3. During the sale, always keep the items ordered

As the day progresses, many objects inevitably get out of place (or even break). If you want to sell as much as possible, you need to keep everything neat and tidy.

Tidy and straighten items as you pass them and while chatting with shoppers.
Keep all the brightly colored items and the new ones in plain sight on top of the other stacks.

Step 4. Negotiate with whoever wants to negotiate on the price

Even if the prices are clearly displayed, someone will try to negotiate. Stay in the game: bargaining over prices can be a fun experience and you could sell more if you're going to reward these bargain hunters.

Don't be afraid to reject an offer, but consider them all. After all, you are trying to get rid of unwanted items. An effective answer to those who want to bargain can be: “I can't lower the price before 10 am, I've just started”.
Make sure you don't lower your prices early in the day. If you have followed and practiced the above steps, you will have a lot of people willing to pay for your items at full price.
Remember, again: you should only haggle over friends' items with their permission. If a customer is unwilling to pay the set price, tell them, "It's not mine. I'm selling it for a friend and I'm not allowed to bargain."

Step 5. Offer last minute deals

If you still have items left an hour before the end of the market, cut the prices in half. Make offers like:

Buy one and get one.
Discounts for large quantities.
Get two and pay for one.
Half price items after a certain time.

Step 6. Stay open until the last minute to welcome latecomers

You never know when a person will show up for your sale, even after rush hour has passed.

This is especially important if you have specified a specific time for your sale, such as 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and it is even more important if you have posted the times on the internet or in the local newspaper. Potential buyers may show up even at the last minute. But if you have to close the sale early, it won't be the end of the world.
If you wait after closing time before packing your items again, some latecomers may be approaching. In some cases, people will offer you a sum of money for the entire market!

Step 7. Give away what's left unsold

Don't throw items in good condition in the trash - try to find someone who may need them.

When you are done selling, place an announcement on the internet or in your community to give away the things that remain. You can leave them in the garden and stay inside counting the money made while people come and take away your things.
Don't throw away potentially useful items and don't bring useless items back home just because you haven't sold them, unless, of course, you plan on having another flea market in a few months. In that case, re-pack all the items, put them in a dry place where they don't bother, so you can find them easily when you plan your next sale.
Ask local charities. Some may give use to items you haven't sold. Getting rid of items in this way is easier than organizing a free sale after the market. Get a receipt for gift items - you may receive tax reductions.

Step 8. Remove the signs after the market as soon as you have closed it

Be a good neighbor and member of the community! Nobody likes to arrive at a flea market when it's already closed and nobody likes to see old faded signs hanging all over the place.
If your address is written on the signs and you leave them posted around the neighborhood, everyone will know where you live. Additionally, buyers may show up at random times.

Part 5 of 5: Making a Market Safe

Step 1. Keep an eye on customers

Different types of people show up at the markets, including thieves.

Keep the goods in plain sight and avoid leaving the market for more than a few moments.
Consider asking a friend or neighbor to arrange the sale so that someone is always there to keep an eye on customers. The more eyes you have, the more likely you are to catch shoplifters in the act.
As long as people know you're watching, you won't have much trouble, but if someone manages to steal a small item, it's probably not worth taking care of. Use common sense. If the thief is a kid from the neighborhood, you could confront him and tell his parents; if it's a dangerous-looking stranger, let him grab a pair of shorts without arguing.
If you suspect someone has stolen something of value, deal with them politely and call the police if necessary, but don't hold them back.

Step 2. Close the house to discourage opportunistic thieves

Some thieves may be looking for a total discount on valuable goods in your home that you don't want to sell.

During the sale, lock all doors in the house that you cannot see directly from your location - including side and rear doors. Close all doors leading into the house, including the garage door.
During the market you will always be distracted. If you don't secure the house, you may find that the jewelry box has disappeared at the end of the sale!

Step 3. Keep an eye on the cash box

Anyone can come in and steal the money you've earned, so make sure someone is always looking out for it.

Try never to have more than twenty euros in cash. That way, if someone were to steal it, they wouldn't get much out of it. Alternatively, don't use a cassette at all. Someone might steal your money or try to buy the tape!
Consider buying a pen that can spot counterfeit banknotes. If someone offers to pay with a hundred euro note, you will need to make sure it is authentic. You can find these pens for a few euros in various shops.

Step 4. Decide which toilet policy to use

The bigger the flea market, the longer people will stay and eventually need to go to the bathroom.

Some customers may ask you to use the bathroom at home. You don't have to let someone into your home, not even to use the bathroom, but you may want to consider exceptions for small children or the elderly.
If a person really needs to go to the bathroom, show them the way to the nearest public building.

Advice

Make some cards or boxes available if someone wants to use them as a basket, if their hands are busy.
Get an outside socket or run a wire from home so people can test electronic items. You'll get a better price if people can make sure things work, and in any case, if something doesn't work, you shouldn't be selling it as if it did.
Some customers might arrive smoking or with the dog. Put up clearly visible signs if you want people not to smoke or do not approach your items with the dog.
When assigning prices, look at each item with a critical eye and ask yourself how much you would pay for each one if you wanted to buy them. Assigning amounts you'd like to earn for items isn't realistic. The object is only worth what someone would be willing to pay for it - this is the meaning of the word "value". If you want to sell it on eBay, then sell it on eBay, but you won't be able to make the same profit at a street market. It will not happen, unless the buyer is a close friend.
Price bargaining people are very common at flea markets, so give all items a slightly higher price than the lowest you are willing to accept.

Warnings

Remember that every customer who comes to see what you sell is a guest, so you have a financial and legal responsibility to every person who gets injured on your property. Reduce any risk by cleaning your garden and taking precautions to avoid accidents, especially to children. Put sharp and potentially dangerous objects out of the reach of children.
Telephone booths and road signs are often places where posting is prohibited and you could end up in trouble if you put up signs on them. Posting signs on other people's property without their permission is also illegal - and not well received. They will also know where you live.
If your market takes place in the garden, try to be prepared, in case of rain, to move all the objects to the garage or to an indoor place. If you don't want to pick up all the items on the tables, you can cover them with plastic sheet or oilcloth.
Sometimes the shopper tries to take the items away for free in this way. They bring you a little object that costs one euro and give you a 100 euro banknote to pay for it. What they expect is that this unexpected change will make you give up and allow them to take it with them for nothing. You can ask him to come back when he has the money or you can give him change. Be careful, the 100 euro could be counterfeit, not as real as the 99 euro change you are giving him. Be very careful.
The last thing to know if you organize a market is that, if you are not subject to any tax under Italian law for the sale of single items, if you organize a market you may be subject to tax obligations (for example if you usually do the tax return). These are really very simple and inexpensive tasks, but it is good to inquire online or from a trusted consultant.