Oops. Is Easter sneaking up on you?

Holidays have a way of sneaking up on all of us, but especially consignment, resale, and thrift shopkeepers. If you find yourself behind the eight-egg

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Deja Vuesday: “Here’s what’s happening this holiday season”

Deja Vuesday where you can visit a gently-used, recycled, and even restyled blog post in case you missed it the first time. It’s even better the second time around. Without further ado, for Deja Vuesday today may I present a post that is even MORE important in this season when you’re fighting for your share [...]

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There go the diamonds, down the drain.

Have you ever thrown away a precious gift? Say, like the diamonds your great-aunt gave you? Or a question like this on your Facebook page?

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Have you got a one-track mind?

Have you got a one-track mind? Of course you don’t. Of course you think of

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Afraid of blogs? Here’s a little tip.

I firmly believe in the value of blogs to get your customers, and those you wish were your customers, involved in your shop. I think I’ve

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Social Media for Resale

NARTS recently asked me: “What social media do you use?” It’s the first in a series of questions they are posing to the workshop presenters for Conference 2011, to introduce the speakers to association members. That’s an easy question to answer. But the bigger question I’d like to ponder is: How do you, as a [...]

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Capturing those Out-of-Towners

It’s Spring Break time in my part of the world, and visitors with money to spend and time to shop are flooding in. Maybe your area doesn’t get Spring Break action, but it probably does get an influx of out-of-towners some time during the year. A local festival, leaf-peeping, seasonal activities? The best thing about [...]

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Do they know you? Making Best Business Buddies.

Market influencers, those people who are seen as experts, can be your best business buddies. Do these influential people recommend your consignment or resale shop? If not, why not? Maybe they simply don’t

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Gimme some more FACE….

If your consignment, resale or thrift shop relies on Facebook for much of your outreach marketing to established customers, suppliers, donors or volunteers, it’s worth your time to learn to use Facebook to the max. Bookmark this entry because there’s lots here that can

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Use your Facebook Photo Album to build business, recognition, WOM about your consignment, resale, thrift shop.

Do you use your FB photo albums to their fullest? I’m betting that you could use some fresh ideas here. Now is the perfect time to put

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My consignment anniversary giveaway: In honor of Martha Stewart

This post is part of Auntie Kate’s 35th anniversary of being a consignment shopkeeper, author, maven, and fan. Here’s the intro to our anniversary giveaway, and if you haven’t already posted a comment to win Monday’s prize, you can do so here. Every entrepreneur dreams of gaining the public attention an appearance on Oprah or [...]

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You don’t occupy a lot of their brain

Rule #1 of Advertising, Marketing and Promotion: They aren’t paying attention. Your potential audience for everything from a TV commercial to a tweet is not concentrating on what you’re saying. You’re lucky if

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Neutron bomb has fallen.

It seems like the neutron bomb has fallen on many consignment, resale, thrift shops…leaving everything intact except for people. Least, that’s how it looks when I see shop photos many times. Lonesome. Unoccupied. Empty. Deserted. Cheerless. Forlorn. Desolate. Where’s the subliminal “community acceptance” message? The in-your-face “boy this is a popular shop they must have [...]

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1 Week ’til NARTS Consignment / Resale / Thrift Conference

Just one week until NARTS Conference and consignment, resale, and thrift shop owners and managers are excited! For those attending it’s gonna be an exciting and profitable trip. And to those who can’t make it, we’ll take notes, we promise! Here’s what to do right now. ♥ Make sure you have

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Stuff for consignment and resale shopkeepers to do over the weekend.

* Check out the “Blogs for Consignment & Resale Shopkeepers” I posted a while back. Add the ones you love by adding a comment to this entry. * Learn how NOT to play store (a 4-part series.) Tell us about when you finally felt like a real grown-up proprietor by clicking on comment. * Listen [...]

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