Posted in economics of resale, Not-for-Profit Resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged resale shopkeeping, web on November 24, 2013|
Here’s a little something to mull over for the New Year:
Create and CONTROL your shop’s web site on your own.You know how it goes. That web site some dude designed for you a while back is now out of date, or (more…)
Posted in Not-for-Profit Resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged profit, resale shopkeeping, success, Thrift on October 17, 2013| 2 Comments »
Years ago, I was honored to be shown around a non-profit thrift store which really had it all together.What impressed me the most? The work room where the fix-it guys, the woodworkers, the craftspeople had the tools and the space to
There are all sorts of folks who’d like to give a few hours, or more, to your NFP… but who have no interest or no ability to staff your sales floor, your incoming door, or your cash registers.
Maybe they live too far away, have trouble standing, lack transportation or just plain would rather work with their hands, or on their own, or only have non-retail hours that they are available.
Announcing a new, special Pinterest board that’s joined our Pinterest Page:
It’s designed for nonprofit thrift stores: Mostly, ideas volunteers may enjoy to turn charitable donations to your NFP thrift shop into exciting and salable goods PLUS whatever else Kate Holmes, The Resale Guru, and HowToConsign.com find that will amuse, inspire, and enrich your store’s fundraising! Follow this board on TGtbT.com’s Pinterest!
Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Not-for-Profit Resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged consignors, resale shopkeeping, Thrift, web on August 29, 2013|
Telling someone to do something, without giving a reason why, only works for toddlers. And not very well at that.
So if you want your shoppers, your donors, your sellers or your consignors to DO SOMETHING, anything, for goodness’ sake, take a few moments to
Sure, they should think of you. But remind them why it’s so important. Keep a list of reasons to donate to your nonprofit, or sell to your buy-outright, or consign with your consignment shop, and use them in rotation. Bonus: watching your stats, you might even figure out which message means the most to your audience, and which means more traffic through your shop.
For example, just adding on a few words to the above message would “paint a picture” that would remain top-of-mind in your FB fans’ minds when they’re thinking of donating. Now, the NFP that posted this status update was a consultee of mine, so I know a little about what good donations to their stores do. So I’d suggest a few more words along the lines of:
Posted in Not-for-Profit Resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged accessories, resale shopkeeping on August 20, 2013| 4 Comments »
Once again, Kate’s out and about, looking for ideas to help consignment, resale and thrift shopkeepers make their merchandise absolutely irresistible! Today, we’re talking lamps.
Yum! A mini-chandelier lights up an array of previously-adored home decor items. Notice, too, the small table in front of the armoire, the two trays on top of the table, and all the for-sale goodies within.
Another ajar armoire (say that 3 times fast!), this time with a small table lamp, a mirror, and more. Makes each piece look SO much more interesting and desirable. Now that’s using all your space!
Who says a lamp can’t sit on the floor, making these vintage linens look wonderful? Kinda like a window display without needing a window, isn’t it?
If you’d find more ideas on making your shop a jewel box of treasures, click each photo for a glimpse of some of our Products for the Professional Resaler.
Posted in Not-for-Profit Resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged Thrift on July 31, 2013| 4 Comments »
If you manage, direct, work or simply volunteer in a non-profit donations-only thrift shop, chances are you have some challenges consignment or buy-outright shops don’t have. The biggest one could be
We’ve collected up over 100 ideas on how to Increase the Value of Your Donations in a Pinterest Board here. A sample of ideas I’ve gathered to monetize what might otherwise be 25- or 50-cent items :
You know all those utensils you get donated? Get a volunteer to make a horizontal board with spaced, cute tin cans in which to show them. Voila! An item you’d be lucky to get a quarter for, is now worthy of 3x the price! Presentation counts!
Buttons are often in good supply at thrifts… and if you have some volunteers who enjoy crafts, this could be a “holiday boutique” best-seller in your non-profit.
Another crafty-volunteer idea for your premium gift area in your shop.
Odds and ends plus some good glue and an eye for centered yields this great stand. Make some to display your jewelry and some to sell! See my version of this. Click the pic for her tutorial.
Frames are another big donation item that could be hard to sell… unless you add twine, a staple gun, and a clothes-pinned example or two. Now they’re chic! Click for exhaustive instructions.
If we’ve whet your appetite (or those of your crafty volunteers!) see all the ideas I found for you on our Pinterest Board.
Too Good to be Threw is the flagship site of the TGtbT Family of Sites for the Professional Resalers
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 