Okay, let’s dispel the myth that resale shops have to just suffer through the holiday buying season because, after all, “no one buys used stuff for Christmas.”
After all, you have plenty of NWT items for sale (do folks who aren’t yet fans of your shop KNOW that?) and there are all sorts of things folks need for the holidays themselves (have you REMINDED them that everything from a LBD to a stunning serving platter can be had for budget-sparing price at your shop?) and that your shop’s a haven from the commercial, flimsy, mass-produced big-box junk (TELL and SHOW them your shop’s a treasure trove of the unique, local, and hard-to-find)? See what HowToConsign.com is telling YOUR potential customers about a Merry Thrifty Christmas and a Heedful Holiday.
This excerpt from Holidays in Resale just might get you fired up to help your customers have a wonderful, eco (-logical and -nomical) celebration…and have one yourself as well!
The key to holiday selling is to remind your shoppers, and the potential shoppers in your marketplace, that you have great gifts and holiday supplies that are unique, individualistic, and affordable. Gussy up what you have in-shop, and develop reasons and ideas for your shoppers to buy your items.
Don’t let your merchandise be hidden by holiday decorations. Instead, use things that are for sale as your decor. Red sweater, green sweater. Pile pine cones in the serving bowls. Tie big velvet bows on every crib and stroller.
Add touches that evoke the Yuletide spirit to your merchandise. Fill those for-sale crystal bowls with sparkly balls and tuck evergreen boughs behind paintings. Tie a red muffler around the neck of a green coat. Make quick bows with wired plaid ribbon and pin them on necklines, lapels, waistbands.
Do everything possible to sell holiday-themed goods as early as possible. Face-out displays, swing-shop features, window displays and so on. What’s worth $50 on November 22 is worth ZERO on December 22. Move it!
Order your own PDQ copy of Holidays in Resale today.
How do you show both current and prospective customers that a Merry Thrifty Christmas is not only possible…but preferable?
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
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Hey Kate, get ideas. Great way to educate folks is to remind them on Facebook and Twitter posts. “Why pay retail, and get the same ole thing”. “Unique gifts for everyone on your list”.
We have been planting seeds since September. And are seeing the benefits now. We also don’t move holiday items to the front of the shop, we start at the back and move them forward. Sprinkling them throughout our displays. It seems to be a great way to get customers to “look” thru the entire shop.
We are starting our Christmas windows this week. Show be a hoot, we love the items that are electric and battery operated. The movement draws attention to the window.
We put a 2.5 inch “Christmas Green” cirlce on each hanger that has a NWT item on it. At the front of the store we have a sign that says, “Gift Ideas” and a green circle glued on the sign that explains what it designates. On the sign we also remind customers that we sell gift certificates.
We made the green circles with a round 2.5 inch paper punch purchase at 40% off from Michael’s craft store. We used a regular paper hole punch to put a small hole in the edge of the circle so it would slip over the hangers.
The circles also prompt people to ask, “What do the green circles mean?” and we then get to tell them about the NWT items, gift ideas, and gift certififcates.
Wonderful idea, Dwight…it reinforces your signage, and as you say, engages the shopper! And of course, the green (=ecological) circle (=recycling) is a subtle (or not so subtle!) reminder….