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By Ali, on September 2nd, 2010, at 10:26 pm
This is Part 3 of a series of posts on Seasonal Consignment Sales. If you missed the first posts, you can read them here and here.
Q: Why shouldn’t I just take my items to the year-round consignment shop down the road?
A: Most of the year-round consignment shops give you a commission of about 45%, but seasonal sales often give you back up to 75%. Why not earn the most money you can on your items??
Q: Why shouldn’t I just shop at garage sales?
A: Garage sales give you no guarantee of quality OR quantity. You could go to 4 garage sales before finding one that is selling kids’ clothing, only to find stained or poor quality items. Instead of wasting your time (and gas) going from garage sale to garage sale to find a couple good items, you could go to a seasonal consignment sale and know you will find plenty of great quality items!
Q: Why shouldn’t I just sell my items at a garage sale?
A: Again, you have no guarantees with a garage sale. You may not get any customers who are looking for what you are selling. Plus, with a consignment sale, you don’t have to do any setup, advertising, price haggling, etc. You get to sell your items at higher prices than garage sale customers would be willing to pay too!
Q: I don’t have anything to consign in order to get into the pre-sale. Will there be anything good left if I go to the public sale?
A: YES!! While I have consigned a couple of times, I have done a lot more shopping at public sales than pre-sales, and have still found tons or good bargains. It’s great to go to the pre-sale if you can qualify, but if not, don’t let that deter you from going shopping – I promise you’ll find plenty of great merchandise!
Want to know even more about consignment sales? Here are some other great resources:
Kids Consignment Sales – national list on seasonal consignment sales
The Consignment Sale Queen – a very comprehensive site on all things consignment
By Ali, on August 26th, 2010, at 4:38 pm
This is Part 2 of a series of posts on Seasonal Consignment Sales. If you missed the first post, you can read it here. I’m going to bring you all the info you need to earn and/or save money by using your local Consignment Sale. After the series is complete, I’ll be featuring some local sales, and offering you some giveaways – early shopping passes, gift certificates, etc! Don’t miss out – check back often! You can also subscribe by e-mail or RSS, or “Like” me on Facebook to get updates on your News Feed!
What is consigning?
Simply put, consigning is selling your personal items. A consignor brings in their items to the consignment sale, where the selling of the items is done for them. In exchange, they receive a portion of the profits.
Why should I consign?
Selling your unused items through a consignment sale is a great way to make money. Consignors typically earn anywhere from 50% to 75% of their sales. Consignment sales also bring higher prices than a garage sale, plus you don’t have to do any of the advertising or haggling!
Also, consider this: At a garage sale, you are not targeting a particular audience. You could put out all your children’s items at rock-bottom prices, and still not sell anything if the only people who stop by are not looking for those things. At a consignment sale, every single person who shops will be shopping for what you are selling – children’s items! This means that you are much more likely to make sales.
Another big benefit of consigning is pre-sale passes. In most seasonal consignment sales, consigning will earn you to right to shop before the sale is open to the public. You get to shop when the selection is best.
Consigning gives you the option to de-clutter your life and earn money in the process. Plus, you’re recycling, which is always something we should strive to do!
What is the consigning process like?
Consignment sales go out of their way to make the process of consigning as painless as possible. Your responsibility varies from sale to sale, but for the most part, you gather your items together, price and tag them (many sales have online software to help with this), and take them to the sale. That’s it! You pick up your check at the end of the sale. Many sales also offer an option to donate unsold items to charity so that you do not have to bring them back home. Some sales even have an option where they will sort, price and tag your items for you – all you do is drop them off (this option usually requires you to accept a smaller percentage of your sales.
How much money will I make?
Obviously, the amount of money you make will depend on what items you choose to sell. That being said, there are ways to maximize your profit. Don’t overprice your items and make sure they are good quality. The general rule for consigning is to price items at about 1/3 of their retail price.
As an example, let’s say you consign 40 items of clothing at $5 each ($5 is a pretty low price for high-end brands or multi-piece outfits, but it’s a good round number for illustration purposes). If all your items are purchased, and you receive 75% of your sales, you could earn $150. Most seasonal consignment sales report average consignor checks between $250 and $400!
Tips to maximize your profit:
- Research your consigning options. Every sale is different, and some may be better suited to what you want to sell. Have mostly high-end items to sell? Look for a sale that only accepts brand names. They will attract shoppers that are willing to pay a slightly higher price for the items you have to offer. Have a lot of friends that you think would like to consign too? Some sales give you a higher percentage of your sales if you refer your friends to consign.
- Sell quality items. This doesn’t mean that everything has to be name brand items. However, consignment sales will not accept torn or stained items. Make sure no buttons are missing, zippers are not stuck, etc. Toys shouldn’t have missing pieces.
- First impressions DO count! Wash and dry your clothing items. Also, ironing will go a long way towards making a used item look great again! Hang items neatly on the hanger. If there are accessories that go with an outfit, make sure they are easily visible. For toys, make sure they have new batteries if necessary (you can grab some cheap ones at the dollar store). If you don’t have the original instructions for something that needs them (technology, games, large items to be assembled, etc.), see if you can find a copy on the manufacturer’s website and print it out.
- Outfits sell better than separates. Clothing sold as an outfit means the buyer doesn’t have to worry about finding matching items. Don’t put random items together just to make an outfit, but if you purchased items together that match, then sell them together.
- Price your items appropriately. Do not let sentimental value have a say in your pricing decisions. Try to look at your items as a potential buyer. What would you be willing to pay if you were shopping at a consignment sale? On the other hand, don’t price so low that you do not earn what an item is worth. Items that are underpriced may make shoppers wonder if there is something wrong with it.
- Read your consigning instructions carefully. Each sale has a different process and different requirements. Don’t lose out on the opportunity to consign because you missed the deadline or tagged your items incorrectly.
Another thank you to my sister Sarah for helping with the tips!!
Still have questions about consigning? Leave a comment below with your question, or e-mail me at frugaljacksonvillemom [at] gmail [dot] com. The third post of this series will feature questions and answers from my readers.
Stay tuned for Part 3: Q & A…..
Jacksonville Area Consignment Sales
Finders Keepers – Sept. 2-4
WeeTrade – Sept. 12-18 and Oct 3-9
Between Friends – Sept. 16-18
Upscale Kids Sale – Sept. 16-18, 23-25, and Oct 7-9
Jump N Jax – Sept. 23-26
Kids Go Round – Sept 30-Oct 2
By Ali, on August 20th, 2010, at 8:45 am
This is Part 1 of a series of posts on Seasonal Consignment Sales. I’m going to bring you all the info you need to earn and/or save money by using your local Consignment Sale. After the series is complete, I’ll be featuring some local sales, and offering you some giveaways – early shopping passes, gift certificates, etc! Don’t miss out – check back often! You can also subscribe by e-mail or RSS, or “Like” me on Facebook to get updates on your News Feed!
If I said that your favorite kids clothing store was having a 65% off sale, would you rush right over there? That’s a pretty good bargain, right? What about toys, baby gear, or even furniture at less than half their original price?
I am amazed at how many people I talk to that don’t know about the wonderful seasonal consignment sales in our area. They are one of my primary sources of back-to-school clothing and birthday presents. Both of my younger children made use of baby gear purchased from consignment sales.
What is a seasonal consignment sale?
There are 6 seasonal consignment sales in the Jacksonville area and hundreds more throughout the country. Most of them hold one sale in the spring and another sale in the fall. In Jacksonville, this year’s fall sales will be during the months of September and October. People bring in their gently used (and sometimes new!) items, and earn a percentage of each sale. Items are usually priced at about 1/3 of their retail price.
What items will I find?
Inventories will vary sale to sale, but you will generally find seasonally appropriate children’s clothing (including shoes and accessories), toys, DVD’s, books, outdoor play items (bikes, wagons, playhouses, etc.), strollers and other baby gear, maternity clothing, and children’s furniture. Since these are fall sales, you will also likely find Halloween costumes. Although not every sale accepts them, one of my favorite finds is dance gear! My 3-year old is in a ballet & tap class, and dance shoes are SO expensive. With the rate that she grows, it is always exciting to find some gently used dance gear!
If you are a frugal mom too, then you know that used is the new “new”! The items you find at a seasonal consignment sale are gently used, although I have in the past found items that still had the tags on. If you think about your own kids’ clothing, you can imagine how “gently” some items have been used. I’ve had at least half a dozen outfits that my girls have worn only a couple of times before they hit a growth spurt. They’ve also been given clothes as gifts with no gift receipts that ended up not fitting them. Although some items at a consignment sale will have been well used and still in great shape, you may also find items like mine that are new or practically new!
What kind of bargains will I find?
On average, items will be priced at around 1/3 of the retail price. Specifically, I have previously purchased brand new Gymboree outfits (shirt, shorts, and accessories) for $10, a pack n’ play for $15, ballet shoes for $3, a tricycle for $6. How good of a deal you get will depend on what items you are looking for, when you shop, and what your budget is, but I always leave feeling like I’ve gotten a good deal.
A lot of sales offer a half-price sale on the last day in order to move out inventory. Obviously there are less items to choose from, and a lot of the big ticket and high-end items will be gone, but if you are looking for an extreme bargain, this is the day to shop.
What is the shopping experience like?
First, the good:
This is not like heading out to a garage sale! Seasonal consignment sales are very selective about what items they accept. Clothing is checked for stains and tears. Toys are checked for missing pieces, functionality, etc. You don’t have to sort through junk to find the good stuff – the volunteers at the sale have already done that part for you. You also won’t be digging through bins and piles to find what you need. Clothing is sorted and hung by size and gender, and toys are grouped with similar toys. Also, most sales now accept debit and credit cards, if you do not carry cash.
The not-so-good (but not necessarily bad):
The earlier in the sale you shop, the more inventory for you to choose from. However, the earlier you shop, the more crowded it will be. It’s not like those bridal dress clearances where people are trampling each other, but you should be prepared for a lot of people who are all looking for a good bargain too.
How do I make sure to have the best shopping experience possible?
- Prepare, prepare, prepare!! Have a list of what items and clothing sizes you need.
- To make your shopping list, inventory what you already have, and decide what things you might need. You don’t want to end up with 15 pairs of pants and only 3 shirts. Make sure the clothing you buy will create matching outfits.
- Decide on your budget beforehand. Nothing ruins the excitement of getting a good bargain more than realizing you’ve spent more than you should have. It’s easy to get caught up in the experience. Create your budget and list, and stick to it! Remember, if you don’t need it, it’s not a good deal!
- Remember that sizes vary by manufacturer, so make sure you know if your child wears a size 5 at the Gap, but a size 6 at Gymboree. Don’t forget shoe sizes! I love these techniques: To make sure pants and long-sleeves will fit, hold a string up to your child’s legs and arms, cut the string to the correct length, and take it with you to measure clothes at the sale. For shoes, trace their foot on cardboard and cut it out. Then at the sale, you can slip the cardboard foot in a shoe to see if it will fit. Other ways to be sure to get the right size are to bring a cloth measuring tape or a piece of current clothing that you know fits.
- Also remember that worn clothing shrinks. You may want to look at the next size up.
- Shop as early in the sale as you can. These are not retail stores with more stock hidden in the back. The sooner you arrive, the more items to choose from.
- Bring something to carry your purchases – a laundry basket or large bag will work great.
- If at all possible attend without your children. This is not an anti-children statement – I promise it is for your own sanity! The sale will be crowded, and you want to concentrate on finding bargains, not making sure your children don’t get lost or figuring out how to maneuver the stroller.
- For even better selection, earn a pre-sale pass! Most consignment sales have private pre-sales. You can usually earn one of these passes by consigning items (more on this in Part 2) or volunteering to work at the sale. Some sales also offer presales for 1st time parents and military.
- Know average retail prices for the clothing brands you prefer. You don’t want to pay more for an item than you would pay at the retail store.
- Check your items for stains, rips, stuck zippers, etc. The volunteers will do their best, but they are only human, and sales are final.
- Be prepared. It will be busy, and full of people looking for the same deals as you. You don’t want to miss a good bargain because you need to go find a restroom, or a water fountain. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring water, maybe even a snack if you have a long shopping list.
- Plan your holidays in advance. If you can get your child to commit to what they want to be for Halloween in advance, look for a costume! Also, there is likely to be a good selection of Christmas dresses/outfits. Since these are often only worn once, they will probably be in great shape.
- Shop early, but go back for the half price sale. Most of the higher end things may be gone, but you could still find some good play clothes.
A big thank you to my sister Sarah, (the consignment sale queen!!) for all her help with the shopping tips!!
Still have questions about consignment sale shopping? Leave a comment below with your question, or e-mail me at frugaljacksonvillemom [at] gmail [dot] com. The third post of this series will feature questions and answers from my readers.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Consigning…..
Jacksonville Area Consignment Sales
Finders Keepers – Sept. 2-4
WeeTrade – Sept. 12-18 and Oct 3-9
Between Friends – Sept. 16-18
Upscale Kids Sale – Sept. 16-18, 23-25, and Oct 7-9
Jump N Jax – Sept. 23-26
Kids Go Round – Sept 30-Oct 2
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