How to Consign at a Seasonal Consignment Sale

Consignment Sale Advice by Deborah Taylor

Do you have money just hanging in your closet or taking up space in your attic? Go get it ready to sell! Someone wants it!

• Baby equipment (swings, exersaucers, bouncy seats and high chairs) Toddler Beds

• Large Indoor and Outdoor Toys (kitchens, tool benches, picnic tables)

• Shoes (that look and smell new)

• Toys (with all the pieces and working batteries)

• Name Brand Clothing (in great condition at around 25% of retail)

• Books (board books, beginner readers, chapter books)

• Baby Gear (bottles, breast pumps, baby carriers)

• lots more too including baby beds, changing tables, riding toys, electronic games, and DVDs

• TIPS: 1. The better your items look, the better they sell. (take time to wash, clean and iron if necessary) 2. Toys sell well, but only if they are in great condition and have ALL parts. 3. Find out what type of hangers the sale requires. Some sales only take Plastic hangers. 4. Be sure to read the schedule for your local sale event so you won’t miss a thing. We work hard, so you want to have smooth check in, Pre-Sale, and pick up as a consignor at all the events.

• Discounting/Donating = More $ Allowing your items to be discounted can make a huge difference in how much money you make. Many people return for a 2nd and 3rd time to shop the half-price sale and 75% Off Sale. They are almost exclusively looking for discounted merchandise. If your items say "Discount: NO", they are likely to be passed by during the 1/2 price sale. More items sold = more money in your pocket!

• Items marked donated that don't sell go to one of our great charities. (And you don't have to remember to come for Pick Up!).

What is a Consignment Sale?

• What is a Consignment Sale? Typically, a four to five day long event where consignors sell their items and receive 65-70% of the item price for sold items. Sales are generally run by an owner or organizer and can be "for profit" or as a fundraiser for a school, church or other organization. Consignors select which items to consign and set their own prices. Consignment sales reward consignors with an additional commission % on their sold items in exchange for volunteer hours worked. Want to clean your closets of those unused toys and clothes that the kids can’t fit, and make extra cash for back to school clothes? Here are some tips to steer you in the right direction!

Step #1: Find a Sale

• Research area consignment sales to determine which offers the best split to the seller, draws a significant amount of traffic annually, and has earned kudos from past shoppers. Some sales will even offer volunteer or referral perks that allow sellers early shopping privileges as well as increased percentage returns. Once you choose a sale, SIGN UP ASAP to be a consignor! Many sales are filling up consignor spots WELL BEFORE their deadlines so you don't want to miss out!

Step #2: Take inventory

• It’s time to clean out your kids’ closets and toy chests. Seek out the clothes and shoes they’ve outgrown and the toys that have lost their interest. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the stash you gather and the extra storage space you clear to put away all the new presents your children received.

Step #3: It’s all about presentation

• Just because your items aren’t brand new, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t look their best. Launder and iron all of the clothes you’ll consign.

• Ironing will help hide minimal pilling or fading and set your stuff apart from the rest.

• Toys should be cleaned and include all parts.

• All battery-operated toys must have working batteries included—if it’s supposed to play music or move, it better perform.

Step #4: Second time’s a charm

• Every consignment sale will provide you with consigning instructions detailing tagging and pricing procedures.

• Take the time to read these instructions twice. **No two sales are the same and you don’t want to miss out on the chance to sell your goods because you didn’t follow directions.

Step #5: The price is right

• a good pricing strategy is to price your items approximately one-third of what you paid at retail.

– Example: Originally purchase a GapKids shirt for $15? Sell it gently-used at consignment for $5. Boutique items are typically priced 30 to 35 percent of retail.

Step #6: Time to tag

• Tagging can be time consuming, but is totally worth the work. You’ll need to gather note cards or card stock, safety pins, clear packing tape and a pen.

• Most consignment sales require sellers to include their assigned consignor number, item size, brand name, brief description of the item and price.

• Some sales offer computerized or online tagging system to speed up the process. Either way, you'll want affix those tags (securely) and then deliver your goods at drop-off of your chosen sale!

• Once you drop off your items, the sale will be responsible for the sale of your items for you.

Item Preparation

Below are some supplies I suggest to help you prepare your items for the sale. • Hangers (refer to your sales preference) • Large or Medium Safety Pins • Clear packing tape • Baggies • Masking Tape • Card Stock (60- 67 lb) or Hang Tags (based on

the sale) • Optional Magic Eraser, Lint Brush, Cling wrap

for puzzles, lint brush, tagging gun, zip ties, Febreze, Tide pen, sewing kit, clothes steamer

Be sure to check for stains, rips, missing buttons, or very worn clothing and remove them from your consignment pile. Shoppers are looking for very gently used, current, clean, items!

How to Prepare Shirts

• Shirts and tops must be hung on shirt hangers. If shirt is not secure on hanger, use safety pins.

How to Prepare Bottoms

• Bottoms must be secured to the top of the hanger. Be sure to safety pin to the TOP of the hanger, not the bottom.

How to Prepare Outfits

• 1. Hang the shirt on the hanger first.

• 2. Then turn it over and pin the pants to the hanger (with front of pants facing outward).

• 3. Hangers must point to the left or look like a question mark.

• 4. Be sure to secure all buttons and zippers

Securing Tags

• Use a safety pin to secure tags to Clothing. Make sure that the tag is on the LEFT side

How to Prepare Shoes

• Shoes should be in excellent, almost-new condition. Clean or polish shoes as appropriate.

• A "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser®" is an excellent tool to make shoes look like new!

• Please secure shoes together using a zip tie, laces, yarn or string looped through the buckles or closed straps. If necessary, pin the shoes together using a large safety pin.

• Secure price tag to the shoes using a safety pin, string or zip tie.

• Place shoes in plastic bags or boxes if your sale requires you to do so**

Books and other Paper Covered Items

• When securing tags to books, games, or any other items with paper/cardboard boxes & covers, use masking tape. This will avoid tearing when removed.

How to Prepare Items with Multiple Pieces

• Place items with multiple pieces in baggies and then secure bag closed with packing tape, as shown below.

How to Enter Items into the Online Pricing and Tagging System and Print

Tags

Step #7: Volunteer for More Perks (optional, but recommended)

• With most sales, you don't have to be present to sell your items. You just drop off your tagged items, pick up your unsold items at the end of the sale & then, wait for a check. However, by volunteering you can often get a higher percentage of your earnings and/or early shopping privileges! Plus, you'll meet some awesome mamas along the way!!

Seasonal Consignment Sales **Rhea Lana's of Frisco/McKinney, TX www.frisco.rhealana.com Consignors earn 70-80%, sales can be tracked

online during event week, items are guaranteed against loss and checks are ready at Item Pick-Up

**Just Between Friends -Frisco/McKinney/Allen http://mckinney.jbfsale.com/ is a seasonal sales event where communities come together to buy and sell the best in gently-used children's and maternity items at HUGE SAVINGS. These events are locally owned and operated and held two to three times a year.

Growing Growing Gone – Dallas

www.g3sale.com We also have a large selection of Brand New Designer Boutique clothing items at 50 – 90 % off retail

Kid's Closet Connection - Northwest Dallas www.kidscloset.biz/northwestdallas Earn up to 75% on your children's gently used items! You price them, we sell them. Start the new scyear off right. Clean out your kid's closets, playrooms & outdoor play equipment and let us help you make some unexpected cash

Sweet Repeats Kid's Consignment Sale McKinney www.sweetrepeatsmckinney.org is a semi-annual fundraiser for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) at Trinity Presbyterian Church in McKinney, Texas. We sell children’s clothing and accessories from infant to girls junior and boys 20, toys, baby and child equipment, baby and child furniture, shoes, bikes, outside toys, children’s books, games, videos, and DVDs. Our sale is held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, located on Virginia Parkway 3.2 miles west of 75, between Lake Forest and Ridge Road.

***Divine Consign Plano sale http://divineconsign.net/ we are the largest and longest-running children’s consignment sale in the Plano area. We fill 46,500 square feet with the best in gently- used children’s and maternity items.