MONROE, Conn. — Home redesigns, outgrowing collections and changes in interests can lead to the accumulation of high quality furniture, kitchenware, decorations, sports equipment and antiques. A tag sale allows owners to get something back, and a townwide tag sale could be a dream for bargain hunters.
Monroe is planning a townwide tag sale featuring 82 vendors at 78 locations, including an artisan walk with small cottage businesses and crafters selling their wares. Everyone will be open for business from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 18 (rain date July 19), however, some may choose to host their tag sales on July 17 and 19.
“A number of folks in town noticed Shelton had done a townwide tag sale,” said Barbara Fahr, one of the managers of the Monroe CT Residents Facebook page.
She said a group of people got together to organize one for Monroe through the Economic Development Commission, but First Selectman Terry Rooney told them it would have to be organized by residents for residents.
“I put it out on the Monroe CT Residents Facebook group and a number of residents were interested in organizing and running it,” Fahr said.
Among them was Juliana May.
“I remember on a Facebook page they were advertising for the Shelton tag sale and I thought to myself, ‘what a great idea for the town. Monroe should do something like that,'” May recalled. “Before I could do anything, I saw Barbara Fahr already had a post on the Monroe CT Residents page. I joined the committee.”
May said the committee had several Zoom meetings in late April or early May and members agreed to take on different responsibilities for the tag sale. Kathy Dilks-Anderson designed a flier on Canva and May printed 50 copies, which she is now distributing throughout the town.
Fahr designed a Google map for the tag sale locations, which can be found on a Facebook page for the Monroe Town-Wide Tag Sale Group.
“People will be encouraged to post things they are selling with pictures and videos of the items,” Fahr said.
Fahr said it will be up to individual sellers to advertise if they are also going to hold their tag sales on July 17 and/or 19, adding they could post it on lawn signs in their neighborhoods or properties.
“People can post their own posters on the tag sale FB page,” May said of another way to get the word out.
Further, May said clicking on the pins on the Google map gives information on each destination, including the address, days of sales, accepted forms of payment and the type of items buyers could expect to find.
May said she has distributed fliers to the Monroe Senior Center, Edith Wheeler Memorial Library and local businesses who agreed to post them like Stop & Shop, Panera Bread, Bill’s Drive-In, Bella Rosa Ristorante, Country Pizza and Phil’s Hairstyling to name a few.
She plans to approach more businesses, especially on the Main Street side of town.
“I also belong to and joined several tag sale sites across the state,” May said. “I posted on about six of them a month ago.”
May said the town granted permission to place some lawn signs advertising the community sale in certain areas of town.
A mutual benefit
Vida Stone, who is Monroe’s town clerk, and her husband, Jonathan, chairman of the town’s Parks and Recreation Commission, are among the private citizens hosting a tag sale at their home.
“We’re doing it Saturday and probably Sunday,” Stone said. “We’re excited and appreciate the committee’s work in getting this organized and helping us declutter. We have great stuff at great prices: glassware, collections, sports memorabilia — vintage stuff.”
Sue DeGeorge, who is an assistant town clerk, joined the Tag Sale Committee at her husband David’s request.
“I love the idea that was put out,” DeGeorge said. “I think it makes it easier for community members to have one day, especially in the summertime, and for the tag saler. It’s easier for us, because we don’t have to do as much advertising. We have a built-in audience and, quite frankly, I love a community event. It brings people together in a celebratory way.”
“We’ve been putting things aside in the house for probably two years now and were waiting for a tag sale opportunity,” DeGeorge added. “We have kitchen items due to our recent renovation. We also have furniture and a lot of pictures and a lot of knick-knacks.”
When vendors sign up for the tag sale, Fahr included a question about their willingness to host another seller on their property. Kathy Dilks-Anderson decided to team up with her neighbor, Tina Romansky. The two women, who got to know each other while serving together as Stepney Elementary School PTA presidents together years ago, are good friends.
“I have always been a part of the townwide tag sale Facebook groups in various towns,” Dilks-Anderson said. “I just went to a successful one in a neighboring town. I too thought it would be a great idea to have one and saw Barbara Fahr’s post.”
When she got involved with the townwide tag sale, Dilks-Anderson said she noticed people like Jennifer Aguilar were onboard.
“We’re all just committed to making Monroe a better place,” Dilks-Anderson said. “Let’s declutter and let’s have a community event. We publicized this on various other towns’ townwide sites. We’re hopeful people from outside will also come in looking for a good bargain or something unique someone else may have.”
Dilks-Anderson said there is an environmental benefit from reusing items, rather than always buying new.
“It’s all about reducing, reusing, recycling and having fun,” she said. “Buyers will get a bargain, sellers will make some money and we’ll all benefit in the end.”
Among the many items at her tag sale, Dilks-Anderson will be selling furniture, clothing, artwork, home goods and small appliances.
“It’s a little bit of everything,” she said. “I like to think a lot of things I own are classic and things others would like, but it’s really up to the buyer. My biggest disappointment with the townwide tag sale is, as a seller, I can’t shop myself. You can find some real treasures in thrifting. Thrifting is the in-thing for the next generation. They’re all about sustainability and thrifting.”
May will also be among the vendors for the Monroe Town-wide Tag Sale.
“Oh yes, at my house,” she said. “I have my son’s mother-in-law, my sister and my daughter all bringing things to my driveway, so we’ll have a multifamily tag sale. I have a lot of antique smalls items for sale, antique porcelain and glassware, small furniture and vintage items.”
It will be Monroe’s first townwide tag sale, but there may be more to come.
“It might be a nice thing to do yearly,” May said.
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