Two Days Left Till Sale!

Jo and I are getting on our radio voices for an interview with WMOM this morning. We are nervous, but excited!

I never imagined when I met Jo in birthing class that we'd be sitting in a radio station together adverstising a sale that she and Laura and I conceived and organized. Wow!

Only two more days, and then LET THE SHOPPING BEGIN!

Miss Ludington is Miss Busy (and we forgive her!)

I have some sad news to share...Miss Ludington has been terribly busy with all of her commitments, including school and community work, and she is double-booked for the weekend of the Mom 2 Mom Sale. While we are disappointed that she cannot join us, we BUSY moms can empathize and wish her the best!

We apologize to anyone out there who looked forward to visiting with her at the sale. However, we bet that you'll see her soon if you keep your eyes open at future community events!

Tips for Shoppers

Here is a list of tips for shoppers that has been copied and modified from http://www.mom2momlist.com/.

Get to the sale EARLY! Some people will stand out in line for 2-3 hours before a sale even opens just so they can be the first ones in.

Have a dollar ready at the entrance for each person in your party over 12 years.

Strollers are allowed at this sale. However, these types of sales can be really crowded. If you can go without your children, it'll be much easier on you. If you must bring your children, bring a friend to help, if possible.

Bring a large tote-bag to carry your purchases. Many table-renters won't have bags, and even if they do, it'll usually only be a standard-size plastic grocery bag. Those don't hold too much.

Make a mental note of how the tables are arranged in the vendor area. That way you easily go back to a tabel if you're not sure about an item when you first see it. On the other hand, you might want to get an item as soon as you are interested; someone else might purchase it right after you move along to another table!

Make sure you clean out the trunk of your car beforehand. Our sale will have a large-ticket-item room or section. You might find anything from carseats to cribs or beds in this area, and these items can take up a lot of space in your vehicle.

Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Do not overdress - it can get surprisingly warm while being packed like sardines with so many other moms.

Keep your money accessible but safe. Either a deep front pocket on your pants, or a hip-bag is a good idea. You won't want to have to stop and open your purse, and dig out your wallet, every time you want to make a purchase. You'll want to get in, buy, and get out.

Bring a partner - either friend or family. Tell each other what you are looking for, and how much you're willing to spend. You can help each other find the great deals!

If you find something that you really want, but you feel the mom is asking for more than it's worth, make an offer! Most of the time, moms do not want to bring any of their "for-sale" items back home with them, and would rather take a reasonable offer than not sell it at all. And when you are buying multiple items from the same person, they are sometimes very willing to give you a "package price". The worst that can happen is she can say no. Be polite - not pushy - when you are haggling!

Check items very carefully before making an offer and/or purchasing. Make sure that buttons aren't missing, and zippers work. Check all over for rips and stains. Sometimes the most adorable outfits can have irreparable damage. And the best toys can be missing vital pieces.

If you are not looking for big ticket items, you can sometimes get better deals later in the day. Often, sellers will reduce their entire tables by 50% in the last hour. At least, almost everyone is more willing to bargain with you late in the day so that they don't have to take their stuff home!

Make a list of what you are looking for before you go to the sale. This will help you stay alert for the items you want most.

Don't forget to bring a few extra dollars to stock up on baked items for your family. Dollars you spend at the bake sale will go directly to the hospital!

Have fun, and remember that you are helping your family AND your community by attending the sale!

Whoopee!!!

Today is the official cut-off for sending in a contract to rent a table, and guess what? We are full, full, FULL!!! All twenty tables are spoken for, and we couldn't be happier!

Just a couple of weeks ago, we mommies were sweating the tables. This mommy in particular was laying awake at night with all of the "what-ifs," the biggest one being the renting of all the tables. But here we are in full swing! We have multiple volunteers coming from the hospital and greater community to help, loads of items being baked, mommies sorting like mad, and even the nametags are already printed off for the day of the sale!

We are very excited to be helping another organization in the community too. The West Shore Pregnancy Care Center has agreed to take our remaining items after the sale is over. It's like our own little Ludington episode of "Clean House!"

Remember, Readers...You are visiting a Mom 2 Mom Sale blog today, rather than a website. This means that you are free to leave comments, suggestions, questions--whatever (as long as it's nice; you all remember what your mothers said when you were growing up, don't you?!) Anyhow, whether you are a soon-to-be Mom 2 Mom shopper or vendor, feel free to drop us a line on the blog. We'd love to hear from you!

Twenty-two days till the sale! The count-down has begun...

Only Two Tables Left!

Happiest Mommies and Friends are sooooooo excited about the interest we have drawn, along with MMC Volunteers, in the Mom 2 Mom Sale. The deadline for renting a table is near (the 31st), and we only have two tables left to rent. Are you interested? Just print a copy of the contract from this site or call 843-6082 to get more details. We would love to have your participation!

If you are thinking of shopping at this sale, you are in for a real treat! Join us August 22nd for a fabulous community event!

Sell! Sell! Sell!

We are still in need of some vendors (sellers), and you may have just the right "stuff" to participate! Above is our vendor flier. (Click on the image to enlarge it.) This outlines what we are looking for. Go ahead--print and fill out a contract and then send it in! Dollars to come...

Tips for Sellers

Laura and I just returned from a West Michigan Moms' Sale in Grand Rapids.  We gathered information (and toys and clothes!) while there and compiled a list of "dos" for sellers.  Here are the helpful hints that we generated, along with some tips from a site called Mom 2 Mom List:

• Bring a vinyl or plastic table cloth to cover your table.  This looks more professional and gives a tidy appearance.
• Bring LOTS of small bills and coins.
• Consider where you'll keep your money.  We saw vendors stashing money in fanny packs, plastic wipes containers, and even apron pockets (we really liked this last option because it gave the vendor a put-together appearance).
• Place shoes in ziplock bags labeled with size and price on the outside, or use twine or yarn to tie pairs of shoes together.
• Have lots of small items like hats or socks that you don't want to price separately?  Bag several similar or similar-sized items in a ziplock bag and write a short description and price on the outside.
• Will you be transporting your items in bins?  Use them as "shelves" to display things on under your table!
• Make sure your items are CLEAN, STAIN-FREE, and ODOR-FREE.  The newer the item looks, the more likely it will sell.
• Electronic items should have batteries in them. This will allow your customers to find out what those items do, and it will assure them that they are working.  You will probably also get a higher price for a toy that is ready to go with working batteries.
• Label your items with sex and size.  Computer-generated signs look best.  You can simply tape them to the front of your table.  (You could also use colorful balloons to share items' information and draw your customers' eyes to your booth.)  Be creative!  Be organized!
• Greet your customers warmly as they approach your table.  If you see someone searching like s/he is on a mission, be helpful and ask what s/he is looking for.
• Come prepared! Bring enough shopping bags to share with your customers.
• Make sure that you get to the sale allowing plenty of time to set up your table(s) in an organized manner.
• You will be offered a lower price at one time or another. It is up to you if you want to bargain. You do not have to take anything less than you want. But remember you are reselling used items and will not get retail price for them.
• Make sure if you have items under the table that they are accessible and easy to see. 
• If there is a problem (zipper needs replacing) you should make sure that is known. It is the responsibility of the buyer to check it out, but if you are up front and let them know, they will know that your table is a reputable one.
• Label items containing multiple parts with extra information for your customers.  If you know that a puzzle has all its pieces, label it as such!  Be up front about a toy, for example, that should have a piece for every letter of the alphabet.  If all 26 alphabet parts are there, say so on your label.  If the item is missing a couple of pieces, say that too. No information will probably cause an otherwise interested customer to sail right on by. Why should s/he spend time investigating pieces when time is of the essence?
• If you have a rack, make sure that it is secure so it won’t fall over if the items are pushed from one end of it to the other by buyers.  At one sale, a lady put a few socks full of sand over the bottom of the rack to make it more stable.
• Make sure that your two & three-piece items are connected together by safety pins or a single run-thru with needle and thread tied off will do the trick.
• It is a good idea to have a helper at your table.  One of you will then be there during the sellers' pre-sale time in the morning.  You want to make sure that someone is at your table at all times. Also, during the day you may need to take a quick break and it isn’t the organizers' responsibility to watch your table.  And, if you get busy, it’s nice to have extra hands helping.
• If you are not willing to barter, post a sign that all prices are firm.  On the other hand, if you are willing to barter, you may want to put a sign saying, "No reasonable offers refused."  Many people won’t even consider going down in price for the first hour or two. It’s all up to you.  After all, it’s your table.
• If you are sharing a table with someone else, make sure that you have different tags to collect as you make the sale to assure both parties get their rightful monies.

Table Rental Contract--Click on & Print Three Pages

Do you normally do a garage sale to get rid of your baby and kid stuff?

Or maybe you want to get rid of your baby and kid excess but the thought of hosting your own sale is overwhelming.

In either case, let us do the "grunt work" for you! We'll do the advertising, post the signs, and bring in the crowd, and you do the organizing and tagging of your materials.

The best part of being a vendor (seller) at the Mom 2 Mom Sale? You'll pocket back-to-school cash AND help build the Women's Imaging Center at the same time!

As women, we're all going to need mammograms at some point. Imagine having this private image taken in a warm, comfortable atmosphere with the knowledge that YOU helped make your experience better!

YEAH!!! We Have a Site!

Happiest Mommies and Friends has secured a site for our sale on Saturday, August 22, 2009: The Community Church at 109 North Harrison Street in downtown Ludington.  Flyers are being created, the vendor contract is being polished, and we plan to go to "press" with our information early next week.  In the meantime, here is a peak at our new logo, designed by one of our very own Mommies, Jo!

Still Tryin'!

Laura and I are still working on a space for the sale.  We have letters in to the Knights of Columbus, the United Methodist Church, and St. John's Church.  No response yet!!!  We have a few other ideas as well, and--most importantly--we remain positive.

The good news is that we have many people rallying for us.  According to good friend and new hospital volunteer, Leslie, the other volunteers are ecstatic about the sale idea and cannot wait to work that day.  

Another friend just emailed me asking if she could enter her daughter's baby and maternity clothes.  She wants the proceeds to go directly toward the hospital!  I had a related thought previously...And now I am considering it seriously...Why not advertise and have a booth housing donations like this woman's?  How cool would that be?  More money for the imaging center! Yeah!!!

I hope that next time I post I'll have a final place selected.  Can't wait!

Back to Square One

Someone once said something along the lines of, "Nothing worth doing is ever easy." This sale illustrates that quote well.

Laura and I have spent many hours on a roller coaster ride of ups and downs in respect to the location of our sale. Just when we thought we had it in the bag--enough so that we passed out fliers at M.O.P.S.--we were informed that the cost of holding the sale at the elementary school was going to be far more than we had been initially told. So we found ourselves back to square one.

After much scurrying today, we fortunately have about four more options. Each has some major pros and cons. In the end, we want to find a location that benefits the vendors and the hospital the most. In fact, I shared this sentiment as I drafted letters today asking various organizations to allow Happiest Mommies and Friends to use their facilities:

Our Mom 2 Mom Sale will help area moms clean out their closets and make extra money during a window that is traditionally tight for most families--back to school. Our event will also provide an opportunity for families shopping at the sale to purchase necessary items like clothing, shoes, and baby gear for their children at a reduced rate. HMF feels that there is a great need for this type of sale in the midst of our country’s current economic climate.

In addition, the sale will benefit Memorial Medical Center’s Women’s Imaging Center. HMF wants to help build an important part of the hospital that our moms, grandmas, daughters, friends, and even we will eventually use. We are currently working directly with the Memorial Medical Center Foundation to plan the Mom 2 Mom Sale and will give proceeds from admission and table rentals to the Women’s Imaging Center. Hospital volunteers and representatives from the Pink Christmas committee will participate by holding a bake sale and by selling breast cancer awareness items. Their proceeds will also go directly toward the Women’s Imaging Center.

So stay tuned! We will hopefully have a final location soon.

Welcome!

Coming soon...More details about Ludington's first Mom 2 Mom sale!