Car Boot Sale: 10 Tips for Sellers

On Friday night my friend told me she was doing a car boot sale that Sunday on her own. From past experience I knew that is was a bad idea for your first time (you need eyes in the back of your head!) so I offered to come and help & sell a few of my unwanted wares at the same time. I forgot how much I love selling at car boot sales! You meet some really interesting  people, you can pretend you’re Del Boy for the day (Oh, is that just me?) and you get to see the stuff you no longer love passed on to appreciative buyers. Of course the best bit is coming home at midday with a few pennies in your back pocket (when usually I’d be just getting out of my PJs. Don’t judge me parents & proactive people!).

I learnt a few things on Sunday that I thought I’d share for the car boot sellers this Summer. The main tip is to have fun – it really is a good day out (minus the ridiculous opening times – why?!).

1. Pack the car the night before. I can’t stress this enough – you will be setting your alarm for 4.30am. Enough said.
2. Share a car with a friend/relative and share the pitch cost. It’s usually £10-15 for your space – get there early!
3. Take a float –  lots of 50p pieces, £1 coins and a few fivers. I had a lovely floral pouch that I clipped to my belt for security.
4. Ignore that bacon butty van! Bring flasks of tea/coffee and a packed lunch. You’re there to make pennies not spend them. Oh but check there are toilet facilities…
5. Be weather proof! Try and get hold of some plastic sheets to drape over your wares if it rains and keep yourself warm with a waterproof or warm coat – it’s a long morning.
6. Display! Clothes rails, coat hangers hung from the boot, use the things you are selling to create displays, 50p or £1  ‘Bargain Boxes’ for people to dive into. Be creative!
7. Smile! More people will come to your stall if you’re friendly and approachable. Some of the other sellers scared me.
8. Be flexible. Definitely have a price in mind but be realistic and willing to drop it. Remember, you don’t want it anymore! But if the person who offers you 50p for a beautiful leather vintage bag and is rude about it you have my position to tell them to bugger off. Trust me, you will feel very happy later on when a lovely lady buys that bag off you for £4. Ah car boot karma.
9. Add ons – If you really don’t want to budge on a price why not offer them a free CD or accessory from one of your bargain boxes instead?
10. Have leftovers bits and bobs? The crowds will have diminished at midday so take some time to sort through anything you won’t sell again and pop the rest in bags to take to your local charity shop. If you’re lucky they will be open on a Sunday and your day has been a money earning/space-saving success!

 ♥