WITH car boot sale season in full swing, it's the perfect time to de-clutter the house and turn unwanted clothes, gifts and knick-knacks into extra cash.
After all, they say one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, which means savvy bargain hunters could be on the lookout for the hidden
gems that have been gathering dust in your cupboard.
A car boot sale can be as simple as turning up and setting up, but knowing some simple tips and tricks can help you maximise profits and ensure that your 5am weekend alarm is actually worth it.
Speaking to Fabulous Digital, Antony Charman, antiques expert and founder of Vintage Cash Cow, has shared everything you need to know for a successful car boot sale…
Start with a house declutter
The car boot pro notes that signing up for a car boot sale is a great way to motivate yourself to clear out all of your household clutter and free up some much-needed space.
“If you’re struggling to know where to start, grab a notebook and make a list of the rooms that need de-cluttering,” he advises.
READ MORE ON TIPS AND TRICKS
Mum’s 3 tricks that make flights with kids easier & don’t annoy other passengers
People discover Amazon Fire Sticks have hidden free trick that upgrades sound
“Then, break it down even further – which specific areas need sorting out?
“For example, in the bedroom this might be the drawers underneath the bed, your dressing table drawers and your wardrobe.”
FABULOUS FIVER: SPEND £5 AND GET A £25 WELCOME BONUS
“Grab some boxes, label them with ‘sell’, ‘donate’ or ‘recycle/throw away’ and start sorting.
"Tick off each room/area as you go to keep organised.”
Most read in Fabulous
We work on Oxford Street – it used to be glam, now people carry machetes
How mum-of-22 Sue Radford has been cruelly mum-shamed & her epic comebacks
Mum-of-22 Sue Radford reveals major setback whilst on 18th holiday in 20 months
Stop trying to rescue a project and consider restarting
Anthony goes on to say that whilst de-cluttering, keep car boot best-sellers in mind that'll help you to attract a steady flow of customers to your stall.
“These typically include clothes, shoes, jewellery, accessories, unused cosmetics, children’s toys, baby products, ornaments, books, CDS & DVDs, games and consoles," he explains.
Scout out the car boot first
The car boot whizz says that after choosing which car boot to go to, it's worth popping there as a buyer, before setting up your own stall.
“This will help you get a feel for what sort of items are selling, where the busiest stalls are and how sellers are pricing their items,” he says.
Anthony advises even chatting with the regular sellers to see if you can pick up some location-specific tips.
Know your item’s worth
The antiques expert goes on to note that if you suspect any of your items could be worth a decent sum of money, consider doing some research before you go.
Keep car boot best-sellers in mind…these typically include clothes, shoes, jewellery, accessories, unused cosmetics, children’s toys, baby products, ornaments, books, CDS & DVDs, games and consoles
“Car boot sales are full of professional resellers who’ll be able to spot valuable items,” he explains.
“If they can see that you’re unaware of your item’s actual value, they’re likely to try to haggle you down, grab themselves a bargain and re-sell it at a profit.
“This is particularly true for silver and gold jewellery, watches, limited edition toys and games, dolls, comic books, rare coins and stamps, collectables, historical items, ornaments, china and glassware."
Anthony warns that in some cases, it could be a better idea to sell them online, where they’re likely to fetch you a better sum of money.
Get there as early as you can
Everyone knows car boot sales start at the crack of dawn, so the antiques expert recommends maximising your chances of selling by getting there as early as possible.
“Pitches typically come on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning there are often long queues of cars waiting to get in and grab the best spaces," he explains.
“Getting there late could mean being left with a space on the outskirts, with fewer passers-by and fewer chances to sell."
He adds: "Plus, having to set up your stall whilst surrounded by punters will only leave you feeling flustered.
“Early in the morning is often the most profitable time for selling, as this is when serious, regular buyers will do their rounds.”
Plan your pricing strategy
While you don’t necessarily need to price up every single item individually, Anthony says having a vague idea of what you’re aiming for can be helpful.
If not, he warns you could end up feeling flustered and accepting a lowball offer for something you know is worth more.
"At the same time, be realistic with your prices – you don’t want to go home with a car full of clutter,” he says.
“You can typically expect to receive 10–15% of an item’s original value."
He goes on to say that if in doubt, think about how much you’d realistically be willing to pay for it if you were on the buyer’s side.
“Remember that regular car-boot-sale-goers will be ready to haggle," he adds.
“Always start with a slightly higher price than you’re actually expecting, as this will give them room to wiggle you down.
“For example, if you’re hoping to receive £2.50 for an item, you could start at £4.”
Take some change
Anthony explains that car boot sales are one of the few remaining places that rely solely on cash sales.
“This means that newbies often end up missing out on sales because they don’t have enough spare change to give back from a £10 or £20 note,” he explains.
Be realistic with your prices…you can typically expect to receive 10–15% of an item’s original value
For that reason, Anthony suggests heading to your bank and asking for £25 or so to be turned into change.
“As you begin making sales, your supply of coins should grow," he continues.
"Rather than having all of your loose change in a container on your stall, use a small cross-body bag to ensure it remains safe and secure.”
Prioritise presentation
Anthony explains the more eye-catching and organised your stall is, the bigger the crowd you’ll attract.
“Not many people are willing to rummage around miscellaneous items for hours," he says.
“Try to organise your stall by item type.
“For example, you might have a table or rail of clothes organised into size or colour, a box that contains all your books and some tarp on the floor to lay out children’s toys.
“You could even use signs to label each category."
The car boot whizz also advises washing or wiping everything before you head to the car boot sale.
“Although buyers won’t be expecting everything to be in pristine condition, you’re unlikely to sell items that are covered in dust, or clothes that are clearly unwashed or stained," he points out.
Have a plan for whatever’s left
Anthony says that you’re likely to have at least a few unsold bits and pieces at the end of the car boot sale.
But instead of letting them clutter up your house again, Anthony suggests: “Pack them back up into organised boxes and, if they’re unlikely to make you much money elsewhere, drop them off at a charity shop or recycling centre on your way home.”
Read More on The Sun
People are just realising why Snickers has its bizarre name
My face ballooned & I was hospitalised after I got eyelash extensions
He goes on to say that for items that may hold some resale value, consider listing them on online auction sites.
“Vinted, Depop and eBay are great places to sell clothes, whilst jewellery, watches, sunglasses, toys, coins, cameras and clocks can be sent to Vintage Cash Cow for free, who’ll value and buy your items
from you," he adds.
Source: Read Full Article
