Australia’s Largest Community Event Promoting Sustainability,
Creativity and Fun Comes to Tasmania!
With the launch of Tasmania’s first ever Garage Sale Trail event, Tasmanians are
being called on to mark Saturday 26 October in their calendars, after the State
was named the worst in the nation for littering.
With illegal dumping forming part of this statewide issue, communities have the
chance to turn unwanted furniture, TVs, whitegoods, computers, clothes and a
wide range of other goods into treasure by registering online for one big day of
buying, selling and old school social networking which is this year expected to
involve over 300,000 Australians.
More than one million items are expected to be up for sale on the day, with
Garage Sale Trail generating widespread positive environmental outcomes
through promoting re-use and reducing waste to landfill.
In its first year in Tasmania, Garage Sale Trail is supported by 21 local councils
around the State. The event provides an irresistible opportunity for Tasmanian
communities to come together on the same day – Saturday 26 October – to
de-clutter, make or donate some extra cash and form new neighbourly
connections.
Registration is free at www.garagesaletrail.com.au. Garage Sale Trail is open to
households, local businesses, schools, community groups, makers and creators,
cultural institutions and charities to host sales on October 26.
Sellers hosting garage sales on the day are invited to put their sale on the trail
and list key items for sale, while buyers can plan their shopping day by searching
sales nearby and creating a personalised ‘treasure trail’ of sales and items to
check out on their mobile phones on the big day.
Andrew Valder, co-founder of Garage Sale Trail said there was something in the
event for everyone, everywhere.
“If you’re a seller, the average sale makes just over $400. If you’re a buyer there’s
plenty to choose from. This year there will be in excess of $5 million dollars of
items for sale across the country,” Valder said.
“Garage Sale Trail is about making sustainability fun and social. Passing on stuff
you no longer want to someone who does want it is a pretty good form of waste
reduction, made even better when it’s going to your neighbour.”
Launching the Garage Sale Trail website, co-founder Darryl Nichols said part of
the magic of Garage Sale Trail was that creativity and self-expression played a
pivotal role.
“We love all the creative interpretations that participants make of the day. Last
year there was a signed U2 Gold Record listed for sale, a beachside apartment
and a roller disco set up in a garage by two Swedish flatmates for the day!,”
Nichols said.
During the past two years, the event has redistributed approximately one million
items bound for landfill, generated more than $1 million in local economic
activity, facilitated $3 million in fundraising and created hundreds of thousands
of local connections across Australia.
Registration via www.garagesaletrail.com.au includes a seller webpage as well as
tips about how to grab a bargain. The first 5000 people to register nationally (or
those registered by October 6) will be mailed a free participant pack with posters
to promote their sale and a free copy of The Official Guide To Buying and Selling
On The New eBay to help sell any unsold items from the day.
Garage Sale Trail is a not-for-profit community enterprise founded by Andrew
Valder and Darryl Nichols. Garage Sale Trail aims to promote re-use, reduce
waste to landfill, create awareness about illegal dumping, unite communities,
and stimulate local economies. The first Garage Sale Trail took place in Bondi in
May 2010. Now in its third year, Garage Sale Trail is proudly supported by
marketplace partner eBay, 21 local councils across Tasmania and national media
partners ABC Local Radio, News Local and The Thousands online as well as by
Mobile Muster.
Andrew Valder, Darryl Nichols, co-founders of Garage Sale Trail
