30 Aug 2016

5 tips for holding a great garage sale

Second Hand Saturday is the biggest coordinated garage sale day on the NSW north coast. It’s on again this year on Saturday 24 September across Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed council areas. Here are our 5 top tips for holding the best garage sale in town.

Display your goods: presentation, presentation!

It’s important to make sure your goods shine on the day so you get the best chance of a sale. Organise your items and make sure they look good. Some things might need a quick wash or wipe. The better your second hand goods look the more chance they have of being chosen for purchase.

Display your items in a way that is easy for people to see and make sure there’s room for people to move around and browse. Think about using tables, clothes racks or bargain boxes to display your items and remember to group similar things together.

It’s a good idea to place larger items in the driveway. This will grab people’s attention and encourage them to stop and visit your garage sale.

Set the price

Everyone loves finding a bargain at a garage sale, so set your prices with this in mind and be willing to negotiate. You may be able to charge a higher price for items that are near new or for antiques and collectables.

Make sure the price is displayed clearly for each item or group of items. You can place stickers or price tags on each item or use signs to show the price for a group of items. 

If you are flexible around price and are keen to clear out your goods by the end of the day you could encourage people to ‘make an offer’ instead of set prices.


Manage your money 

Make sure you have plenty of change ready for your garage sale. It’s always better to have more than not enough so you don’t run out and miss out on a sale. Take note of the total amount of cash at the start of the day so you can tally up your profit at the end of the day. 

Think about how and where you want to keep your money so it’s secure and easy for you to access. A money belt or bag is a good idea as it allows you to move around during the day or, for bigger garage sales, you could have someone manning a ‘counter’ with a money box. Keep a calculator and pen and paper close by for quick calculations.

Make it fun 

Second Hand Saturday is all about taking part in the fun of reuse and recycling. Make it fun for both you and your shoppers in your own creative way. Why not put on your favourite music or decorate your driveway or garage? 

A great vibe mean shoppers will be keen to visit your garage sale and will spend more time looking at your goods before moving onto the next garage sale. Think retro, vintage or why not showcase your own ecofriendly style to spread the reuse and recycling message!


Promote your garage sale

If you register online as part of Second Hand Saturday your garage sale will be promoted for free! Your garage sale address will be advertised in local free newspapers and on the Second Hand Saturday website in the week leading up to the big day on Saturday 23 September. There will also be a leftovers garage sale day on Saturday 30 September. 

It’s free to register to hold a garage sale and be part of the fun. Register online now! Then remember to pick up your free Second Hand Saturday garage sale sign from your local Council office. 

If you are selling something extra special or interesting let us know by email or post it on the Second Hand Saturday Facebook page so we can spread the word.



8 Aug 2016

Sign up for Second Hand Saturday


Second Hand Saturday is the biggest coordinated garage sale day on the NSW north coast. It’s on again this year on Saturday 23 September. Come join in the fun and hold your own garage sale to reuse and recycle your pre-loved treasures. We choose to reuse – it’s how we roll.

Biggest garage sale day on the north coast


Second Hand Saturday is the NSW north coast’s biggest garage sale day. With over 1000 garage sales at last year’s event, 2017 will be bigger and better than ever.

From bicycles, to potted plants, to musical instruments, to weird and wonderful collector’s objects, there will be thousands of second hand goods just ready and waiting to be discovered by bargain hunters.

It’s all about joining the fun in your local community and helping to reuse and recycle.

I’m keen to hold a garage sale. What’s the deal?


Second Hand Saturday will be held on Saturday 23 September in the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local council areas. A ‘leftovers’ garage sale day will also be held on Saturday 30 September.

It’s free to register to hold a garage sale. Both individuals and organisations are welcome. Just register online and we will promote your garage sale for free in local newspapers and online. It’s as simple as that!


Choose to reuse


With millions of tonnes of waste being sent to landfill by Australian households each year, the humble garage sale is an easy way to reduce landfill and do your bit for the environment. With the spring cleaning season nearly upon us, why not hold a garage sale to reuse and recycle your pre-loved goods?

Raise some money


A garage sale is a great idea for a fundraiser. You could hold a giant garage sale to raise money to buy new equipment for your local club or perhaps you’d like to raise funds for a charity close to your heart? With free promotion across the north coast it’s the perfect chance to spread the word about your cause and raise some money. 

Clean up and de-clutter


Are you sick of tripping over all the ‘stuff’ lying around the house or yard? A garage sale is the best excuse to have a big spring clean and de-clutter the house. Whether you’re a garage sale expert or have never held one before, this is the day for you! It’s also a fun and active way to teach the kids about reuse and recycling. 

Meet the neighbours


We’ve had all sorts of garage sales as part of Second Hand Saturday. Why not get together with your neighbours and hold a street garage sale with a BBQ at the end of the day to celebrate? You could even hold a ‘free’ garage sale, ‘pay what you think it’s worth’ or ‘swap sale’. It’s up to your imagination!

So what are you waiting for?


It’s free to register to hold a garage sale and be part of the fun. Register online now!

Whether you’re planning to hold a garage sale or want to know where to find the best bargains as a shopper, you can keep up to date by following us on Facebook.

What’s your best tip for holding a garage sale?


We’d love to hear your tips for organising a garage sale. Maybe you’ve got an idea about the best way to display goods or how to manage money on the day? Leave us a comment below.