Tips for a successful Yard Sale for the Cure

Getting started

• Let your neighbours and friends know and invite them to join your yard sale or host their own

• Recruit helpers and speak to them beforehand about pricing and negotiating

• You can use the blank area on the hydro pole poster to show your fundraising goal

• Download and print more hydro posters from our website to advertise your sale

• Put posters up at major intersections and along your road

• Put up flyers in local stores, Laundromats, community centres, libraries, places of worship

• Advertise by displaying your lawn sign

• Tie the pink balloons to your lawn sign

• Determine the length of your sale

• Decide if you will accept cheques or hold items for people

• Decide if you will allow early birds or entry into your home

• Call your local government for local yard sale regulations (including signage rules, or permit regulations)

• Make arrangements for left-over items to be picked up/delivered to a charity that accepts lightly used goods

• Call for prices and deadlines of advertising in your local paper (make sure to include the date, time, address, directions and items of interest at your sale). Run your ad at least one day before and the day of your sale

Some tips on pricing

• Accumulate the stuff you want to sell as soon as possible

• Sort items into categories (kitchen items, books, clothes, kids)

• Clean and repair items as you go

• Put all of your items in boxes and then organize the boxes by price categories

• Price things at about one third of what they would cost new

• Put prices on everything. Yes, everything

• Always be open to haggling, especially if someone is really interested in an item

• If you have a lot of small items, offer to let people “Fill a bag for $5."

• Decide if you want to include a silent auction, entertainment, yard sale prize or other incentives

May 26th – Yard Sale Day!

• Get organized early – that’s when the big crowds show up

• Make sure items are clearly visible

• Organize items neatly and safely to ensure there are no chances for people to trip, cut, or hurt themselves

• Proudly wear your T-shirt

• Make a pot of coffee

• Make sure that traffic isn’t blocked

• Play background music. This will make your sale feel more relaxing and people may browse longer

• Put one person in charge of the cash-box and never leave it unattended!

• Have lots of coins and small bills handy for change

• Set up a check out area with a cash box, extra bags and tissue or newspaper to wrap breakables

• Set up a kids’ table where your kids can sell their old toys and books

• Have an extension cord/light bulbs/batteries on hand so that people can test out any electrical items and make sure they work

• And don’t forget to have fun!