As I mentioned in a previous article, I decided to have a rummage sale. I have a great deal of inventory left over from my shops, e-bay selling and stuff I’ve collected over the years. I’ve spent 10 days dragging stuff out, sorting, pricing and displaying in two rooms. Plus, I still have a garage and storage room separate from my house stacked up with boxes.
I have lots of linens, new and vintage, stacks of dishes, about 1,000 books, artworks, new and vintage clothes, toys and a variety of stuff. I priced it reasonably, way below what it costs or is worth because I could use the money and I need the space.
I decided to run the sale for three days and spent nearly $100 for an ad, signs, pricing labels, and a lady to help me, among other things.
Here’s what I sold the first day: two vintage thimbles and a pair of Madame Alexander doll shoes for $1 each. Can you imagine how much room that created for me only clearing out two thimbles and a pair of doll shoes?
Now two days into the sale, I have managed to sell $130 worth of stuff with one more day to go. I have barely covered my expenses and have certainly not cleared out enough to realize any extra room. I sold two books.
But it has been quite interesting. I’ve had a number of people “just looking.” I thought I should advertise the sale as a museum and charge an admission fee. Most of the people who came were older retired couples. I know when they walk in the door they don’t need anything, they have everything—dishes, clothes, books, pictures, etc. They are just out for entertainment.
Then I had several dealers who own shops, antique and flea market booths, and sell on e-bay. They all told me they were not selling much of anything and were hanging on by a thread. They all indicated that what they had previously been doing provided a living and were now into the law of diminishing returns and couldn’t buy because they were not selling.
A few younger people still with salary jobs bought the few items I did sell. Now, if the younger working crowd did not spend all their money on Halloween tonight, I might sell something tomorrow. However, this “Main Street” economy the politicians speak about I have discovered personally in two days, is doom and gloom.
I suspect in a few weeks when unemployment checks run out, we will be out of a recession into a full-blown depression. So I’ll just donate some stuff and re-pack and store the rest again. I did have one offer of $200 on a Picasso picture I priced at $450, but did not accept the offer.
Nevertheless, I have met a number of lovely people and advertised my blog site, none of which made me any money or more room. However, I medicated my feelings by reminding myself there are other rewards in life, try one more day, then move on from there.
I have had a first-hand lesson and insight as to what is actually happening to our economy in this country. I feel empathetic towards those entrepreneurs saddled with business rent and expenses to pay, because they are obviously in a bind.
It’s going to be interesting in a few days to find out whose going to be in the seat of power to “redistribute the wealth.”
Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those others that have been tried.”
What do you think about the current conditions in this great country? Send me your comments.
Let Freedom Ring!
JUST ME,
AC
