CONSIGNMENT SALE TIPS

Consignment Sales are a more recent addition to the clothes sale arena.  With a consignment sale, a company or non profit group secures a location, provides advertising and staffs the sales event.  The consignor follows specific guidelines to prepare and price their items, then drops them at the consignment sale.  The organizer keeps a certain percentage of the final sales (often times there is also a small consignment fee for participating).    These sales are popping up across the United States and are an effective way to sell some of your child's outgrown clothing.  Though each sale differs and has its own rules, here are some general tips to help get you started.

*Finding a sale can be the biggest challenge.  Do an internet web search for children's resale events in your area.  It may take some research but you will probably find an event if you are near a major city.

*Be sure to check the percentage kept by the organizer as well as the consignor fee.  Make sure that it is worth the effort to consign your items.  If you have to drive far and have only a few items, it might not be worth the gasoline costs to take your items.

*Additional costs to consider before consigning at a consignment sale:  hangers (sometimes the sale specifies a specific type of hanger), safety pins, and card stock to print tags.

*Looking for inexpensive wire hangers?  Check with the dry cleaners.  Most will sell them to you cheaply or even give them away for free.

*As your child outgrows clothing, launder, place on a hanger and tag the item with the approved method from your closest consignment sale.  Then when it is sale time you will have all of the items ready to go.

*Carefully check over each item.  Sales are very fussy about the items they take.  If the item is stained or torn, do not take it.

*Take some time to prepare your items.  Try to find all of the pieces to an outfit if possible.  Iron an item if it shows any wrinkling.  Button the buttons, zip the zipper and snap the snaps.  You want to make your items look as nice as possible.

*Most sales also take toys, baby nursery items, shoes, and children's books and videos.  At many sales that we have participated in, these items sell very well.  Avoid trying to sell small toys such as happy meal prizes and stuffed animals...neither seems to sell well, and some sales do not accept them.

*Make sure all toys and games have required pieces.  Some toys will sell without all of the original pieces, as long as it is still fully functional. 

*If you are taking baby items, check for recalls.  Some sales will not accept car seats and other frequently recalled items.  Check with your particular sale for specifics.

*Pricing is a challenge.  A good rule of thumb is to price your items at about 20 - 30% of the price you paid.  Your pricing will depend on the brand name and condition.  If the item still has the tags attached then you might try 50% - 60% especially with a desirable brand.

*Most sales have an abundance of baby sized items so keep your pricing especially competitive for those.  We have also had less luck selling larger children's sizes (such as teen).  Our best sellers have always been the toddler through about size 8.

*Most sales offer a 50% off sale the last day.  This is usually optional. Decide whether you would be willing to let go of the item at that price, considering that the organizer will also keep their percentage.

*Find out about volunteering for the sale.  Some will give you a better percentage of your sales in exchange for 4 - 8 hours of volunteer time.  They often have other volunteer opportunities as well, such as distributing flyers, putting an advertising sign in your yard, or printing flyers.

*Most sales will donate left over items if you wish.  Find out whether you will receive a tax deduction for your donation.  Otherwise, it might be worth the trip to pick up your unsold items and donate them to a charity of your choice to receive a tax receipt.

*Some sales have an inventory system which allows you to watch real-time and see which items sell.  Some even have a check waiting for you when you pick up your items!  Most do not have this technology.  Expect to wait 2 - 3 weeks to receive your check.