ORGANIZE YOUR YARD SALE DISPLAY

We visited a few yard sales this week and we just could not turn off the organizer within us. We kept noticing that some folks did not make the best use of their space. Maybe they just wanted a little fresh air and sunshine and selling the unwanted items didn’t matter much. That is the impression they projected with the jumble of items that littered their lawns.

We are serious about yard sales we organize for ourselves and for our clients. We want to make money, maintain safety, use our time well and have fun, so we have a few guiding principles that we abide by when it comes to space utilization and display.

Provide prices for everything. It is not necessary to put a price on every item if you are willing to accept a single price for a category. Examples are:
Men’s T-shirts $2.00
Paperback books $0.25
For items priced by category, keep a list next to the cashier space.
If time is running short or you have a bunch of miscellany that defies description, allow customers to fill a bag you provide for a set price that is posted on the bin of items

Be clear about what is included in the price. Keep multi-piece sets together with pins, rubber bands or plastic zip bags. Make special note on price tag about features or pieces missing.

Maintain safety. Allow adequate space between display sites for two people to walk side-by-side. This allows for two-way traffic, parents with children, and handicap access.

Make sure that sharp objects do not protrude into walk space and that heavy objects are not precariously balanced on shelves. Also remove any broken pieces or loose small pieces from open access and put in plastic bags and tape to the item if they are part of the sale. Do not place green tarps on green grass. Some shoppers may have difficulty seeing where the boundary is and stumble over the items on the tarp. Make sure display tables and other devices are sturdy and able to support the weight of items displayed on them.

Put like things together. Some categories to consider are toys, children’s clothing, tools, small appliances, exercise equipment, jewelry, home decor. Books are a tricky item and some advice columns say they do not sell well. That has not been our experience. Think about putting some of your books with categories that are directed to customer segments: children’s books with toys, how-to books with tools, recipe books with kitchen items. It just might tempt your customers to peruse the book stacks for others that might interest them. Put things next to each other that appeal to market segments: toys next to children’s clothing, garden equipment next to tools, jewelry next to women’s clothing.

Capture passers-by with visible merchandise. Set tempting items close to the curb. If possible, include items that will draw in various population segments. A piece of furniture, a toy, a fertilizer spreader and a piece of exercise equipment will attract very different buyers and more buyers equal more sales.

Have fun. Yard sales are a way to rid yourself of unwanted items, meet new people and make a little cash. While doing that you get to enjoy fresh air and sunshine and your choice of refreshing beverage. We call that a good day!

Beverly & Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.net

Organizing Jewelry

Watches and earrings, pins and necklaces pose some of the hardest organizing challenges. They are different shapes and sizes, come in different colors and each have their own personality and style. That is why it is important to the fashionable woman and man (yes, even guys enjoy a little bling) to find just the right piece to accessorize the outfit. Unfortunately, for many of us, that means digging through piles of mismatched earrings and jumbled timepieces.

There are lovely jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires and specialty cases for watches and earrings. Places like Bed Bath and Beyond and Homestoragewarehouse.com have various sized jewelry trays that will fit most needs.

There are also some ways to use inexpensive household items to help get a grip on the gems glommed together in your dresser drawer.

A long piece of ribbon can be used to hold pins and post earrings. Another alternative is to cover a bulletin board with a mesh fabric. This will also hold hook earrings. Egg crates and ice cube trays make good containers for small items and allow them to be displayed for easy access.
Stacking clear bead containers from craft stores and nuts and bolt caddies from hardware stores also work well for this purpose.

One of our all-time favorite ways for storing jewelry is to use peg board. The hooks easily hold necklaces and bracelets and there are many pegboard accessory boxes that are ideal for holding other pieces of jewelry.

If you enjoy wearing bangle bracelets try a clear bagel holder for stacking. The multicolored bracelets make a decorative accent on you dressing table. Watches need careful handling. If you do not have a watch caddy or tray, cover a Pringles box with batting and a swatch of material to hold your collection.

If you are overwhelmed by the task of organizing your jewelry and other items, consider consulting with a professional organizer to help you gain control of your clutter and make your life easier.

Beverly and Kristen
www.KeyTransitions.com