With the sun shining, birds nesting and the flowers in full bloom, many of us are finding ourselves doing what is known as spring cleaning. We are moving mattresses in order to chase out dust bunnies, brooming away cobwebs and beating the dirt out of throw rugs. Besides the actual process of cleaning, we are also spending time deciding what to do with the no-longer-needed items that clutter up our homes and our lives. Choices of the end-of-life resting places for our unwanted stuff are usually three-fold: charity-run thrift stores, trash bins or the least favorable of all, the setting up and time-consuming torture of a self-imposed garage sale.
Oh, in theory, garage sales are wonderful. We think we’ll make a pile of money when folks line up around the block to hand us dollar after dollar for the privilege of carting away our crap. And, we believe our own propaganda as we convince ourselves that one man’s trash is indeed another man’s treasure.
In fact, trying to run one’s own garage sale is a bit like trying to single-handedly run a one-day retail store with limited or no advertising, selling (or not selling) products that have marginal value, with no assistance in merchandising, pricing or dickering with customers. Also, don’t forget that your location is far less than perfect. If there were just a better way to go about the whole thing, it just might be worth the time.
You want it? You got it.
The folks with the Signal Hill Community Foundation (SHCF) do have a better way of putting on a garage sale. Thanks to their dedication and experience, families, singles or businesses can participate in their group yard sale that is vendor and buyer friendly. SHCF will even do the marketing and advertising.
According to the City of Signal Hill’s Community Services Department, those who want to clean out their garages, attics, storage sheds and closets without sending those valuable items to a landfill can sign up to be a vendor for the annual Signal Hill Community Yard Sale presented by SHCF. Taking place Saturday, May 2 from 8am to noon, the event will be located at the north end of Signal Hill Park, 2175 Cherry Ave. on Jessie Nelson Circle in front of City Hall.
In the past, this larger-than-life event has featured an amazing array of vendors offering various items for sale: antiques, furniture, collectibles, toys, books, clothing and jewelry. I remember some new items being offered, as well.
If you would like to participate by renting a space at the 2015 Community Yard Sale, please stop by the Signal Hill Community Services Department at City Hall to complete a vendor application and to pay fees. Vendor fees include a 10′ x 15′ space to sell your items. Cost is: $40 for residents; $60 for non-residents; and $75 for commercial vendors.
For more information, please call the Community Services Department at (562) 989-7330 or stop by City Hall, 2175 Cherry Ave. Remember to sign up soon because a limited number of spaces is available.
And, for those of you (including me) who would rather be the buyer than the seller, make sure that you show up at the yard sale to join your neighbors to browse and buy unique items, uncover must-have gadgets, purchase one-of-a-kind pieces of artwork and take home some vintage record albums. After all, you just may find some precious valuables to add to your collection. Maybe it is true that one man’s (or woman’s) trash is another person’s treasure.
