Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

Interesting idea in an article I read recently, and one that could be a terrific way to promote a Green Christmas in your consignment or resale shop. The article starts “Why spend hundreds of dollars on new clothing when fun and fashionable threads are available for a fraction of the cost? Combat consumerism and imagine a more Earth-friendly wardrobe at this second-hand fashion show.”

It’s not so much the fashion show idea that intrigues me as it is the idea of gathering various types of local groups:

• conservation associations
• civic groups
• other resale or consignment shops
• and of course the antique dealers,
• the re-invented jewelry crafter and the vintage Christmas vendor,
• a local history museum showing holiday traditions of the past in your area
• a fellow citizen simply showing off her display of vintage Santas or the men’s club’s railroad display
• the Friends of the Library secondhand book sale featuring “gift” books
• demonstrations of clever recyclable gift wrap ideas
• a booth where kids can make their own holiday cards
• and more

in one place with a holiday-celebration theme to promote the secondhand idea. While the media reports fears of Christmas being a bust, and while consumers are rightfully feeling that nothing is worth getting in more debt over, pushing your business as “I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas” is a natural! It’s eco-centric (which people are proud to admit they want to be), it’s budget-friendly (which everyone wants to be but they don’t want the neighbors to think they “need” to save money), and it has a hummable theme song. And think of the ad heads, the press release angles, the blog entries: Save Your Green being Green this Christmas / Give your Credit Cards the Holidays Off / Santa Hates Landfills… why, I could go on and on!

It may be too late in the year to pull a special venue and advertising together for something like this, but these ideas are infinitely adaptable to just your retail location, too.

The one thing you don’t want to emphasize in any of your holiday promotions is saving money at Christmas. That very phrase strikes fear into the hearts of your potential audience. They don’t want to be perceived as “cheap” by their family, friends, and that nibby-nose down the block, nor do they want to have to admit to themselves that they’re in a financial bind.

A Green Christmas lets them enjoy gift-selecting and giving, while the idea of saving money takes a way-back seat in Santa’s sleigh.