Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

That Challenge to all Consignment and Resale Shops? It was a good idea in July. It’s an even better one in November.

For those of you who are taking advantage of the recent intense media interest in our resale / consignment / thrift store industry, how many of those 6 ideas I suggested you develop way back last summer are you using every week to broaden your market share? And which do you plan to use for the upcoming holiday season? (Resale Christmas ideas from Kate Holmes.)

Six ways. Just 6 ways to get that 90% of shoppers to at least come in and SEE your shop and its offerings sometime between now and the end of the holiday shopping season. Here’s a few ideas to get you started, easiest (least expense, work, and creativity) first:

1. Free gift wrap. Even if it costs you. WHY? Because it furthers the idea that yes, they can buy gifts in a secondhand shop.
2. Even better, “eco-friendly” gift wrap: I personally would do kraft handled bags, adding a healthy length of plaid ribbon (which the recipient can recycle into a hair bow or decoration) tying a pine cone and maybe a jingle bell (I love jingle bells).
3. While I’m at it, I’d offer a free gift before Dec. 1 of the TGtbT-created free-to-you Advent Chain Kit.
4. My swing shop will be full of “boxed” (open, gaily-decorated, filled-with-fresh-tissue) NWT items, unique craft items, and so on. All season. Changing at LEAST every 2-3 days, using different decor scheme to maintain on-going interest and so regulars notice the for-sale goods are different each visit.
5. My display windows would be simple, elegant, and eco-friendly (see point #6) as well as so outstanding that they’re worth a press release.
6. “Have yourself a Merry Thrifty Christmas” would be my free give-away brochure with notable tips and lots of “courtesy of MyShop” plugs throughout the text. I’d reproduce it as well as a PDF on my site and travel throughout the web telling viewers about it. Sure, lots of tips like this exist, but heck, might as well dip my shop’s toe in as well.

Of course, none of the ideas you or I will come up with will “work” (that is, draw more traffic and drive purchases) without your letting the public KNOW. On your site, blog, bag-stuffers, phone message, email and snail mail mailings, press releases… toot your horn.

Share your ideas by adding a comment, below, if you’d like.