National Garage Sale Day 2015

You’ve almost finished sifting through those long-abandoned knickknacks — er, treasures — in the basement, right? Are the signs all ready to go? How about the price tags?

Surely, you haven’t forgotten that National Garage Sale Day is this Saturday.

Yep, on Aug. 8th — National Garage Sale Day is always the second Saturday in August — we celebrate the coming together of those with belongings they no longer want and those with a want for belongings they don’t have.

Make no mistake: Garage sales are big business — even if the average selling price of goods at such events is a mere 85 cents.

Take 85 cents here and 85 cents there, and, pretty soon, you have $4,222,375. That’s the total revenue that U.S. garage sales generate each week, according to the website StatisticBrain.com.

Make sure you pay attention these important tips:

Cash: Keep a bunch of coins and small denomination bills handy. You never want to lose a sale simply because you cannot break a $5 bill.

Advertise: Ads should be placed in local newspapers and on websites five or six days before the sale. Neighborhood signs should be eye-catching, simple and, above all, readable. Use words like, "HUGE SALE" with an arrow.

Scheduling: Schedule your garage sale to coincide with a local event that’s likely to generate extra traffic near your home.

Item Placement: Place the items with the broadest appeal close to the street to grab attention and lure potential buyers up the driveway.

Clothing: Sort clothing into categories — by gender, season and age group, for example — and display those items, if possible, on hangers.

Mirrors: Keep a mirror handy if you’re selling accessories.

Power Up: Place fresh batteries in items that require them and keep a power source handy so shoppers can try out electronics and other plug-in appliances.

Refreshments: Sell cookies, bottles of water or lemonade at your sale to keep people refreshed so they stay longer.

Finally, don’t forget what follows National Garage Sale Day by just six days: National Thrift Shop Day.

What is the best bargain you ever got at a garage sale?