Check this link out from treehugger.com
Not only will it help cut down on clutter but also build community relationships.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/neverown-anythingagain-thingloop.html?campaign=th_weekly_nl
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Yard Work
With the weather warming up my thoughts are turning to the outdoors after being cooped up in the house all winter. So with that in mind, why not consider having a yard sale? It’s a great way to get rid of unwanted items and maybe make a little extra cash at the same time.
Already NJ towns, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, have announced the dates of their town-wide yard sales (May 15 and May 22 respectively). Check out www.highlandsnj.com and www.ahnj.com for more information.
How about banding together with neighbours and making it a block-wide event? The proceeds could benefit neighbourhood improvements, a local charity or a social cause. Two years ago, some residents from Needham, MA donated the proceeds from their town-wide sale to their new playing fields fund.
Yard sale prep takes time. The better organized and more attractive your sale is the higher customer interest will be. Go through all your storage areas, closets, garages, etc. Really look at each item closely – if it’s in good condition and you don’t need it, then put it in the sale pile. If you wouldn’t use it in its current condition, then probably no one else will either, so recycle or toss broken or worn out items. Group similar sale items to make set-up easier on the big day.
Set-up the area like a store, grouping house wares in one spot, clothing and accessories in another, etc. Make sure the items are clearly and securely priced and displayed neatly. Any miscellaneous items that you feel won’t bring in cash but someone might like, put in the “FREE BASKET.” You will be happy to see how much of it goes.
A friend and I had a sale at her house in the Hamptons a few years ago and we received such positive feedback from our clientele. They appreciated how we positioned merchandise to move as well as created a user-friendly experience.
Don’t forget about signage – it is something many sellers take for granted. I know I get discouraged when I am following signs and then they disappear leaving me in the middle of nowhere. Or the text is so tiny it is unreadable while driving by. Make lots of signs leading to your location. Use brightly coloured poster board with black letters and place them strategically in your area.
The FINAL RULE – when the sale is over, NOTHING COMES BACK INTO THE HOUSE! Dispose of usable items at your local thrift shop, put leftovers on the curb for latecomers and dumpster divers or send appropriate pieces to the recycling bin. You will have had a fun day, met your neighbours and filled your coffers. How can you lose!
If you need help organizing your sale, I can help. Bookings are available after May 7.
Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved 2010
Already NJ towns, Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, have announced the dates of their town-wide yard sales (May 15 and May 22 respectively). Check out www.highlandsnj.com and www.ahnj.com for more information.
How about banding together with neighbours and making it a block-wide event? The proceeds could benefit neighbourhood improvements, a local charity or a social cause. Two years ago, some residents from Needham, MA donated the proceeds from their town-wide sale to their new playing fields fund.
Yard sale prep takes time. The better organized and more attractive your sale is the higher customer interest will be. Go through all your storage areas, closets, garages, etc. Really look at each item closely – if it’s in good condition and you don’t need it, then put it in the sale pile. If you wouldn’t use it in its current condition, then probably no one else will either, so recycle or toss broken or worn out items. Group similar sale items to make set-up easier on the big day.
Set-up the area like a store, grouping house wares in one spot, clothing and accessories in another, etc. Make sure the items are clearly and securely priced and displayed neatly. Any miscellaneous items that you feel won’t bring in cash but someone might like, put in the “FREE BASKET.” You will be happy to see how much of it goes.
A friend and I had a sale at her house in the Hamptons a few years ago and we received such positive feedback from our clientele. They appreciated how we positioned merchandise to move as well as created a user-friendly experience.
Don’t forget about signage – it is something many sellers take for granted. I know I get discouraged when I am following signs and then they disappear leaving me in the middle of nowhere. Or the text is so tiny it is unreadable while driving by. Make lots of signs leading to your location. Use brightly coloured poster board with black letters and place them strategically in your area.
The FINAL RULE – when the sale is over, NOTHING COMES BACK INTO THE HOUSE! Dispose of usable items at your local thrift shop, put leftovers on the curb for latecomers and dumpster divers or send appropriate pieces to the recycling bin. You will have had a fun day, met your neighbours and filled your coffers. How can you lose!
If you need help organizing your sale, I can help. Bookings are available after May 7.
Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Sort-Out Saturday
Yesterday was "Sort-Out Saturday" with a Teddington client. The task was to take the children's mancave and turn it into a den for dad. Within a few hours we made great progress, despite my client being on crutches! It is a work-in- progress, which I will continue to monitor via Skype when I return home.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
An International Affair
Cheers From Sunny London.
Yes, I did say sunny! The weather has been absolutely gorgeous since I arrived two weeks ago. Sadly, I am nearing the end of my project, but am proud to say that so much was accomplished during my time here. It is such a thrill to see my client's face light up when she comes home after work as she surveys my accomplishments. Simple things to me are life-changing to her, i.e., using add-a-shelves in the kitchen cupboards and china cabinet; grouping like items together, sourcing items at household stores and just keeping surfaces clear. While I started out with a long list of tasks, the list is getting smaller yet growing at the same time. Here are a few photos from my experience/
Now that my client has gotten into the spirit of de-cluttering and creating more space in her flat, she has so much more she wants done. It looks like I'll have to come back for Phase 2 because as I'm learning during my time here, clutter is an international affair!
Cheerio.
Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
London Calling
Clarity has declared war against the British -- War on clutter that is!
Word of Clarity’s success has spread internationally so I am preparing to leave for London where I will be spending two weeks working with a client to create some new space in her flat. This experience will be a little challenging since my client will be at work while I go through areas and determine what stays and goes.
I am also excited to try the UK version of Freecycle called Freegle, since I know there are some items that we will be eliminating but are still usable for someone else. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you in future postings.
Bye for now!
2010 Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved
Word of Clarity’s success has spread internationally so I am preparing to leave for London where I will be spending two weeks working with a client to create some new space in her flat. This experience will be a little challenging since my client will be at work while I go through areas and determine what stays and goes.
I am also excited to try the UK version of Freecycle called Freegle, since I know there are some items that we will be eliminating but are still usable for someone else. I look forward to sharing my experiences with you in future postings.
Bye for now!
2010 Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Spring Fling
As Easter arrives and Passover comes to a close, here are some tips to keep in mind after the holidays end.
Before putting away your dishes and decorations, take a close look at each item. Are any dishes broken or chipped? Are baskets coming apart? Upon inspection are these items worth keeping and storing until next year? Right now is a good time to replace any unusable items since most stores will have sales starting Monday.
Once you determine what to keep, it’s a good idea to have a designated area in your basement, attic or closet for holding holiday accoutrements. Within that space, designate one container per holiday so you don’t end up finding your Halloween decorations mixed up with Hanukah items.
Whichever Spring holiday you celebrate, I hope it is happy and festive.
2010 Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved
Before putting away your dishes and decorations, take a close look at each item. Are any dishes broken or chipped? Are baskets coming apart? Upon inspection are these items worth keeping and storing until next year? Right now is a good time to replace any unusable items since most stores will have sales starting Monday.
Once you determine what to keep, it’s a good idea to have a designated area in your basement, attic or closet for holding holiday accoutrements. Within that space, designate one container per holiday so you don’t end up finding your Halloween decorations mixed up with Hanukah items.
Whichever Spring holiday you celebrate, I hope it is happy and festive.
2010 Rosemary Flannery All Rights Reserved
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