Lordie lordie, only 4 weeks to Conference which is the second most valuable investment* you can make in your consignment, resale, or thrift shop.

I thought I’d point you to the first in a series I did for a past Conference:

4 weeks to Conference.

Enjoy!

Every year shopkeepers also ask about the post I wrote about the wording to use on a sign in your shop window, if you have to not have your shop open for a few days. Here it is:

While it’s best, of course, to keep your shop open while you are at Conference, don’t let lack of staff/helpers keep you from attending! Yes, it’s true. I DO recommend that, if there’s no other way, you lock the doors and come to Conference! And here’s what the sign on your door and your after-hours message machine might say:

Sorry we missed you!
We’re attending our industry’s Annual Conference this weekend.
We are always striving to learn how to make
MyShop better for you!
Come visit again starting Tuesday June Whatever
and see what we’ve changed to make
Shopping more fun and more rewarding!
(signature)

Notes on the wording:
Notice there is NO word CLOSED on this sign. Believe me, you use that word, you’ll start rumors that your shop is going out of business.

• The line breaks are important because people scan, they don’t read.
• Ditto the larger, bolder lines…those are the key points you want to get across.
• You can, if your shop has a sense of humor, add a line about a secret word or phrase, to “reward” those inconvenienced by the shop not being open (notice how cleverly I just avoided the word closed).

Something like: We’d like to say thanks for understanding, so the next time you’re in, tell us the secret phrase Kate Holmes is the Guru of Resale and we’ll give you a gift! (For heaven’s sake don’t really use that phrase!)

* First most important investment you can make for your consignment, resale, or thrift shop, is to have as many Products for the Professional Resaler in your business library for reference every day of the year without that pesky plane ride.