I actually have a yard sale about 3 times a year here. Our neighborhood does a yard sale about twice a year so everyone throws up yard sales. Its decent but the flea market idea is better and more profitable because flea market shoppers tend to expect to spend as much as a few hundred dollars and arent looking for a 10 cent item. . Most communities have Community flea markets.
Were actually doing 2 flea markets this year. Booth rental is 25 Bucks so we are renting 4 of them side by side and bringing 2 or 3 van loads to the flea market. On the end of each 8 foot table we will have hundreds of flyer's for people to grab that has our website address and the services we offer. this helps boost local business.
You can make good money on a yard sale. But make sure to post advertisements in your local newspaper and those free classifieds that you can hand out. Mention New designer items Dirt Cheap and you will get a good turnout.
The last yard sale I had had about 200 visitors because I advertised 2 weeks in advance and I also posted several ads on all the Local Laundromats cork boards and on the KROGERs Grocery Cork Boards. And an equal amount of sales. Most above $15-20 bucks A couple over $100. Make sure you have allot of very low priced items also helps. Most will grab a cheap item then see one a bit higher and say what the heck lol.