Consignment selling ain't so easy!

lewispm · September 2013

I am selling a huge amount of old baby clothes/blankets/shoes at this huge consignment event coming up and all my stuff is due in 2 weeks and let me tell ya, this thing has some crazy rules! @stokedwifey is also selling in it, and we have been working for hours on preparing our items and it's kind of ridiculous. I have already gone through 200 hangers and still need a handful more. I have just printed my tags and still have to write the descriptions and pin them on. UGH! I better make some serious $$ at this thing!

Everything has to be on wire hangers and safety pinned so that it won't all off

All tags have to be printed on white card stock and pinned (with the safety pin facing vertically) to the garment

Size, brand, color and description have to be handwritten on each tag (vague descriptions will not be accepted, according to the rules) in various ink colors depending on whether you want your item discounted at the end of the sale or donated.

A piece of tape/label with your vendor # on it has to be stuck inside of each garment.

Non-clothing small items (shoes, blankets, etc) must be inside ziplocs, zip-tied together, with the tag in the bag but visible from the outside.

Is it even worth it??? Geez.

StokedWifey · September 2013

I'm never doing this again. I worked during B's almost 3 hour nap yesterday and still have a tub of assorted things to go through. Shoot. Me. Now.

lewispm · September 2013

hijinx said:

Hopefully all that work will pay off, but holy hell is that a lot. I've been looking into doing a consignment sale in the spring but now I'm nervous about all the work it will entail! Maybe I'll check with a local store to see how much they'll give me to skip the headache of a sale!

We have a consignment store I've used to sell some items before and they do all the sorting/tagging for you. However, you make a smaller % of your sale and they are MUCH pickier about brands. I turned in like 30 outfits and got maybe 20 back that were of an "unacceptable brand". They would take some Carters stuff, but no Cherokee, Circo, Faded Glory, or Jumping Beans (Target, Walmart, and K's brands) which is pretty much all I had.

StokedWifey · September 2013

hibiscus29 said:

Do these sales go through your stuff to see what is acceptable or do they pretty much let you put anything in there?

You can put anything baby/kid/maternity related in.

FTR, here are the insane instructions. Shoot me. I spent $6 on 50 hangers, $1 on safety pins, $1.50 on zip bags and another $1.50 on zip ties. I'm going in in the red!

aylafsu88 · September 2013

I am doing one in the beg of Oct. They have similar rules and requirements. I decided to only sell a small amount of things because I don't want to spend hours getting stuff ready. I got everything ready but I am planning to make my tags this weekend. Now you girls have me worried that a few hours wont be enough time!
@hibiscus29 the sale I am doing has a scheduled check in. They have a volunteer go through all your stuff to make sure there are no stains, rips, it is in style etc. It it pretty intense but I don't know what else to do with all this baby stuff.

lewispm · September 2013

bellaxanthe said:

I was thinking about tackling one of these sales too. Now I am having second thoughts. I have no one close who would want these and I have bins of super cute clothes that I want to sell. Ugh. What are you marking a typical Carter's outfit - just out of curiousity?

I am trying to get onesies back in their original 3-packs (if I can find them all) and I am putting most of those for $4. Sleepers I am putting for $4 or $5 and "outfits" (like a shirt and pants or overalls and a shirt or something) I am doing for $7. For Carter's stuff, that is.

Osh Kosh, Polo, Janie and Jack, or other name brands (which I buy for cheap at TJ maxx) I am doing for more like $10.

StokedWifey · September 2013

BethAndBen said:

I spent my weekend doing the same thing for a sale this week. It was a pain and didn't have as many rules as that- I can't imagine even more steps! Also, did you have trouble finding wire hangers? I went to 3 walmarts that were sold out then finally found them at dollar general.

Are you doing Kids Market? PS. Will you please message me a way to contact you, whether through Facebook, email or text? @lewispm and I got together with Miss Karsyn and her mommy (I stink at TB names) yesterday and wanted to invite you, but didn't know how to get in touch with you!

aylafsu88 · September 2013

bellaxanthe said:

I was thinking about tackling one of these sales too. Now I am having second thoughts. I have no one close who would want these and I have bins of super cute clothes that I want to sell. Ugh. What are you marking a typical Carter's outfit - just out of curiousity?

@bellaxanthe I was going to do @ 3$ for an outfit. Like @lewispm mentioned our consignment store here does not take much and what they do take they only give you like 0.25 cents. I figure 3$ is better than nothing.

lewispm · September 2013

BethAndBen said:

I spent my weekend doing the same thing for a sale this week. It was a pain and didn't have as many rules as that- I can't imagine even more steps! Also, did you have trouble finding wire hangers? I went to 3 walmarts that were sold out then finally found them at dollar general.

The place that hosts the event had a big wire hanger and safety pin sale a few weeks ago. StokedWifey picked mine up for me

StokedWifey · September 2013

bellaxanthe said:

I was thinking about tackling one of these sales too. Now I am having second thoughts. I have no one close who would want these and I have bins of super cute clothes that I want to sell. Ugh. What are you marking a typical Carter's outfit - just out of curiousity?

For a 2-piece set, I'm doing $6 or $7. They look brand new. If they don't sell by a certain time, they go half off, so I wanted to make a little at least. We get 2/3 of the selling price. For individual shirts or packs of onesies, $4.

lewispm · September 2013

bellaxanthe said:

@lewispm - that seems to make it more worth the while. I have never been to one of these sales - so I have no idea what people were asking/pricing things at. I was like - hmmm maybe a $2 an outfit. hahhaha. Good luck!

Yeah. I went to a very similar (though smaller scale) local consignment event Saturday and that seemed to be what the prices were like. I went on the last day, though, so most things (unless otherwise noted) were 50% off and I grabbed up a nice winter coat for $8, a few long sleeve button ups for like $2-$3 a piece, and pair of Osh Kosh jean overalls for $4. Oh, and a pair of Old navy jeans for Stoked's Bryson for $5.

ThePinkSuperhero · September 2013

This reminds me that I need to find one of these fussy things to shop at!

StokedWifey · September 2013

BethAndBen said:

@StokedWifey Can I message on here? I'm not in the FB group. I should prob know this by now, but I'm still pretty TB illiterate. I'm doing Market on the Mountain in Vesatvia. I thought about doing Kids Market, then they moved it out of Homewood and I changed my mind because now its kinda far to drive.

I sent you a message so you can just reply.

When is Market on the Mountain? I want to shop!

RTaylor12 · September 2013

Holy crap! Sounds like one of those things that are a great idea in theory, but then you start actually working on it and eventually realize it's bullshit. And usually by the time you realize it, you've already done so much work that you keep trucking on...annoyed by how much bullshit it is. Kind of like the cupcake stands I made for my wedding. haha

StokedWifey · September 2013

BethAndBen said:

BethAndBen said:

@StokedWifey Can I message on here? I'm not in the FB group. I should prob know this by now, but I'm still pretty TB illiterate. I'm doing Market on the Mountain in Vesatvia. I thought about doing Kids Market, then they moved it out of Homewood and I changed my mind because now its kinda far to drive.

I sent you a message so you can just reply.

When is Market on the Mountain? I want to shop!
It' s this Friday and Saturday at Mountaintop Church in Vestavia. I'm trying to find the message. Can I get there on mobile or do I have to be on a computer?

Oooo I didn't know Mountaintop did one. I may just have to go. I used to go to church there. Are you going to shop?

Um, I think you may have to be on a computer, but I'm not sure. If you want to just add me on fb if it's easier, I'll leave my link here then delete it.

SallySunrise · September 2013

My bestie does this each spring and fall with both clothes and toys. She made almost $400 in the spring and is currently getting ready for the fall one! Same rules, lots of work, but totally worth it for her! GL!

lewispm · September 2013

SallySunrise said:

My bestie does this each spring and fall with both clothes and toys. She made almost $400 in the spring and is currently getting ready for the fall one! Same rules, lots of work, but totally worth it for her! GL!

I am hoping to make something in that ballpark. Realistic? I guess we will see. I am selling a little over 200 garments, plus some shoes, hats, blankets, burp cloths, etc so it seems possible to me! If I sell even 50% of my stuff, I should make at least $200 or $250.

Obviously I bought/was gifted WAY more clothes than a baby needs. I even have 2 huge tubs of clothes in my attic to keep for the next possible boy.

singingirl96 · September 2013

Maybe next time you should look into a different type of sale. Here (MD) we have sales that are held at the fairgrounds where you can pay $70 for a 12' x 12' space and you set up your own shop. You also get to keep 100% of the profits. You do have to man your space for 5 hours on a Saturday though. Its like one big yard sale, all in one big hall, with just kids stuff. I'm saving all my son's stuff for our second kid, but once we're done having kids, I'm definitely selling stuff there. Its WAY better than those big totswaps with all these rules you're describing.

lewispm · September 2013

singingirl96 said:

Maybe next time you should look into a different type of sale. Here (MD) we have sales that are held at the fairgrounds where you can pay $70 for a 12' x 12' space and you set up your own shop. You also get to keep 100% of the profits. You do have to man your space for 5 hours on a Saturday though. Its like one big yard sale, all in one big hall, with just kids stuff. I'm saving all my son's stuff for our second kid, but once we're done having kids, I'm definitely selling stuff there. Its WAY better than those big totswaps with all these rules you're describing.

That actually sounds pretty neat! I have never heard of one around here, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Definitely worth looking into. Thanks!

singingirl96 · September 2013

lewispm said:

singingirl96 said:

Maybe next time you should look into a different type of sale. Here (MD) we have sales that are held at the fairgrounds where you can pay $70 for a 12' x 12' space and you set up your own shop. You also get to keep 100% of the profits. You do have to man your space for 5 hours on a Saturday though. Its like one big yard sale, all in one big hall, with just kids stuff. I'm saving all my son's stuff for our second kid, but once we're done having kids, I'm definitely selling stuff there. Its WAY better than those big totswaps with all these rules you're describing.

That actually sounds pretty neat! I have never heard of one around here, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Definitely worth looking into. Thanks!

Yeah, its pretty cool. they have a picture of the sale on their website... its a madhouse https://kidsnearlynewsale.com/ People make a lot of dough.

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