I couldn’t help but notice that
Every. Single. Store.
in the mall, yesterday, had big bright signage of 40-80% off most everything in their stores. Couldn’t help but notice, either, that smart shoppers are getting immune to this mindless message.
So what might you do in your consignment, resale, or thrift store to stimulate sales?
How's about a free gift?
Studies show that a gift-with-purchase is more enticing, seems more valuable to the recipient, creates word-of-mouth and serves, when used, as a reminder of the generosity of the business that gave it.
Often, as well, the promotion is kinder to a shop’s net profits.
Here’s an example of a free-with-purchase gift from a HowToConsign.com Sponsor Shop.
Click to find omt!’s live link on the Resale Shop Directory on HowToConsign.com
I couldn’t help but notice that the busiest store in the mall was Victoria’s Secret, which did NOT have those blaring %-off signs. Instead, their foyer sign holder held a photo of an ideal customer caressing a store-branded makeup pouch, “free with purchase of 2 bras.”
Have you tried something like this? How was it received by your shoppers? Love to get your take on this in the comments.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Great idea!! My 1-year anniversary is coming up and I was trying to think of little things to make the day/week special. Thanks! I think I will do a ‘Free Gift w/Purchase’ as well as a more ‘expensive’ free gift w/purchase over $__.
Happy Anniversary, Kristy!
We buy little animal print coin zip purses from Oriental Trading-very cheap-put a coupon inside and note w “you can save alot of coin by shopping Savvy”-along that theme. Shops are Savvy Fox Consignment Shops.
Colleen, thanks for sharing this lead… bet your customers GO WILD when they shop!
What is VLD and how do I find it. Sounds like a very good idea, I know my customers would love it.
The website for the change purses is http://www.youngsinc.com The phone # is 1-800-323-7799. Judy [Note from Kate: I corrected a typo in the URL.]
We bought the furry change purses from VLD ($1) last year and it was such a hit. I am planning another this year. It was a free gift with any purchase. It works!
Furry! How FUN and Maurice Sendak-Y! Do tell.. what’s the URL?
I will try to remember to post the URL tomorrow when I get to work!
We love and use this idea! Last holiday season I came across a great deal on brand new sterling CZ stud earrings. We have them away with any purchase, it was a big hit! Some people used them for themselves, others have away as gifts. This year we are giving away pearl studs.
Excellent, Jasmine! Always stay on the outlook for “deals” like these, and always push the “you could give them as a gift” aspect as the holidays approach as you so wisely mention. Those $1 hand-woven sunhats I came across in my garage sale adventure this last weekend? ( if you don’t follow me, here’s the Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/2Good2BThrew/posts/660164607349270 ) Would have been a terrific “gift with purchase” for my Sarasota shopkeeper friend, since we live where straw hats are a year-round necessity. She could have strung them up on her porch (visible from the weekend-brunch restaurant) to draw in shoppers because they were large and colorful!
Never thought of this. Would the gift have to be new, as the little coin purses appear to be?
Well, it doesn’t have to be new, but you need to have enough gift items to warrant the advertising of your promotion. I, since I was 90% womenswear, always used earrings as the incentive: “Free earrings with purchase”… and they were welcome to choose any earrings on the racks on the counter. These racks held er priced from $4 to $10; the more valuable er were in the showcase (if only for the duration of the event), so those weren’t included. I owned all the jwlry in the shop, so consignment split wasn’t an issue, and ladies really did choose the er they liked, “original price” didn’t enter into their choice.