Garage sales are the closest that many people will get to the retail experience in their own home.
A number of items in the household are determined to be of value—sentimental, monetary, emotional or utilitarian—and then they are selected and sold to others.
The display of items is critical—the better the display, the better a chance of the homeowners actually selling the items —as is good weather and other conditions that are outside of the homeowners’ control.
Customer service is, of course, the primary driver throughout the sales process once items are actually displayed outside the house.
Kids of all kinds, as well as friendly pets, are used to establish a connection with anyone who drives up and says “Hey. What do you have for sale?”
Various websites, such as Ebay, Backpages and Craigslist, have taken over many of the more ineffable marketing and advertising pieces of the garage sale experience, but the sales process itself remains the same as ever.
Mediators and peacemaking professionals would do well to keep the aspects of garage sales in mind as they build their projects:
- Keep it simple with a few high profile items
- Don’t be afraid to let things go (how many unsaleable items do you then drop off at Goodwill or Salvation Army)?
- The sales process from opening to closing relies on being personable, engaged and maintaining a friendly disposition throughout.
Kids and pets sometimes help as well.
Just some things to keep in mind.
-Peace Be With You All-
Jesan Sorrells, MA
Principal Conflict Engagement Consultant
Human Services Consulting and Training (HSCT)
Email HSCT: hsconsultingandtraining@gmail.com
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