You take your staff on kayaking trips. You order pizza for meetings. But who cares about the occasional extras if your workers aren't delighted to be in their workspace day-in and day-out? We reviewed the best in office amenities and policies recently covered in Inc. and on Inc.com for the highlights of companies making their offices into places their employees love coming to in the morning.
1. Stay organized.
Whether it's business plans or business cards, conference binders or marketing copy, entrepreneurs have a lot of information to track. But with so many important managerial matters on your plate, it's hard to put a tidy workspace high on your priority list. Who knows that better than the employees who work in a disorganized or cluttered office? Their productivity and motivation can suffer when everyone's not on the same page about where important information, tools, and supplies can be found. Laura Leist, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, which is based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, explains: "When you're talking about organizing your workspace you need to make a decision about what needs to be organized and there's five areas that you can look at." These five areas are paper, general stuff such as office supplies, your space and furniture layout, electronic information, and time management. Read more.
2. Make it comfy.
"Designing a comfortable office environment is about more than aesthetics; careful attention to design can give a boost to employee happiness. In the current economy, the focus is often on leasing office space based on price, with less attention paid to design, layout and amenities. Smart business leaders, however, think beyond the existing layout and furniture options when moving into a new office or refurbishing a space. That fresh coat of paint and new carpet your landlord gave you when you signed the lease is great, but there are other small investments of time and money that can transform your office into a more productive workspace," writes Lois Goodell, principal and the director of interior design at CBT Architects, in an Inc.com guide on creating a productive office environment. In short, making a comfortable environment takes more than a sturdy desk and comfortable chair – it incorporates quality lighting, good ventilation, and a quality heating-and-cooling system. Read more.
3. Give everyone a say.
It's an extreme example, but when Thomas Walter, CEO of Tasty Catering in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, encountered Jim Collins's Good to Great, he asked each of his employees to read it. Inc. editor-at-large Leigh Buchanan writes: "Tasty Catering formed two Good to Great councils, which make all strategic decisions for the company. Each council has eight charter members drawn from across the company—culinary workers, clerical staff, drivers. One council conducts business in English, the other in Spanish, which is the first language for about a third of the work force. At least one of the three owners—Walter and his two brothers—sits in with each group. The councils hold meetings a few days apart, and an outside translator produces copies of the combined minutes in both languages. Each month, two random employees are chosen to join the councils for the month." She quotes Anna Wollin, an account executive who joined one of the councils when they were formed, who says: "It puts us all on an even playing field. I had been with the company less than a year, and my opinion was as important as an owner's opinion." Read more.
4. Consider openness.
It's not right for every team of workers, but the trend today is to support collaboration, in all its forms: mentoring, problem solving, routine communication and information sharing. Goodell writes: "To do so, create more open spaces in the office, from workspaces with low panels that make it easier to communicate to all-day cafés where employees not only eat, but also meet to work." It's also important to consider what happens when someone in a large open office environment needs to concentrate on a big project or lead a conference call. Open spaces only work when employees have access to areas where they can focus on a specific task. One solution is "hoteling," offices that can be reserved or used at will when needed. These offices can be small, but should be highly functional. They should be equipped with good lighting, phone systems and technology necessary to complete critical tasks. Read more.
5. Make the workplace a community.
In this year's Top Small Company Workplaces, Leigh Buchanan interviewed Bill Witherspoon about his open-book management and leadership style at Sky Factory. His employees not only love the clear and open communication structure, but also love helping each other. Witherspoon explains why: "I think of our factory as a community, and service is the core of community. There are two kinds of service. One is: I do this for you, and I expect a return. For example, I provide good customer service, and I expect loyalty. The other kind of service is selfless. I do something for you without thought of a return. I help you spontaneously and without thinking about it. That second kind of service is powerful. When someone has a moment of free time, how wonderful if she automatically thinks, Now, what can I do to help someone else? At the start of our Friday meetings, the leader for that week tells an appreciative story about someone at the company and presents the person with $25. Often, the story involves an unselfish, unsolicited offer of help." Read more.
By now you may have heard that Google today settled a privacy lawsuit filed by a group of Buzz users. What’s sort of odd though is that Google actually emailed all U.S.-based Gmail users (Buzz resides within Gmail) to let them know about the resolution. And, apparently, also to let them know that they’re not getting a dime.
Instead, the $8.5 million settlement money will be placed into an independent fund which Google says will support organizations working on privacy education and policy on the web. The search giant promises to do their part to help better educate users about privacy as well.
Google’s email today starts with: “Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception…” But at the bottom, you can see why they did this — they had to. “This mandatory announcement was sent to all Gmail users in the United States as part of a legal settlement and was authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.”
Consider this a very public apology.
Of course, none of this addresses perhaps the more troubling issue about Buzz: its usefulness, or lack-thereof. Below, find the full email. You can find out more about the suit here.
Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception to let you know that we’ve reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding Google Buzz (http://buzz.google.com), a service we launched within Gmail in February of this year.
Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who were concerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz users and recently reached a settlement in this case.
The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to address users’ concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to an independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate people about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know about privacy online, the better their online experience will be.
Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement on January 31, 2011. This email is a summary of the settlement, and more detailed information and instructions approved by the court, including instructions about how to opt out, object, or comment, are available at http://www.BuzzClassAction.com.
——————————————————————–This mandatory announcement was sent to all Gmail users in the United States as part of a legal settlement and was authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Google Inc. | 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway | Mountain View, CA 94043
Also sort of funny, we’ve gotten quite a few tips about this email obviously, and a number of people are saying it went straight to their Spam folder. I checked mine — sure enough, there it was. Nice filtering, Google.
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
You take your staff on kayaking trips. You order pizza for meetings. But who cares about the occasional extras if your workers aren't delighted to be in their workspace day-in and day-out? We reviewed the best in office amenities and policies recently covered in Inc. and on Inc.com for the highlights of companies making their offices into places their employees love coming to in the morning.
1. Stay organized.
Whether it's business plans or business cards, conference binders or marketing copy, entrepreneurs have a lot of information to track. But with so many important managerial matters on your plate, it's hard to put a tidy workspace high on your priority list. Who knows that better than the employees who work in a disorganized or cluttered office? Their productivity and motivation can suffer when everyone's not on the same page about where important information, tools, and supplies can be found. Laura Leist, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, which is based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, explains: "When you're talking about organizing your workspace you need to make a decision about what needs to be organized and there's five areas that you can look at." These five areas are paper, general stuff such as office supplies, your space and furniture layout, electronic information, and time management. Read more.
2. Make it comfy.
"Designing a comfortable office environment is about more than aesthetics; careful attention to design can give a boost to employee happiness. In the current economy, the focus is often on leasing office space based on price, with less attention paid to design, layout and amenities. Smart business leaders, however, think beyond the existing layout and furniture options when moving into a new office or refurbishing a space. That fresh coat of paint and new carpet your landlord gave you when you signed the lease is great, but there are other small investments of time and money that can transform your office into a more productive workspace," writes Lois Goodell, principal and the director of interior design at CBT Architects, in an Inc.com guide on creating a productive office environment. In short, making a comfortable environment takes more than a sturdy desk and comfortable chair – it incorporates quality lighting, good ventilation, and a quality heating-and-cooling system. Read more.
3. Give everyone a say.
It's an extreme example, but when Thomas Walter, CEO of Tasty Catering in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, encountered Jim Collins's Good to Great, he asked each of his employees to read it. Inc. editor-at-large Leigh Buchanan writes: "Tasty Catering formed two Good to Great councils, which make all strategic decisions for the company. Each council has eight charter members drawn from across the company—culinary workers, clerical staff, drivers. One council conducts business in English, the other in Spanish, which is the first language for about a third of the work force. At least one of the three owners—Walter and his two brothers—sits in with each group. The councils hold meetings a few days apart, and an outside translator produces copies of the combined minutes in both languages. Each month, two random employees are chosen to join the councils for the month." She quotes Anna Wollin, an account executive who joined one of the councils when they were formed, who says: "It puts us all on an even playing field. I had been with the company less than a year, and my opinion was as important as an owner's opinion." Read more.
4. Consider openness.
It's not right for every team of workers, but the trend today is to support collaboration, in all its forms: mentoring, problem solving, routine communication and information sharing. Goodell writes: "To do so, create more open spaces in the office, from workspaces with low panels that make it easier to communicate to all-day cafés where employees not only eat, but also meet to work." It's also important to consider what happens when someone in a large open office environment needs to concentrate on a big project or lead a conference call. Open spaces only work when employees have access to areas where they can focus on a specific task. One solution is "hoteling," offices that can be reserved or used at will when needed. These offices can be small, but should be highly functional. They should be equipped with good lighting, phone systems and technology necessary to complete critical tasks. Read more.
5. Make the workplace a community.
In this year's Top Small Company Workplaces, Leigh Buchanan interviewed Bill Witherspoon about his open-book management and leadership style at Sky Factory. His employees not only love the clear and open communication structure, but also love helping each other. Witherspoon explains why: "I think of our factory as a community, and service is the core of community. There are two kinds of service. One is: I do this for you, and I expect a return. For example, I provide good customer service, and I expect loyalty. The other kind of service is selfless. I do something for you without thought of a return. I help you spontaneously and without thinking about it. That second kind of service is powerful. When someone has a moment of free time, how wonderful if she automatically thinks, Now, what can I do to help someone else? At the start of our Friday meetings, the leader for that week tells an appreciative story about someone at the company and presents the person with $25. Often, the story involves an unselfish, unsolicited offer of help." Read more.
By now you may have heard that Google today settled a privacy lawsuit filed by a group of Buzz users. What’s sort of odd though is that Google actually emailed all U.S.-based Gmail users (Buzz resides within Gmail) to let them know about the resolution. And, apparently, also to let them know that they’re not getting a dime.
Instead, the $8.5 million settlement money will be placed into an independent fund which Google says will support organizations working on privacy education and policy on the web. The search giant promises to do their part to help better educate users about privacy as well.
Google’s email today starts with: “Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception…” But at the bottom, you can see why they did this — they had to. “This mandatory announcement was sent to all Gmail users in the United States as part of a legal settlement and was authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.”
Consider this a very public apology.
Of course, none of this addresses perhaps the more troubling issue about Buzz: its usefulness, or lack-thereof. Below, find the full email. You can find out more about the suit here.
Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception to let you know that we’ve reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding Google Buzz (http://buzz.google.com), a service we launched within Gmail in February of this year.
Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who were concerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz users and recently reached a settlement in this case.
The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to address users’ concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to an independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate people about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know about privacy online, the better their online experience will be.
Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement on January 31, 2011. This email is a summary of the settlement, and more detailed information and instructions approved by the court, including instructions about how to opt out, object, or comment, are available at http://www.BuzzClassAction.com.
——————————————————————–This mandatory announcement was sent to all Gmail users in the United States as part of a legal settlement and was authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Google Inc. | 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway | Mountain View, CA 94043
Also sort of funny, we’ve gotten quite a few tips about this email obviously, and a number of people are saying it went straight to their Spam folder. I checked mine — sure enough, there it was. Nice filtering, Google.
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
eric seiger
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
You take your staff on kayaking trips. You order pizza for meetings. But who cares about the occasional extras if your workers aren't delighted to be in their workspace day-in and day-out? We reviewed the best in office amenities and policies recently covered in Inc. and on Inc.com for the highlights of companies making their offices into places their employees love coming to in the morning.
1. Stay organized.
Whether it's business plans or business cards, conference binders or marketing copy, entrepreneurs have a lot of information to track. But with so many important managerial matters on your plate, it's hard to put a tidy workspace high on your priority list. Who knows that better than the employees who work in a disorganized or cluttered office? Their productivity and motivation can suffer when everyone's not on the same page about where important information, tools, and supplies can be found. Laura Leist, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, which is based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, explains: "When you're talking about organizing your workspace you need to make a decision about what needs to be organized and there's five areas that you can look at." These five areas are paper, general stuff such as office supplies, your space and furniture layout, electronic information, and time management. Read more.
2. Make it comfy.
"Designing a comfortable office environment is about more than aesthetics; careful attention to design can give a boost to employee happiness. In the current economy, the focus is often on leasing office space based on price, with less attention paid to design, layout and amenities. Smart business leaders, however, think beyond the existing layout and furniture options when moving into a new office or refurbishing a space. That fresh coat of paint and new carpet your landlord gave you when you signed the lease is great, but there are other small investments of time and money that can transform your office into a more productive workspace," writes Lois Goodell, principal and the director of interior design at CBT Architects, in an Inc.com guide on creating a productive office environment. In short, making a comfortable environment takes more than a sturdy desk and comfortable chair – it incorporates quality lighting, good ventilation, and a quality heating-and-cooling system. Read more.
3. Give everyone a say.
It's an extreme example, but when Thomas Walter, CEO of Tasty Catering in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, encountered Jim Collins's Good to Great, he asked each of his employees to read it. Inc. editor-at-large Leigh Buchanan writes: "Tasty Catering formed two Good to Great councils, which make all strategic decisions for the company. Each council has eight charter members drawn from across the company—culinary workers, clerical staff, drivers. One council conducts business in English, the other in Spanish, which is the first language for about a third of the work force. At least one of the three owners—Walter and his two brothers—sits in with each group. The councils hold meetings a few days apart, and an outside translator produces copies of the combined minutes in both languages. Each month, two random employees are chosen to join the councils for the month." She quotes Anna Wollin, an account executive who joined one of the councils when they were formed, who says: "It puts us all on an even playing field. I had been with the company less than a year, and my opinion was as important as an owner's opinion." Read more.
4. Consider openness.
It's not right for every team of workers, but the trend today is to support collaboration, in all its forms: mentoring, problem solving, routine communication and information sharing. Goodell writes: "To do so, create more open spaces in the office, from workspaces with low panels that make it easier to communicate to all-day cafés where employees not only eat, but also meet to work." It's also important to consider what happens when someone in a large open office environment needs to concentrate on a big project or lead a conference call. Open spaces only work when employees have access to areas where they can focus on a specific task. One solution is "hoteling," offices that can be reserved or used at will when needed. These offices can be small, but should be highly functional. They should be equipped with good lighting, phone systems and technology necessary to complete critical tasks. Read more.
5. Make the workplace a community.
In this year's Top Small Company Workplaces, Leigh Buchanan interviewed Bill Witherspoon about his open-book management and leadership style at Sky Factory. His employees not only love the clear and open communication structure, but also love helping each other. Witherspoon explains why: "I think of our factory as a community, and service is the core of community. There are two kinds of service. One is: I do this for you, and I expect a return. For example, I provide good customer service, and I expect loyalty. The other kind of service is selfless. I do something for you without thought of a return. I help you spontaneously and without thinking about it. That second kind of service is powerful. When someone has a moment of free time, how wonderful if she automatically thinks, Now, what can I do to help someone else? At the start of our Friday meetings, the leader for that week tells an appreciative story about someone at the company and presents the person with $25. Often, the story involves an unselfish, unsolicited offer of help." Read more.
By now you may have heard that Google today settled a privacy lawsuit filed by a group of Buzz users. What’s sort of odd though is that Google actually emailed all U.S.-based Gmail users (Buzz resides within Gmail) to let them know about the resolution. And, apparently, also to let them know that they’re not getting a dime.
Instead, the $8.5 million settlement money will be placed into an independent fund which Google says will support organizations working on privacy education and policy on the web. The search giant promises to do their part to help better educate users about privacy as well.
Google’s email today starts with: “Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception…” But at the bottom, you can see why they did this — they had to. “This mandatory announcement was sent to all Gmail users in the United States as part of a legal settlement and was authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.”
Consider this a very public apology.
Of course, none of this addresses perhaps the more troubling issue about Buzz: its usefulness, or lack-thereof. Below, find the full email. You can find out more about the suit here.
Google rarely contacts Gmail users via email, but we are making an exception to let you know that we’ve reached a settlement in a lawsuit regarding Google Buzz (http://buzz.google.com), a service we launched within Gmail in February of this year.
Shortly after its launch, we heard from a number of people who were concerned about privacy. In addition, we were sued by a group of Buzz users and recently reached a settlement in this case.
The settlement acknowledges that we quickly changed the service to address users’ concerns. In addition, Google has committed $8.5 million to an independent fund, most of which will support organizations promoting privacy education and policy on the web. We will also do more to educate people about privacy controls specific to Buzz. The more people know about privacy online, the better their online experience will be.
Just to be clear, this is not a settlement in which people who use Gmail can file to receive compensation. Everyone in the U.S. who uses Gmail is included in the settlement, unless you personally decide to opt out before December 6, 2010. The Court will consider final approval of the agreement on January 31, 2011. This email is a summary of the settlement, and more detailed information and instructions approved by the court, including instructions about how to opt out, object, or comment, are available at http://www.BuzzClassAction.com.
——————————————————————–This mandatory announcement was sent to all Gmail users in the United States as part of a legal settlement and was authorized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Google Inc. | 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway | Mountain View, CA 94043
Also sort of funny, we’ve gotten quite a few tips about this email obviously, and a number of people are saying it went straight to their Spam folder. I checked mine — sure enough, there it was. Nice filtering, Google.
eric seiger
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger eric seiger
eric seiger
eric seiger
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
With childhood images of spring dancing in my mind and the recession staring me in the face, I find myself wondering, "What's a girl to do?" I love spring! The flowers resonating with rich, vibrant colors; the birds serenading creation with song; the sun shining brightly; the wind blowing gently on my face and the bright blue sky extending as far as the eye can see. It's dramatically beautiful.
This year, however, spring's glow is clouded by the ever present economic challenges that face us all. So, in the midst of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, I've decided that it's time to make the most out of my annual spring cleaning event. This year, it's time to clean up, clean out, price right and resell. That's right. Garage sales and consignment shops are back in, so why not make the most of it.
There are some tricks of the trade that can help make your "resell" experience the most productive and profitable it can be. Remember, you'd probably find yourself cleaning house anyway, so you might as well bring in some cash in the process.
Here's some helpful tips for spring cleaning and making money. Let's begin by dividing our big event into two categories.
CLEANING UP & OUT
1. Wall to Wall - If you want to eliminate the clutter, one of the best strategies for doing so it to begin at your front door and thoroughly cleaning everything in sight, moving throughout your house inch by inch until you have made your way back to the front door. Look at everything as a potential sale item. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Throw it away if it's broken, throw it in "garage sale bin" if it's re-sellable. By the way, don't skip over the closets or the drawers. This is your chance to clean and organize, and it's probably where you'll find some of your best garage sale items.
F.Y.I.- Make it fun. Open the windows, turn your favorite music on and sing like no one's listening. Ask a friend if she'd like to join in this adventure. Get together and clean your house one week and then go clean her house the next week.
GARAGE SALES 1.0.1.
1. Enlist Neighbors - Community wide garage sales always draw a crowd...a big crowd. So go door to door and begin the process of organizing a neighborhood garage sale.
2. The Price is Right - Always name your price and be sure your price is right. If someone walks up to your garage sale and you don't have a price on anything, they will most likely turn around and go straight to their car...they will not pass "Go" and you will not collect $200 dollars. Your price is paramount to a successful garage sale. Remember, you want to get rid of this stuff and you want to make some money in the process, so be sure the price is right. It's a garage sale and your shoppers are not sentimentally attached to anything you're trying to sell, they're just trying to save a buck. That's why they're at a garage sale and not at a store. So, get out there, go buy some labels and put a realistic price on everything you want to sell.
3. Divide and Conquer - As you're pricing your items, be sure to organize them into logical categories. That means, kitchen gadgets with kitchen gadgets, household decorations with household decorations, toys with toys, and clothes with clothes. If possible, put a pole up and hang all your clothes. People are more apt to look through clothes hanging on a rack than they are piled on a table. Never leave clothes in a box and don't put them on a sheet in your yard. If you have to put them on a table, be sure to label them with the price and size and organize them according to "type"... jeans, skirts, t-shirts, ect... A well organized garage sale is very inviting to "drive-by garage salers."
4. Get the Word Out - Don't forget to advertise in the local paper the week before the big event. Put notices up in various restaurants, grocery stores, convenient stores and churches. Be sure to get permission, but most public places have a community center wall where you can post your notice. Don't underestimate word of mouth. Be sure to tell your family, friends and your coworkers.
Put signs out the night before or very early the morning of your sale. Remember to place your signs in high traffic areas and be sure to give good directions, using arrows for clarity.
5. Doing It Right - If you're involved in a community wide garage sale, you want to get together with your neighbors a couple of nights beforehand. Use this time to help one another. Remember, there may be someone in your neighborhood who isn't physically able to carry their boxes out, so this may just your opportunity to perform a random act of kindness. This would also be a great time to buy from each other. You might have something they need and vice versa. You may even enjoy getting to know your neighbors in the process.
When it's time to drag out the boxes, be sure to give your shoppers room to roam throughout your well laid out and systematically organized garage sale.
6. More Than Stuff - A good way to draw a crowd and make some extra money is to have cookies, cupcakes, lemonade or bottled water for sale. After a long hard day of driving around, getting in and out of the car, people are always ready for a good cold drink of water and something sweet to eat.
Spring is definitely in the air. So, don't let the clouds of a dampened economy get you down. Make the most of it. Get busy doing your spring cleaning and make some money at the same time.
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
Small Business <b>News</b>: It's About The People!
Astoundingly, with the coming of social media and all that it implies for small business, there are still people who don't quite understand yet that it's all.
Google <b>News</b> enhanced for mobiles - Pocket-lint
Google News enhanced for mobiles - Easier navigation for your fat fingers.
Wednesday Morning Fly By: NHL and Phantoms <b>News</b> - Broad Street Hockey
Today's open discussion thread, complete with your daily dose of Philadelphia Flyers news and notes... Remembering Pelle Lindbergh: [Flyers Faithful]; Looking at Peter Laviolette's impact on the Flyers: ...
eric seiger
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