Explaining Business to Your Children
Last weekend marked the first weekend of the NSW Garage Sale Trail.
We participated in this event last year after moving house. It was a fantastic opportunity to declutter and part ways with a lot of the stuff we’d lugged from our previous home—stuff that cost us thousands to move. Reflecting on our time living in Camden feels like looking back at a completely different chapter of life. Our mindset has shifted so much since then. That garage sale earned us $400, which we put towards a water filter—a small but meaningful improvement to our lives.
This year, things were a bit different. While we still had items to clear out, we’d just returned from an overseas trip and didn’t have the time to properly prepare. However, just before our trip, my wife’s dad gave us a big pile of DVDs. These had already been rejected by our local market (no surprise—DVDs hold little value in a world dominated by streaming services).
Instead of tossing them, I came up with a simple plan: DVDs by donation. The idea was straightforward—drop a coin (silver or gold) and take a DVD.
Setting the Scene
Early Saturday morning, I got up to set everything up: a crate of DVDs, a coffee table, a beach umbrella, and a hessian cover for the setup. During the week, I’d also created a page on the NSW Garage Sale Trail website to promote the sale.
While I hadn’t intentionally involved my kids in the process, their natural curiosity drew them in as I worked. I explained my plan, and they eagerly joined in by decorating the pavement with chalk, drawing love hearts, flowers, and suns around the area. Their excitement was contagious and gave the setup a personal, welcoming touch.
Back inside, I designed a small poster to explain the “DVDs by donation” concept, giving the kids a quick lesson in marketing as I worked. I shared how I promoted the sale online and why we chalked up the pavement. They followed along, but what I didn’t tell them was that my “branding” was inconsistent, and the odds of earning much were slim. After all, few people carry cash these days!
This is the poster I designed to explain the “DVDs by donation” concept. I have to change the colour to black and white as the printer was low on ink!
A Teachable Moment
As we set up, some neighbours we know walked by with their dogs. The girls adore their jumpy, affectionate chihuahuas! This encounter sparked another teachable moment.
A while ago, I’d double-booked dog-sitting for these neighbours. Though we managed to look after their dogs between our house and theirs, I charged them a lower rate for the inconvenience. My daughters mentioned that the neighbours were planning to board their dogs at a kennel for their next trip. It was a good opportunity to explain the importance of service and how my mistake likely influenced their decision to go elsewhere.
In hindsight, I debated whether I should have charged them at all, given the inconvenience. It was a reminder of the delicate balance in business: valuing your time while maintaining strong customer relationships.
Lessons in Connection
By the end of the first day, we hadn’t received a single donation. I wasn’t surprised—DVDs are out of favour, and I wasn’t actively engaging with people. But I hoped the visibility would bring curious neighbors back on Day 2.
Ultimately, the real lesson wasn’t about sales; it was about the power of human connection.
Our neighbourhood has a strong sense of community. While DVDs are no longer in demand, I believe if we had stayed by the stall and connected with people, we might have had better results. The proof? Our next-door neighbor was the one person we interacted with directly, and he donated money and took a couple of DVDs.
It reminded me of Simon Sinek’s concept of Starting with Why. If people understood the why behind the donation—whether it was to support our kids’ chalk art or help declutter our home—they might have been more inclined to contribute.
Life Lessons for My Kids
Although the weekend only netted us $2.10, it was full of lessons for my daughters. They saw firsthand how effort, creativity, and connection play into business—even in small, everyday ways.
Could we try again next weekend with a stronger strategy? Sure. But I believe life teaches us through moments like these. My hope is that this experience becomes a core memory for my kids, helping them as they navigate their own paths in life.