What you need for a clearance sale

A clearance sale needs more than stock and a price for each item. You need a clear layout, enough tables or clothing racks, working payment equipment and visible signs so customers can move through the sale without constant questions. Plan the shopping around the size of your stock and the number of sellers. The list below covers the equipment, serving supplies and small items that are easy to overlook until setup day.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 10
Folding chairsqty 12
Clothes racksqty 4
Storage cratesqty 20
Clothes hangersqty 80
Tableclothsqty 10
Cash box
Queue postsqty 4

Equipment

Cash drawer
Payment terminal
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Label printer
Calculatorsqty 2
Staplersqty 3
Scissorsqty 6
Tape measuresqty 2
Hand trucksqty 2
Flashlightsqty 4

Lighting

LED lampsqty 6
String lightsqty 3

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 40
Glassesqty 50
Platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 3
Coolersqty 3
Serving plattersqty 6
Serving spoonsqty 6

Decorations

Price tagsqty 500
Rolls of tapeqty 6
Directional signsqty 8
Opening sign
Information boardsqty 4
Ropeqty 2
Balloonsqty 30
Buntingqty 4
Table numbersqty 10
Pensqty 20
Notepadsqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Mints - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 6 bottles
- Still mineral water - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 3 bags
- Cheese cookies - 3 packs
- Mini butter cookies - 4 packs
- Bananas - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 3 kilograms
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Sandwiches - 40 pieces
- Cheese slices - 2 packs
- Ham slices - 2 packs
- Hummus - 3 tubs
- Unsalted butter - 2 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Paper cups - 100 pieces
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 1 pack
- Microfiber cloths - 2 packs
- Paper towels - 4 packs
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 2 packs
- Cardboard moving boxes - 40 pieces
- Paper carry bags - 150 pieces
- Bubble wrap - 2 rolls
- Wrapping paper - 2 rolls
- Paper tape - 6 rolls
- Markers - 12 pieces
- A4 paper - 1 pack
Coffee milk cupsqty 100
Ice cube traysqty 4
Serving traysqty 4

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 3
Floor mopsqty 3
Broomsqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Hand broomsqty 4
Toilet brushqty 2

Tips

Allow one table for each major product category and add one clothing rack for roughly 30–50 hanging garments. Keep at least one table free for checkout, bags or customer questions.
Prepare price tags, tape and a marker or label printer at least one day before opening. Bring around 10% more tags than your item count so damaged or missing labels do not stop pricing.
Test the payment terminal, cash drawer and power supply the day before. Keep enough small change for the first 10–20 cash transactions, and use a power strip and extension cord where the outlet is not close to the checkout.
Use one storage crate per category for items that arrive late, need restocking or have been sold. Keep fragile goods in separate crates with padding rather than mixing them with heavier stock.
For a sale lasting several hours, plan coffee, water and refreshments before opening. A coffee maker or kettle, thermos flasks, cups, glasses, plates and cutlery should be set up before customers arrive, not during the first rush.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need for a clearance sale?: You need display furniture, storage crates, hangers, price tags, tape, payment equipment, lighting and directional signs. Add refreshments if the sale runs longer than two hours, and prepare the checkout separately from the display area.
How many tables do I need for a clearance sale?: Start with one table per main product category, then add a checkout table and a separate table for information or refreshments. Leave roughly 90 centimetres of walking space between rows so customers can browse without blocking the entrance.
How many price tags should I buy for a clearance sale?: Buy enough for every item and add about 10% extra. For 200 items, prepare at least 220 tags, plus tape or labels for replacements on the sale day.
When should I prepare the payment setup for a clearance sale?: Test the payment terminal, cash drawer, calculators and power connections at least one day before opening. Set up the final checkout area 30–60 minutes before customers arrive so you can check change, receipts and connectivity.

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