Plan your trip now. From August first through the fourth, people all over the United States will flock to the 37th annual 127 Yard Sale.
Literally the longest yard sale ever, the route spans six states — Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama — and covers a distance of nearly 700 miles.
The sale, started in 1987 as a way to encourage travelers to bypass interstate highways in favor of scenic routes happens the first Thursday – Sunday every August. In 2001, August 10 was even crowned Garage Sale Day.
It’s estimated Americans host 6.5 to 9 million garage or yard sales every year — or at least, that was the estimate in 1997. While we could find no more recent numbers, given the popularity of thrifting, vintage goods, and continued growth of flea markets, it’s likely much higher these days.
An American Tradition
Just as the United States was starting out, someone hit upon the idea of selling damaged or abandoned freight at a discount in order to recoup lost costs. These were originally termed “romage” sales, from the French word, arrumage — the cargo stowed on ships. Think of it as 16th-century Storage Wars. Pretty quickly, that morphed into rummage. By the 1970s, yard sales were in vogue.
Originally intended to clear out excess stuff or pass on goods that a family could no longer use — say a set of Dr. Seuss books, now that the kids are in middle school — has now become a lucrative side hustle for many Americans. Some folks even invest in warehouse surpluses and buy excess goods in pallets to sell in their yards, garages or at swap meets and flea markets.
Selling furniture out of the garage is a billion-dollar industry. The market size totaled $2.78 billion last year, according to Arizton’s Exclusive Focus Research Report.
Secondhand furniture has become a status symbol, shifting consumer interest towards sustainable, affordable purchases. Strait Research’s 2030 market projections for preowned furniture are $58.58 billion, creating tons of potential for a lucrative side hustle selling out of the garage.
Clearing out Space for Profitable Side Hustles
Homeownership gives many the space to start their own businesses in the garage. It served billionaires like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and others. Okay, technically, those were their parent’s garages, but don’t overlook the possibilities of this often underused area of the home.
Working with furniture in any capacity requires storage space. More than 75% of homeowners say their garage could become the most productive space in their house, according to a newly released Craftsman survey. More than one in four non-billionaire homeowners surveyed say their garage helped start a side hustle.
“Garages are no longer a place just to store cars and tools; instead, they have become a hub of productivity, creativity, and even a source of income for some homeowners,” says Eric Bernstein, president and general manager of Craftsman at Stanley Black & Decker.
Decluttering and better organization give people the best chance to start selling out of their homes. Sort and store items by use. Invest in good wall and ceiling storage to create more usable space.
Sell or recycle items you can no longer use. Use the space to make some extra seed cash for that passionate side hustle with a yard sale.
Restoring Is Big Business
You don’t have to earn money to get joy from DIY projects. However, if woodworking or furniture restoration is your jam, it could be beneficial to your bottom line. You don’t even have to have the sale in an actual garage.
Many secondhand and thrifting apps allow sellers to create virtual storefronts. Vintage resale goods like furniture, homemade artisanal goods, and restored or upcycled pieces are some of the many options.
Eighty-five percent of consumers thrift to save money. Independent sellers of furniture and other preowned items set their own prices relative to several factors.
Inexperienced furniture flippers sell cheaper pieces. Long-term furniture flippers offer high-end pieces at variable prices. Working with a small business owner leaves room for potential negotiation.
Yard sales reduce waste and provide a new ‘home’ for unwanted items, creating not only positive cash flow but a more sustainable, affordable win-win for buyers, sellers, and the environment.
The Marketside
Anyone interested in starting a yard sale side hustle must consider several details. A few simple signs on street corners in the neighborhood are good enough for one-off events. Repeat garage sales with similar items, like flipped furniture, need more lead time.
Event promotion and communication are essential for appealing to newcomers and the local thrifting community. Use reliable channels like Facebook Marketplace and other secondhand sites to advertise sales events. Price items according to similar sellers and stores in local areas.
Don’t shy away from offering discounts, bundling items, or providing refreshments.
You can even take things a step further and use your knowledge to offer group courses on furniture flipping. Restoration takes specific skills that many desire to learn. The more homeowners invest in their garage sales and local connections, the better the chances of higher profit.
Of course, not everyone needs the extra cash — and that’s okay. Maybe you just want a well-organized and functional garage. Seventy-eight percent of homeowners said the same.