People will pass right by a sale that looks sloppy and unappealing. You’ve worked so hard to get everything ready and the word out there, so it would be a shame for all that effort to be wasted on a sale that nobody wants to spend time at. Make sure the location is clean to begin with: the grass is mowed, any trash or debris is disposed of, and any tripping hazards, such as large rocks, are eliminated. Dogs should be put in a place where they won’t bark at everyone who approaches. You can draw attention to your sale by placing signs (and/or balloons) at the end of your driveway or on your mailbox to let shoppers know they’ve got the right house, especially if your sale is going to be held in the back yard or in the garage where the merchandise may not be as readily visible.
Your tables should be clean and well-organized; expect to spend a good portion of time tidying up and re-folding after customers who aren’t careful when they examine things. It’s important to make sure that your things don’t look “picked-over.” You don’t see massive jumbles of merchandise carelessly piled on the tables at retail stores, do you? Make sure that items of clothing are neatly folded and stacked, or hung, and that the titles of books, CDs, and videos are visible.
Ambience can make a lot of difference. A little extra effort can go a long way. Smile and warmly greet each person. Try to provide some soft background noise, such as a radio; that way people can talk freely amongst themselves without feeling like they have to whisper. If it’s a hot day, consider having a pitcher of ice water and some disposable cups on hand (don’t forget to have a trash can nearby) … or make even more extra money by selling store-brand sodas or lemonade. Have plenty of bags on hand – grocery store bags are fine – so that your customers can easily carry their purchases (they may even be inclined to buy more if they know they won’t have to schlep it back to the car by the armload).