How do to a proper sale!

I went to a local church run sale yesterday afternoon held in the barn of friends. What a well run thing. They must have had an army of volunteers as all the goods had been sorted carefully before hand.

The crockery had been washed and sorted. Tea sets (I donated one) had been boxed up together and the number of plates, cups etc written on a ticket at the top of the box.

The other crockery, glasses etc were all washed and gleaming - the linen (tablecloths, pillowcases etc) was washed and pressed.

The books had been neatly put in to boxes according to subject, biography in one crafts in another etc.

There was furniture and it was polished.

In fact nothing had that dusty, just out of the attic look.

Things had been grouped according to type so computer desks and printers/monitors etc were in one corner, old telephones and other electrical goods in another.

Everything had a price ticket on it - not expensive, tea set about £2, computer desk £7.50 and the helpers wandered amongst it all with Can I Help you badges and Pay Me badges on them. They also were armed with sheets of sold stickers so that you could collect something later.

There was a plant stall, plus raffle and a silent auction where they'd extracted out the really decent stuff like some cut glass bowl or a nice standard lamp (which they'd put a bulb in and plugged in)

I was just amazed at the organisation of this annual sale. Having stood behind many a jumble sale stall this was a league up, yet it may not be that the stuff was any better but that someone had taken the trouble to clean it and present it properly.

We got a lovely cut glass jug and one of those chest of drawers that's all baskets in metal, you put in the bottom of the wardrobe, made by Elfa, you know the thing I mean.

I just thought it might be of interest - it really was how to run a proper sale. If I find out how much it made I'll post - I'd think in the hundreds at least.

Lozzie

That was going to be my question - how much did they raise?

This is a great example to try and aspire to, but it also makes me feel that, realistigcally, our efforts on the brand-new school PTA (just formed on Friday afternoon!) will not be THAT good for another 20 years or so.

The key must be loads of willing labour. That, and a merciless dictator at the helm.

I went to a very well organised school fete with the family on Saturday afternoon. The key elements there were:

1) Infrastructure
The school had the "bits and pieces" that made so many of the stalls a success - like a skittle alley, a wheel of fortune and even a crockery shy - already made. They didn't have to hire much in at all.

2) Investment
Money had been found from somewhere to provide little prizes for each of the "contest" stalls, food and refreshments, and to pay nominal donations to the charitable bodies like the Poole Quaysiders Choir who came to exhibit and entertain. Not to mention that every single school-run stall must have had a cash float of at least a tenner.

3) Organisation, and Labour
See above.

We have our work cut out here.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Lozzie wrote:

you'll be fine - you're keen and determined - if you need a hand with anything just yell.

Lozzie wrote:

The key must be loads of willing labour. That, and a merciless dictator at the helm.

dictators don't work, been on a committee like that, it alienates folk and since they're volunteers they just stop volunteering. Good clear organisation, with everyone knowing what they need to do - we have 'job sheets' and at meetings jobs or responsibilities are assigned like food shopping, poster making and importantly some to clear up afterwards.

Lozzie wrote:

I went to a very well organised school fete with the family on Saturday afternoon. The key elements there were:

1) Infrastructure
The school had the "bits and pieces" that made so many of the stalls a success - like a skittle alley, a wheel of fortune and even a crockery shy - already made. They didn't have to hire much in at all.

we don't hire much at all, apart from a bouncy castle and a donation to the scouts for the loan of their tents for the beer tent. Start by asking around if there is something you want, we wanted a soak a bloke frame so got the caretaker to knock one up out of plywood - he got the wood donated from his work - and someone else artistic in the committee painted it. Use what local expertise you can find.

Lozzie wrote:

2) Investment
Money had been found from somewhere to provide little prizes for each of the "contest" stalls, food and refreshments, and to pay nominal donations to the charitable bodies like the Poole Quaysiders Choir who came to exhibit and entertain. Not to mention that every single school-run stall must have had a cash float of at least a tenner.

ok you do need some cash flow for floats etc, but most of our prizes are donated. Either we write to local companies and organisations asking for prizes or we find that sometimes parents will give a box of chocs or bottle of wine

Lozzie wrote:

3) Organisation, and Labour
See above.

it will come, be bold, but most importantly don't be afraid to ask for help or donations from parents or locals

Lozzie wrote:

We have our work cut out here.

yep but it will be fun and you'll manage.

What job title have you got?

Lozzie

Sorry I must have missed this when you originally replied Mrs F! Shocked

I am the dictator - er, Chairman LOL

Very very helpful post - thank you so much - I am cutting and pasting like mad onto a piece of paper that I will take with me to a meeting on the topic this afternoon after school!

((hug))

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Just to let you know, although I don't have a total for this years sale I was talking to the farmer's wife who's barn they use and she said it usually nets approx... wait for it...£4,000!!! Shocked

WOW.. like I said that's the way to do a sale.

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