If you have never held a tent sale for your business, you should consider doing so. There are many benefits to holding a tent sale, including the elimination of excess back stock and inventory. To organize a tent sale, there are a few steps to take first.
Step 1: Rent a Large Tent
To keep all of your merchandise dry and make it obvious that you are holding a tent sale, you need a very large tent. Visit a tent rentals business (such as Classic Party Rentals of Virginia) and secure your tent or tents at least two weeks in advance, especially if you hold a tent sale in late spring or summer when many weddings and graduation parties are held outdoors. Once you have your tent set up, you can move on to the next step.
Step 2: Promote the Tent Sale Heavily
Customers associate tent sales with deep-pocket discounts. If they know your business is holding a tent sale that will last at least a week, they will want to stop by and see what good deals they can get on the products you sell. You do have to promote it heavily enough that it reaches thousands of customers in your area, and not just the locals in the city.
Step 3: Set up the Tent and Move All of Your Clearance Merchandise into the Tent
While you were busy renting a large tent, hopefully you rented several folding tables as well. Customers like to have the merchandise up high enough that they can browse and examine things the same way they would if they were in the store looking at goods on the shelves. Move as much excess stuff into the tent and onto the tables as you and your employees can. This will clear out and clean out your stock room, giving you more room for newer products to make their way in.
Step 4: Have an Employee on Duty in the Tent at All Times
Tent sales are only risky business when the tent and the merchandise is left unattended. Leave a walkie-talkie with your employee such that he or she can ask a question or make a request for a meal break or bathroom break. He or she cannot leave the tent until you or another employee takes his or her place. Having someone in the tent consistently helps thwart thievery and shrinkage, the loss of monetary gain via theft.
A Word on Your Table and Tent Rentals
Most rental places will request proof of payment upfront, but then will not charge you until their items are returned in case their items are damaged or lost. You might want a person to work third shift, overnight, to protect not only your merchandise outdoors, but also to protect the tents and/or tables you rented. Making sure everything is safe and in good condition will make your tent sale a big success.
Share22 December 2014
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