anyone ever attempt to sell new train stock or train related items at a church Christmas bazaar?
For next year, I thought it would be neat to set up a small layout at a local bazaar mainly for the purpose of sharing the joy of trains with others. At the same time, I would try to sell a couple of items to pay for the cost of the table rental and also make a few bucks for my time.
anyone give this a shot and actually make a few bucks? do you have lessons learned to share?
thanks
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My train club sells trains at our Christmas show every year. I think that giving trains or getting trains for Christmas is a good ideas. I recommend that you ask the event's sponsor for permission. Go for it if the sponsor says yes.
NH Joe
We frequently get questions from visitors at our displays about wanting to buy items off of the layout. It is an idea. I saw used cars for sale at the NJHR open house. We also meet folks wanting to sell.
Most folks have a very unrealistic impression of what things are worth. Either their own cherished family heirlooms are worth 10's of thousands of dollars, or they can't fathom that your brass scale caboose could be worth more than $5.
An idea would be to collect inexpensive cars from eBay or York. Visit the local craft store and customize them with a Christmas theme. Well done one-of-a-kind items would likely sell, and for a reasonable profit.
I was thinking a good idea would be to raffle off a Polar Express RTR set. Also, maybe sell some of the wooden train whistles and engineer hats. Open to other ideas
Garrett, I'm with Tom that most folks will want to pay bottom dollar for trains. Example, one of my daughter's found a box at the local St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store with what turned out to be two complete postwar sets, two transformers, a lot of 072 track, all in a jumble, but all serviceable for $10. That was my Christmas present from her a few years ago.
I do think railroad hats, train whistles, some younger children's plastic or wooden trains, Tee shirts, would be sell-able.
Now, on to the idea of a raffle; yes see what you can work out with the church bazaar leaders.
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