Hipster Yard Sale

The stuff that Ali and I have accumulated over the past decade or so is finally dwindling. Thanks to our yard sale savvy, jewelry from junior high, useless kitchen gadgets, and light up heels are headed out the door. Our first “Hipster Yard Sale” was a complete success. And we’ll have another one before we go to get rid of the furniture.

The Hipster Yard Sale was brilliant because 1.) we have a lot of hipster stuff and 2.) customers were attracted to the hipster moniker. We put an ad up on craigslist to attract folks from Hillsboro who might come for the “Mississippi neighborhood experience.” We also knew that actual hipsters would probably come to check out our stuff (though they would never admit to it). And we knew we’d attract folks who understood the irony of calling our sale hipster. Our sign out front said, “come in and get cool.”

One customer said, after she bought some useless kitchen gadgets, “Excuse me. I’m not from the United States. What is a hipster?” And I said, “it’s someone who thinks they’re cool. ” If you’re not sure what a hipster is, check out “Hipster Olympics” on current.com.

Hard core yard-salers showed up early to be the first to go through our books and bikes. Two of them got into a yelling match in our yard. One was accusing the other of bad yard sale etiquette and it got really heated really fast. I didn’t mind- a little competitive yard-saleing is good for proprietors like me. As he was paying me $7 for books, he apologized for using foul language. The next day, he came knocking on our door and apologized again for causing such a spectacle “on our turf.” I think he doesn’t want us to bad mouth him to the other yard sales in the ‘hood.

At first it was difficult to see our stuff that had meant so much go for so little. But, on the other hand, I can’t wait to populate our tiny new apartment with new stuff.

hipsters match our hipster stuff. the tv’s are still up for grabs, by the way.