Hello Poppers
Today I am filling out a form for my child's school yard sale. $25.00 for a double parking spot, front and back. Park your car in the back, display your wares in the front. The pros to participating in this sort of yard sale:
1) You don't have to advertise, the sponsor does that for you
2) You only set up and tear down your spot
3) Lots of other sellers so more people are likely to stop and shop
4) Early bird shopping for you and the other sellers
5) $25.00 is rather inexpensive when you figure out the cost to place an ad
6) The leftovers can be left for the boy
scouts to pack up and take to donate to the local charity of their choice
Cons:
1) You have to pack up and bring the goods and pack up and bring the unsellable home if you do not want to donate it
2) You do not have a say in the charity that others decide to take your goods
3) No tax write off for your donated goods
Even though I have to pack up the car and perhaps, make more than one trip to the school, this is a great deal. The price is reasonable and the proceeds go to the club sponsors. Win-win!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Popping tips on towels
Hello Taggers
Today's post will be brief. When you go to estate sales and they have a bunch of towels for sale, find the best, softest towels and, if you can get them cheap enough, buy them!!!
For what you might ask??? as I never recommend buying things like towels, bedding etc... resale. However, over the last few weeks, my child has participated in car washes for her school and the moderator has been looking for towels, which made me think how I often see towels at yard, estate and tag sales and never ever even touch them. But, if you can buy a bunch of towels to donate to your school for car washes, then I say 'do it'! You most likely can get some sort of write off, but even if you can not, this is a good thing to do.
You can purchase towels (of any softness) for donating to your school, but pick some up for your own car (I recommend buying resale towels that are super soft (any color). Use these towels on your car and then, when they get grimy, just toss them out! No Remorse!
That is my advice for today. Thanks for all the emails and signs of appreciation. It really makes me happy. I am glad that sharing some bits and pieces of information is helpful!
Today's post will be brief. When you go to estate sales and they have a bunch of towels for sale, find the best, softest towels and, if you can get them cheap enough, buy them!!!
For what you might ask??? as I never recommend buying things like towels, bedding etc... resale. However, over the last few weeks, my child has participated in car washes for her school and the moderator has been looking for towels, which made me think how I often see towels at yard, estate and tag sales and never ever even touch them. But, if you can buy a bunch of towels to donate to your school for car washes, then I say 'do it'! You most likely can get some sort of write off, but even if you can not, this is a good thing to do.
You can purchase towels (of any softness) for donating to your school, but pick some up for your own car (I recommend buying resale towels that are super soft (any color). Use these towels on your car and then, when they get grimy, just toss them out! No Remorse!
That is my advice for today. Thanks for all the emails and signs of appreciation. It really makes me happy. I am glad that sharing some bits and pieces of information is helpful!
Monday, September 9, 2013
Out of season selling
Hello Tag Popping Readers
This weekend was a bust as far as treasures found. In other words, I found/bought nothing!
As I previously shared with you I did work on other things related to popping tags. I organized some stuff that I will be selling and as I did this, I was also organizing the change of season clothing. Washing, drying, packing...
I will be doing the same tasks this week only with the upcoming season. I'll pull out the fall and winter things, have the kids try on clothes and get this stuff separated and maybe even labeled for the upcoming sales.
Here is a clue for you about selling... People do not purchase previous season clothing or other items related to the passing season. There site is set firmly on the future and the past is over. With this in mind, should you have stuff you really want to get rid of cuz it is taking up too much room, you may have to settle on a very low price.
I bought a leaf blower last year for about $10.00. There are four pieces to it and it works great. I have recently seen these for sale for upwards of $200.00 (used) and I am going to list it for that price.
Also, clothing out of season will rarely fetch much. SO...again if you are just looking to get rid of stuff and open up some space you will have to start low. I'm gonna put everything out at the drama sale and see what goes.
And lastly... If you have a 1.000's items and everything sells for a buck you will make a $1,000.00, if you have 500 items and they sell for $2.00, you will make $1,000 and 500 items at $4.00 will also bring in $1,000. keep this in mind when you are setting prices. There is money to be made, but you have to price the pieces correctly.
This weekend was a bust as far as treasures found. In other words, I found/bought nothing!
As I previously shared with you I did work on other things related to popping tags. I organized some stuff that I will be selling and as I did this, I was also organizing the change of season clothing. Washing, drying, packing...
I will be doing the same tasks this week only with the upcoming season. I'll pull out the fall and winter things, have the kids try on clothes and get this stuff separated and maybe even labeled for the upcoming sales.
Here is a clue for you about selling... People do not purchase previous season clothing or other items related to the passing season. There site is set firmly on the future and the past is over. With this in mind, should you have stuff you really want to get rid of cuz it is taking up too much room, you may have to settle on a very low price.
I bought a leaf blower last year for about $10.00. There are four pieces to it and it works great. I have recently seen these for sale for upwards of $200.00 (used) and I am going to list it for that price.
Also, clothing out of season will rarely fetch much. SO...again if you are just looking to get rid of stuff and open up some space you will have to start low. I'm gonna put everything out at the drama sale and see what goes.
And lastly... If you have a 1.000's items and everything sells for a buck you will make a $1,000.00, if you have 500 items and they sell for $2.00, you will make $1,000 and 500 items at $4.00 will also bring in $1,000. keep this in mind when you are setting prices. There is money to be made, but you have to price the pieces correctly.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Greeting Fellow Poppers!
Today is my usual tag popping day. I went to two different sales. One was a church sale where the parishiners donated the items and the money went to a church outside of the country. There were lots of items for sale; nothing that caught my eye.
The second sale was an estate sale. The home of a recently deceased doctor who raised his family in this house. There was also much to choose from; a bit higher end than the church and this money was part of the family's estate. I found nothing there, either. My daughter, however found a great Audrey Hepburn type hat - $ 4.21.
Since one of my weekend days is usually focused on some aspect of making money, I did a couple of things that are related to that. One, I filled out the form to participate in my child's school fund raising yard sale that will be held in 3 weeks, $25.00 per slot and the money goes to the drama club. The second thing I did related to making money was to begin a list of what items I will be selling and pricing those pieces. Since the sale is in the fall, I usually only bring fall/winter items. This year will be no different, except we will be bringing holiday related items as well. We are going to try and raise money for a New York trip in the late fall. Perhaps take the train and see a broadway show.
I will also take some of the money and put it into a savings account. Christmas is coming and I like being prepared. We also have a birthday to celebrate just before Christmas, so it is an extra busy and fun time for us. I will blog about the yard sale, perhaps during and most definitely one or two times before to give updates on the prepping.
Enjoy your day and as always... Happy Tagging!!!
Today is my usual tag popping day. I went to two different sales. One was a church sale where the parishiners donated the items and the money went to a church outside of the country. There were lots of items for sale; nothing that caught my eye.
The second sale was an estate sale. The home of a recently deceased doctor who raised his family in this house. There was also much to choose from; a bit higher end than the church and this money was part of the family's estate. I found nothing there, either. My daughter, however found a great Audrey Hepburn type hat - $ 4.21.
Since one of my weekend days is usually focused on some aspect of making money, I did a couple of things that are related to that. One, I filled out the form to participate in my child's school fund raising yard sale that will be held in 3 weeks, $25.00 per slot and the money goes to the drama club. The second thing I did related to making money was to begin a list of what items I will be selling and pricing those pieces. Since the sale is in the fall, I usually only bring fall/winter items. This year will be no different, except we will be bringing holiday related items as well. We are going to try and raise money for a New York trip in the late fall. Perhaps take the train and see a broadway show.
I will also take some of the money and put it into a savings account. Christmas is coming and I like being prepared. We also have a birthday to celebrate just before Christmas, so it is an extra busy and fun time for us. I will blog about the yard sale, perhaps during and most definitely one or two times before to give updates on the prepping.
Enjoy your day and as always... Happy Tagging!!!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Today's topic is not related to popping tags so much as it is about getting rid of the stuff you have accumulated. I don't know about you, but I started popping tags because I saw something that interested me as I was driving around town. I bought it and brought it home. I still, to this day, enjoy the beauty of this particular piece (a lamp). See pic below.
I have recently discovered that although I make my purchases with the intention to resell, rarely do I actually sell anything. I get emotionally attached to my purchases. Apparently, I only buy what I like, and that makes it difficult to part with. So today I am going to make a suggestion about the purchases that you intend to sell. This only a suggestion, an experiment if you will. There is no pressure. But, think about making a purchase, only after you have either sold, donated or made an exchange of a piece you already own. In other words, something must leave before you bring anything new into your living space. If you are addicted to popping tags, this may be difficult. If you are not, then I imagine there will be no problem. You may be surprised at the outcome. Share your stories as they unfold. The readers are interested!Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Yard Sale, Anyone???
Hey Taggers!
Do you ever think about conducting your own tag (garage, yard, estate) sale?
Here is some concrete advice to help make for a smooth sale.
Gather up your items to see what you have so you can determine if having a sale is a good idea. Once that has been determined, check out your goods to find your 'notable' pieces. Notable pieces will be the ones that will lure your customers in? They will be the interesting pieces or the pieces that you know collectors are looking for. Once you have your special items, clean them up so they are in the best condition possible.
If you have enough pieces to have a sale the next step is to set the date. Weekends work best for estate sales and some garage sales, however, if you don't have that much to sell, consider a one day only sale. Saturdays are good for this type of sale and you can limit the time you will be selling and that will encourage people to make your house an early stop. Get the people to stop by while they have money to spend.
With the date set, you will need to advertise. Use your special or 'notable' pieces in the advertisement. Be clear and concise in your ad. Date, time. location and special pieces. Keep it inexpensive! You are having the sale most likely, to get rid of stuff and to make some money. If you spend too much money on the ads, your profit is less. Less is not good! Consider placing signs at the end of your street and throughout your subdivision if you are not easily found. You do not want your potential customers getting frustrated on their drive and giving up. Also, consider asking your neighbors to join in on the sale. More sellers equals more buyers. Plus, they can share the price of the ads announcing the sale.
Tags your pieces with prices that are reasonable. Having said this I have found that some sellers price their merchandise at prices equal to the stores prices. I do not know how well these pieces sell, but I do know that I do not buy used merchandise for retail prices. I just don't!
Borrow tables and clothes racks to display your items. Just like in a store, the nicer the display, the more desirable the merchandise looks. You are going for desirable, right?
You can put your signs up a few days before the actual sale to announce the sale, but not all neighborhoods allow for this. If yours does, then do it. If not, you will need to spend some time the night before putting up the signs.
Have about $100.00 in change, $20.00's, $10.00's, $5.00's and quarters... use an apron with deep pockets if you have one. Very convenient - carry the money with you!
Rise early the day of the sale. Set out your wares. Grab a chair and possibly a table with an umbrella to block the sun (or rain). As the sale progresses and you notice people looking at some pieces, but not buying, ask them why. You may be overpricing your goods or there may be a flaw you did not see. Be willing to come down in price if you really want to get rid of things.
After the sale, whatever you do not sell, can be taken immediately to the charitable organization of your choice for a tax write-off and less clutter in your home.
Do you ever think about conducting your own tag (garage, yard, estate) sale?
Here is some concrete advice to help make for a smooth sale.
Gather up your items to see what you have so you can determine if having a sale is a good idea. Once that has been determined, check out your goods to find your 'notable' pieces. Notable pieces will be the ones that will lure your customers in? They will be the interesting pieces or the pieces that you know collectors are looking for. Once you have your special items, clean them up so they are in the best condition possible.
If you have enough pieces to have a sale the next step is to set the date. Weekends work best for estate sales and some garage sales, however, if you don't have that much to sell, consider a one day only sale. Saturdays are good for this type of sale and you can limit the time you will be selling and that will encourage people to make your house an early stop. Get the people to stop by while they have money to spend.
With the date set, you will need to advertise. Use your special or 'notable' pieces in the advertisement. Be clear and concise in your ad. Date, time. location and special pieces. Keep it inexpensive! You are having the sale most likely, to get rid of stuff and to make some money. If you spend too much money on the ads, your profit is less. Less is not good! Consider placing signs at the end of your street and throughout your subdivision if you are not easily found. You do not want your potential customers getting frustrated on their drive and giving up. Also, consider asking your neighbors to join in on the sale. More sellers equals more buyers. Plus, they can share the price of the ads announcing the sale.
Tags your pieces with prices that are reasonable. Having said this I have found that some sellers price their merchandise at prices equal to the stores prices. I do not know how well these pieces sell, but I do know that I do not buy used merchandise for retail prices. I just don't!
Borrow tables and clothes racks to display your items. Just like in a store, the nicer the display, the more desirable the merchandise looks. You are going for desirable, right?
You can put your signs up a few days before the actual sale to announce the sale, but not all neighborhoods allow for this. If yours does, then do it. If not, you will need to spend some time the night before putting up the signs.
Have about $100.00 in change, $20.00's, $10.00's, $5.00's and quarters... use an apron with deep pockets if you have one. Very convenient - carry the money with you!
Rise early the day of the sale. Set out your wares. Grab a chair and possibly a table with an umbrella to block the sun (or rain). As the sale progresses and you notice people looking at some pieces, but not buying, ask them why. You may be overpricing your goods or there may be a flaw you did not see. Be willing to come down in price if you really want to get rid of things.
After the sale, whatever you do not sell, can be taken immediately to the charitable organization of your choice for a tax write-off and less clutter in your home.
Monday, September 2, 2013
The profit of popping
Hello Tag Poppers
There was only one estate sale listed this weekend, but I did not go. It is a holiday weekend and it's not uncommon to only have a few resale choices. People are busy doing other things. It's the change of season and it's back to school time.
The weather was nice, but I was busy cleaning and prepping for the season change. I did spend some time online researching ways to make extra money. I don't remember how many sites I visited, but I can tell you that every one of them listed re-selling as a viable option. The overwhelming advice is to find an item that is under priced and in good condition and resell it on ebay.com or etsy.com.
As you know I visit garage and tag sales, estate sales and resell stores. One of my best purchases was a patio set for $50.00. I was walking into a Goodwill store and I noticed a worker putting out chairs around a patio table. I asked him how much it was and he looked around, a bit unsure and said $50.00. I asked him for the ticket and as he was writing it up I was pulling out my checkbook. I knew this was a good deal. I did not know how I would get this stuff home as there were 7 pieces to the set. After paying, I went out to move my car closer and was met by the manager who told me the person who set the price was not authorized to set the price and in his inexperience had set the price way, way too low. I told him that I thought that I had gotten a great deal, but in light of the error, what did he have in mind? Did he want to re-price the set (I had already paid by now) and he said no, that it was ok, but to realize what a good deal I had gotten. I told him that I did recognize the deal and was really happy about it, as I had been looking for a patio set for a long time.
It has been two years since I bought this set and I still feel lucky to have gotten the deal. I am also happy because I recognized the good deal and moved immediately to secure it. Because of my experience, I knew to immediately get the ticket for the purchase and to move quickly to pay for it. I did take the time to make sure every piece that was out, was in good condition. I have not sold this set yet even though I know I could make an easy 200-250 for it (above what I paid), but I really like the set and we have a yard to put it.
If I do want to sell my patio set, the best time to do so will be in late spring, early summer.
Also important to remember is that you must take care of the merchandise that you buy that you want to sell. If it gets ruined due to lack of care or neglect, then you have lost your original investment. And if you want to get into the nitty gritty economics of it, then you have also lost your investment of time, wear and tear on your car and interest that your money could be accruing and/or the potential purchases you could have made with the original spending money.
OK happy Tag Poppers. The bottom line is to understand what you are buying, pay attention to the condition and move quickly if you know it is a good deal. If you are going to resell an item, clean up the item and make sure it looks great! Your selling reputation is tied to your sales and you want that to be impeccable and trustworthy. Learn as much as you can about the business in your off time so that you can recognize a good deal when you see it.
Finally, try, try, try not to get emotionally involved in the item otherwise you could end up with a house full of purchases, intended for resell.
There was only one estate sale listed this weekend, but I did not go. It is a holiday weekend and it's not uncommon to only have a few resale choices. People are busy doing other things. It's the change of season and it's back to school time.
The weather was nice, but I was busy cleaning and prepping for the season change. I did spend some time online researching ways to make extra money. I don't remember how many sites I visited, but I can tell you that every one of them listed re-selling as a viable option. The overwhelming advice is to find an item that is under priced and in good condition and resell it on ebay.com or etsy.com.
As you know I visit garage and tag sales, estate sales and resell stores. One of my best purchases was a patio set for $50.00. I was walking into a Goodwill store and I noticed a worker putting out chairs around a patio table. I asked him how much it was and he looked around, a bit unsure and said $50.00. I asked him for the ticket and as he was writing it up I was pulling out my checkbook. I knew this was a good deal. I did not know how I would get this stuff home as there were 7 pieces to the set. After paying, I went out to move my car closer and was met by the manager who told me the person who set the price was not authorized to set the price and in his inexperience had set the price way, way too low. I told him that I thought that I had gotten a great deal, but in light of the error, what did he have in mind? Did he want to re-price the set (I had already paid by now) and he said no, that it was ok, but to realize what a good deal I had gotten. I told him that I did recognize the deal and was really happy about it, as I had been looking for a patio set for a long time.
It has been two years since I bought this set and I still feel lucky to have gotten the deal. I am also happy because I recognized the good deal and moved immediately to secure it. Because of my experience, I knew to immediately get the ticket for the purchase and to move quickly to pay for it. I did take the time to make sure every piece that was out, was in good condition. I have not sold this set yet even though I know I could make an easy 200-250 for it (above what I paid), but I really like the set and we have a yard to put it.
If I do want to sell my patio set, the best time to do so will be in late spring, early summer.
Also important to remember is that you must take care of the merchandise that you buy that you want to sell. If it gets ruined due to lack of care or neglect, then you have lost your original investment. And if you want to get into the nitty gritty economics of it, then you have also lost your investment of time, wear and tear on your car and interest that your money could be accruing and/or the potential purchases you could have made with the original spending money.
OK happy Tag Poppers. The bottom line is to understand what you are buying, pay attention to the condition and move quickly if you know it is a good deal. If you are going to resell an item, clean up the item and make sure it looks great! Your selling reputation is tied to your sales and you want that to be impeccable and trustworthy. Learn as much as you can about the business in your off time so that you can recognize a good deal when you see it.
Finally, try, try, try not to get emotionally involved in the item otherwise you could end up with a house full of purchases, intended for resell.
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