You have heard the phrase “it takes a village,” but in one particular case it takes a whole community of residents, some staff, a beautiful setting, and public anticipation to make…the Wake Robin Tag and Book Sale! Since 1995, this signature event has been a highlight for bargain hunters and the Wake Robin community. It takes place on one day in June with 364 days of preparation ahead of it.
Almost 1,200 shoppers came through the doors of the Hornbeam garage scouting for items from special treasures to mundane housewares. Everything sold is donated by Wake Robin residents and the event itself is completely resident-run.
Here are some numbers to give you a sense of the scale. The space in the Hornbeam garage is about one third of an acre. There were 352 shifts to cover all aspects of the Sale: setup, pack-up, cleanup, cashiers, and wranglers. About 150 take part in pre-event publicity such as putting up posters and sending press releases. There was also a group of cookie bakers who provided 1,500 homemade goodies.
An important aspect of the Tag Sale is the purposeful re-use and redistribution of all the items to the larger community. A large percentage of goods end up in a new home. What is left over is donated to local charities who continue the process through their own tag sales or resale stores. See the Question of the Month below for more detail on our collaboration with local non-profits.
Judy C. is the chair of the Tag Sale. We will close with her thoughts about this experience:
“The Tag Sale truly reflects the spirit of Wake Robin — neighbors working side by side, staff and residents supporting one another, and an entire community contributing in ways both large and small. This is one of the most inclusive and community-wide events we share together.”
