The gang here at Ozarks Garage Sales have done a lot of shoppin' around. We've seen good sales, and we've seen some not so good sales. Here are some tips that we think will make YOUR sale a lot more successful.

• Advertise your sale. Don't limit limit yourself to one advertising medium. The best combination of advertising is the newspaper combined with the internet. The newspaper will tell people that you are having a sale, the internet will give interested customers a detailed description of your sale for the lowest advertising dollar. Always advertise at least one week in advance of your sale.
  
• Plan your sale. Give yourself enough time to set up, clean and price items for sale. The extra time you spend on organizing a sale will pay off. If you are displaying items out of doors, be prepared to cover items with a weatherproof tarp. If you are displaying items in a garage, shed or basement, be sure to cover items that are not for sale. This will keep the focus on the sale and discourage children from playing in the display area (out of sight out of mind)!
  
• Mark your sale. Post signs from major thoroughfares leading to your sale.Post signs at every corner (when possible) directing traffic to your sale. Make your signs large enough so that they can be read from 100 yards. Post your signs high enough on structures so that they don't obscure a drivers line of vision. Never place your sign in front of a stop sign or traffic signal.
  
• Display your sale items. Try to group your items according to value. Place the lowest priced items so they are seen first. Items in great or perfect condition should be placed by themselves or next to items of similar condition. Placing high quality items next to lesser items will confuse customers and lessen the items value.
  
• Price your items. People come to garage sales looking for bargains, If you want to collect more than 75% of the retail value of an item, don't expect to sell it at a garage sale. Like new items (factory sealed) or perfect items less than one year old, won't yield more than 70% of their retail value.
  
• Tag your sale items. Use tape or adhesive dots to clearly display the price of an item. Put your initials on the tag to keep items separate when more than one person is selling items at a sale. Make a list of all the items you bring to sale, that way you will always know what to take home if something doesn't sell.
  
  
  
  

Thank you for using the Ozarks Garage Sale!