Making Flyers and Simple Ads for Your Consignment Shop

Why Flyers and Local Ads Work (Even in a Digital World)

Flyers and print ads still catch attention where digital often fails on bulletin boards, cafe windows, mailboxes, and in neighborhood spaces. They work best when clear, colorful, and to-the-point, reaching real people in your local area.

What to Put On Your Flyer

Headline that pops: “Huge Savings at [Your Shop Name],” “Best Children’s Clothes Like New!” or “Fresh Finds Weekly!”
What makes you special: “Name Brands for Less,” “We Take Quality Consignments Daily!”
Clear offer or call to action: “Bring this flyer for 10% off your first purchase.”
Shop address and hours (and phone/website if you have them)
One or two eye-catching photos (your shop entrance, sample displays, or featured brands)
Easy-to-read layout: Use big fonts, simple colors, and leave plenty of space cluttered flyers get ignored.

Free and Easy Tools for Creating Flyers

Use Canva.com or Adobe Express free templates for flyers, coupons, and print ads you can edit in minutes.
Print at local office supply stores (or color copies at the library) for just pennies each.
Always make a PDF/JPG version to post on Facebook and Instagram, and print later.

Best Places to Post or Pass Out Flyers

Coffee shops, bakeries, salons, and gyms with community boards
Daycares, schools, church lobbies, and community centers (with permission)
Local apartment offices, real estate notice boards, or farmers markets
In-store at checkout or bag stuffers for first-time shoppers to take to friends

Simple Ad Copywriting Tips

Lead with benefits, not just features (“Gently Used Kids’ Gear Always Clean, Always Fun!”)
Include a compelling reason to visit this week (“New styles daily!” “First 20 shoppers Friday get a free gift!”)
Use action words (“Shop today,” “Find your next favorite outfit,” “Clearance event now on!”)
Don’t forget required legal/disclaimer text for sales or special offers (e.g. “Offer expires MM/DD/YY”).

Flyer and Ad Design Mistakes to Avoid

Too much text; less is more for attention
Confusing fonts or too many colors
Forgetting address/hours (top reason people can’t find you!)
Tiny, low-quality or blurry photos

FAQ: Flyers and Simple Ads for Consignment Shops

How many flyers should I print for a small store launch?

Start with 100–250. Focus on the best local boards and partners, then print more for in-shop handouts if desired.

What size flyer or ad works best?

Half-page (5.5x8.5”) and full-page (8.5x11”) flyers stand out on boards. Smaller, postcard-size are great as coupons or in-store handouts.

What’s the easiest way to get professional-looking flyers?

Use free online templates (Canva/Adobe) with high-quality photos and bold fonts. Print in color for impact, but a tidy black-and-white flyer is always better than nothing.

Should I change flyers for each season or sale?

It’s smart to update for events, clearance, or big holidays. A fresh flyer gets noticed, and regulars will pay attention to what’s new.

Quick Reference Checklist

Headline, offer, location/hours, easy-to-read layout
One or two crisp photos
Include a call to action and small “find us online” reminder
Post in top local spots and share a digital version online

Next Steps

Create your first flyer or coupon with Canva (start with a template)
Ask a friend or fellow owner to review your draft for clarity
Track walk-ins and mentions ("I saw your flyer at Joe's Coffee!") to see what works best
Read about budget marketing for more ideas

Best Consignment Shop Software – Trusted Since 2002

Effective flyers and ads spark interest, but you need smooth inventory tagging, sale tracking, and customer receipts to keep new traffic happy. Best Consignment Shop Software handles it all with lifetime use, one-time payment, and no forced support prepayments. Real-time sales reports even help you measure ad success. Trusted since 2002, BCSS lets you focus on what matters: getting people in the door and making each visit count.

Get your free demo or ask for more marketing ideas