Transform your ordinary garage sale into a memorable seasonal event by incorporating holiday themes. This creative approach not only attracts more shoppers but also allows you to tap into the holiday shopping spirit. Here's your complete guide to planning and executing successful holiday-themed sales throughout the year.
Planning Your Holiday Sale Calendar
- Pre-Christmas (November-December)
- Halloween (September-October)
- Easter (March-April)
- Fourth of July (June-July)
- Back-to-School (August)
- Valentine's Day (January-February)
- Mother's/Father's Day (Spring)
- Thanksgiving (October-November)
While these are your typical major holidays also think about what may be relevant for your area. If you live near a college or university, you could do a "Dorm Decor Sale". If you are in a rural area, you could focus on the hunting seasons and host a "Hunter's Extravaganza". While no one seems to want to part with their camo, you could make a pretty penny on long sleeve shirts, jeans, lunch boxes, and anything that could work well at a hunting camp (old dishes and cups, silverware, folding or plastic chairs, etc.)
Holiday Decorations
- Theme-appropriate displays
Make a fun spectacle of your sale! It draws in people and helps make your event stand out from others in your area. If you are doin a "Dorm Decor Sale" you can decorate the colors of the school around your event.
- Holiday music
Streaming music platforms already have holiday music playlists created for you. Connect your device to a bluetooth speaker and create a fun atmosphere for your guests to shop to. Check out Amazon Music Unlimited for a variety of playlists.
- Festive signage
Make sure you signage reflects your holiday theme. Again, it helps your event stand out from other sales in your area. You can get the kids involved in creating the signs and putting them up in key areas of your neighborhood. Explore our best practices for successfully promoting your sale.
Creating Atmosphere
- Seasonal refreshments
While we don't recommend selling refreshments at your event (that requires different paperwork/permits), you can offer shoppers hot cider, bottles of water, hot chocolate with marshmallows, etc. for your festive event. Make sure you have a trash bin handy for people throw away their disposable cups.
- Holiday scents
Olfactory senses help build the atmosphere you want shoppers to be in. For Valentine's Day, that scent may be flowers. Make sure the smell is pleasant and not overbearing. Too much can drive shoppers away.
- Festive wrapping station
You can add another layer of making money by offering wrapping services at your sale. Again, this is something great for older kids to help out with. Have themed wrapping paper as well as an option for birthdays, baby showers, and/or weddings. If shoppers are buying a gift for someone else they may jump at the chance to get it wrapped right then and save themselves the time from having to do it later.
- Photo opportunities
Create a photo spot for people to take pictures and videos. If you are doing a Halloween themed sale, you can create a fun, spooky backdrop for people to celebrate the season. Additionally, you can also consider this photo opportunity as a way to get people to come to your event. If you decide to host a Christmas themed sale, get a friend to dress up as Santa and promote that Santa will be there to take pictures with shoppers.
- Craft station
Another way to generate money and/or get neighbors to come to your event is to setup a craft station that is based on your event's theme. For Fourth of July, you can create patriotic hats made out of paper plates with kids. Whether you charge for the station or not is up to you, but getting more people in your yard will make passersby take notice of a crowded yard sale. And a crowd gives the perception that your sale has good stuff!