Garage sale: reactivating your old goods as a way to make a profit that creates a positive impact on the environment!

A garage sale is a way to keep circular practices by providing opportunities for those most vulnerable by selling old stuff you no longer want to keep. Thus, you are either showing that the circular economy is both cost-effective and better for the planet. Read more and spread this conscious idea.

Garage sale maximizes the value of goods already in the economy through the circular principles of recycling, repurposing, reusing, and re-commerce.

The garage sale and other similar ways of selling old goods are inspired by mechanisms similar to ecosystems.

That is, in nature, the reabsorption processes are continuous because they make circular movements, unlike the so-called linear economy where there is a beginning and an end.

Hence, the circular economy is a great opportunity that industries have to reduce their "Greenhouse Gas" (GHG) emissions, known as "carbon footprint". It is also the right time to acquire carbon credits, just like Greenco does, among other conscious companies. The linear economy may cause a great deal of damage, like resource scarcity - or even its extinction. Thus, it turns out to be an outdated system.

Typically, a garage sale takes place when one or several families hold sales to recycle household goods, make a small profit, and socialize with neighbors

When it all began

In the 1950s and 1960s, America increased affluence led many consumers to accumulate household goods in excess. So, in the garage sale, the more typically featured are furniture, used clothing, appliances, and other items.

A recurring myth regarding the sale of used pieces

Superstitious people believe that garments once worn by other people retain negative energies. The theory, of course, does not hold because, if so, people who live off donations would always be doomed to bad luck or get sick after wearing clothes that belonged to other people.

If by any chance, this "negative energy transmission" thing was taken seriously, it would be coherent to assume that clothes manufactured by the fast fashion industry would carry a bad energetic charge because not all of them respect Fair Trade rules.

See the other types of thrift shops that are successful around the world.

Flea Market

The first "marché aux puces" took place in the suburbs of Paris, France. They were large open-air markets, full of stalls, selling a variety of good quality used goods. The name was due to the fleas that infested the markets in the old days. The flea markets in the United States also attract famous artists and those who want to get ahead in their careers. It is also a proper place for showing their wearable artworks.

Brechó

Brechó is a Brazilian name coined for any thrift store where you can sell a little bit of everything like "second hand" clothes, handbags, purses, backpacks, and shoes. All of them must be well-preserved. Brechó also deals with vintage and/or retro art pieces as well as with luxury used goods that may be designed by famous brands.

Bazaar

The space to set up a bazaar is usually small. Bazaars are most commonly held at schools, charities, hospitals, churches, philanthropic associations, or service clubs such as Rotary and Lions. The money collected from the sales in the bazaars usually goes to charity. A bazaar can be a trade market as well. In schools, students can exchange each other their old stuff, such as toys, books, school supplies, comic books, clothes, board games, stickers, cards, etc.

After learning about the other meaning of garage sales, how about creating your own business? Getting rid of your old stuff makes the economy circular and helps the environment as well. After all, it is a good business to make some money or help those who need help. So, learn some strategies to make your new business successful.

5 strategies to keep your business on top of sales:

Know your competitors and try to find out what is going right and what is going wrong in their sales.
Advertise your business to friends and invite them not only to buy your items but to make donations.
If your store is physical, find a nice, clean and accessible space. Release a map to get to your store easier and, of course, be there every time the client shows up.
If your store is virtual, be on time with the delivery of the items you buy. Delays can be bad for your store. Make live shows to promote your items and sell them online.
Take courses (online or in-person) about online sales or person-to-person, no matter what kind f business you have (a garage sale or bazaar type). Be aware of current legislation and other important procedures for these kinds of sales.