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Just my opinion, but don’t you need pricetags?

February 23, 2013 by Auntie Kate of Too Good to be Threw

Why don't consignment and resale shops post prices on Facebook?Would you put merchandise on the sales floor without price tags? Then pretend not to hear when potential buyers ask how much something is?

So why would you spend an hour taking photos of things you want to sell, posting them one by one on your business page on Facebook, and then

annoy the bejeesus

out of those followers who actually are intrigued by this enough to type a comment on your photo, by not answering? Think they’ll say, Oh poor thing, she’s so busy. I’ll just go to her about page and find the phone number and call her.? Or perhaps you’re trying to motivate her to change out of her bunny slippers, brush her teeth, bundle up the kids, find the car keys, and make the trip to your shop just to see if the price will fit in her budget? Ain’t gonna happen.

Be aware. Marketing online doesn’t work that way. If a potential customer (or consignor, or donor, or seller) doesn’t have the answer at the click of a mouse, she’s off. Gone somewhere else on the Internet.

And your chance to please her, to be memorable, is lost.

So, just my opinion, but if you want to sell something to someone on her e-devise: Include prices.

And some sparkling prose wouldn’t hurt either. And maybe even your phone number.

 

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk | Tagged , | 11 Comments »

Is it normal burnout or time for a big change?

February 22, 2013 by Auntie Kate of Too Good to be Threw

Are you simply temporarily burnt out in your consignment, resale or thrift shop, or is it time to shake up your career?

(Though #1 cleared out our industry a while back, didn’t it?)

Here’s Marie Forleo on the subject, guiding you to thinking more clearly about it.

Visit the Marie Forleo web site.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk | 3 Comments »

Our behaviour is changing content marketing: here’s how

February 21, 2013 by Auntie Kate of Too Good to be Threw

TGtbT.com helps consignment & resale shops with social mediaFound a great article that will help you make decisions about your marketing for Continue Reading »

Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged , , | 6 Comments »

Deja Vuesday: Don’t fool yourself in your consignment shop

February 19, 2013 by Auntie Kate of Too Good to be Threw

After all, some Auntie Kate messages are, ahem, Too Good to be Threw!

Click the image for more Deja Vuesday posts that are too good to be threw from TGtbT.com

Deja Vuesday

where you can visit a gently-used, recycled, and even restyled blog post in case you missed it the first time. It’s even better the second time around.

Spring is just around the corner… which means mountains of incoming consignments. If you have quantity issues at the beginning of each season, this Deja Vu post is worth reading or rereading, to alert you (and your merchandise evaluators as well!) to “unintended consequences” that might befall your bottom line. Click to see a lesson that surprised even a veteran shopkeeper:

Kate Learns Something New

Posted in Deja Vuesday, Shopkeeping talk | Tagged , , |

A quote for resale shopkeepers

February 18, 2013 by Auntie Kate of Too Good to be Threw

Don't see things the way you WANT them to be

All too often, we make decisions on business policies and procedures based on “the way we are” rather than really, the way things are.

No one shops after 5 pm in my area, so no sense staying open any later. If I allowed returns, people would wear stuff and bring it back. But everyone loves Fluffy, they come in just to pet her!

Now, assuming that because you‘ve not shopped after 5pm in the last few years, what with gymnastics class and getting dinner on the table for the kids, that no one does; basing broad business decisions on the fear of being occasionally taken advantage of; or using a “Love-me-love-my-pets [child, incense, music]” attitude might be excusable for the wannabe shopkeeper who’s daydream-planning a maybe-business with her friends or in her diary.

But to have your consignment, resale, or thrift shop be a success, you really really need to see things the way they are.

Posted in quotations of use, Shopkeeping talk | 3 Comments »

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