Advice needed- Consignment sales- Big or small?

mcanant · September 2013

Our county (fairly large) has no good kids consignment stores with the exception of a children's orchard that gets so so reviews. Mostly payment and inventory selection complaints with them. We have plenty of thrift stores that don't seem too terribly popular to the same mom and dad crowds that go to the big 2x a year kids consignment sales (here we grow again, rhea lana, kidz closet, just between friends, etc). In today's world and what a working mom is looking for, do you think there is a market to open a really good kids consignment store, or if the convenience of taking all of your inventory to one sale 2x a year what works? I was helping a friend think of a business venture and that was my idea, because I never have enough time to meet the deadlines for tagging for the big 2x a year sales. I would love to go to a place with similar selection and pricing on my schedule, year round.

So my question to the working moms out there is: Where do you shop if you shop or sell consignment? Big sales or brick/mortar stores?

GreenMonkey1 · September 2013

I shop consignment and prefer the brick-and-mortar stores. Personally, some of the resale events can be too crazy. In addition, you have to get there early/early for the good stuff to be there and pay extra. At least that is how the resales work in my area.

The plus of an actual store is the ability to go when DS needs clothes, rather than having to plan to go at a specific time/day. However, I still go to select resale events and will stock up for the next season to the best of my ability. I just got my son's winter coat for $5 (+ $3 entry fee). We don't have a resale shop on my side of town (there is one in the ritzy city, they "prefer" designer duds - no carter's, osh kosh, cherokee, jumping beans, circo, etc) so I stop by the one near my parents when we are over on that side. I have my mom on the look out for a double stroller at her store.

The question would be how do general consignment stores do in your area and would the moms in your area shop at a consignment store? Your local small business association would be able to help you/give advice regarding business planning. They might be a good place to look for ways to survey the local population.

Nita14701 · September 2013

I have done the big sales and just started consigning in a big sale. The consigning part is a pain with the tags and prep. If it were available I would shop/consign with a store. I have checked stores in my area but the inventory isn't that great. So I guess if you do this you want to start reaching out to friends who have decent inventory (decent looking not nessesarily brand named) so that you can start off with lots of appealing looking things.

cecilyandgautam · September 2013

95% of the clothes that DD doesn't receive as gifts are from consignment shops, so I'm a serious consignment shopper. We're still on baby #1, so I haven't tried selling at a consignment - we plan to recycle through a few kids and by then, who knows if there will be any retail value left, but to your question -

I prefer the big seasonal sales, even though they're further out in the suburbs, I have to get up early and wait in line, and all that jazz - because the deals are better, in my experience. Brick & motor places have to pay rent & salaries so they have a lot of overhead to cover in their prices. The seasonal consignment sales are usually run out of a church's basement or school's auditorium and staffed by volunteers for the most part - and they give left over items to charity. I can get clothes for dirt cheap - $1-3 for cute blouses, $5 for a matching outfit, $2-4 for pants. Big toys, like the activity center, walker, and huge lego set, go for $10-15.

I go to a consignment sale 2-3 times a year, stock up on all we need for the coming season, get the next set of developmentally appropriate toys & gear, and spend anywhere from $50-100. I have perused a consignment brick & motor place but I just wouldn't get nearly the savings there. Maybe if I cared more about brand-name clothing, it would be a good deal? Those are the kind of people I know who shop at the physical consignment stores. I think the big, seasonal sales cater to families on a budget, looking to spend as little as possible while getting what they need - I see a lot of families with multiple children at these sales. Whereas consignment shops seem to cater to people who still have particular tastes but want a good discount. If your friend markets her store to the right crowd, she's probably get plenty of buyers.

AZ123 · September 2013

There are two consignment stores in our area and their business is doing really well. One offers a discount on new strollers if you buy them through them (v. the big retailers) and I know people find that as an added bonus. One shop I don't go to because I think there prices are too high. I could buy something from target for just about the same price new at Target.

My favorite consignment store only takes higher end items and I love it.

WBMom · September 2013

I love our local kids only consignment shop! I shop there for most of my kids clothes and also consign there. We have two local consignment shops in our area and it is amazing how differently they are run. The one I shop at is clean, very organized, clothes are in great condition and do not look like garage sale leftovers - the other one is super cluttered, clothes in boxes everywhere and reminds me of a garage sale. The ladies who own ours are superb and truly run the business like a business not a side job. My sister even drives from out of the area to shop at the local one here. Point being - if your market area will support it and its run great I think you will be able to attract buyers and consigners.

I have tried a couple of times going to the big consignment sales but I don't like the "crowd" mentality. Plus my kids never fit what I think will fit them so I just seem to waste money. I like to be able to try the clothes on them at home and return if needed (we can return within 7 days of purchase at our local shop)

KKCARLS · September 2013

I buy 99% of DDs clothes used through a mix of garage sales, consignment stores and weekend consignment sales. I'm really just looking for cheap daycare clothes so I get the best results at the weekend (2x per year) consignment sales. The prices are the best and you have the largest selection. I am debating about selling through consignment stores and I think I would choose the local Once Upon a Child which picks through your clothes and then pays you up front instead of the locally ran store that is true consignment where they pay you when your items sell and then you go pick them up after so many months if they don't sell.

I think it would be hard to make much money at a non-chain consignment store unless you work really hard to get good inventory (quantity, not necessarily name brands) and get your name out there. One of the local ones I really liked going to two years ago when DD was a baby just went out of business. When I started going there I really felt like I could buy multiple things at each trip but recently there wasn't much for selection. If I'm shopping consignment, I'm looking to stock up for the entire season, so selection is key.

mcanant · September 2013

That is all great information! We were thinking to do both: consign or buy up front (the computer POS system supports both that she was looking at and you would get a little less for $ up front- but on flip side to consign- it would automatically go to 50% if it doesn't sell within 21 days, then after 45, you have to come get it or we keep it/donate it). I agree that great inventory and good advertising is key. Thank so much! Lots to think about!

Pips09 · September 2013

I go to the 2x per year big consignment sale. It's held in a middle school. I've tried a couple of the brick and mortar consignment shops that are open year round and found they have terrible selection. I've never found anything to buy.

ricekez · September 2013

I shop at two consignment shops. One little local shop with great prices but slim pickings, and a big Once Upon A Child with higher prices but vast selection. I would not be likely to go to a scheduled swap. My schedule is too busy. I'd rather go on my time. I go whenever DS needs something, probably 5-6 times per year.

mcanant · September 2013

Do they have much competition? Are they more than clothes?

pantsarella · September 2013

We have a really good consignment store that from what I hear does really well (I've never seen more than one other person in there, though). They have some new stuff in the front of the store: "boutique" toys, new versions of some of the products they also consign, etc. But most of the store is consignment and they consign everything baby related: clothes, equipment, maternity clothes, cloth diapers, toys, etc.

We also have a couple different 2x a year big consignment options. I've found that I shop very differently at the two options. At the store, I go in and say "do you have X?" and I can usually find it for pretty cheap. But at the big sales, I go with nothing specific in mind and end up spending $100 on other stuff I find. So I spend far more at the sales because the selection is so much greater. And I've actually never gone on the opening day (and when I consigned, I didn't go to the consigner shop early time) and I've found plenty of really good stuff. Maybe there's better stuff on that first day, but I've never seen it as an issue. I think a big problem with the small store is that they just can't hold enough stock to make it worthwhile to go and dig through. And I'd imagine getting regular consigners is probably an issue as well.

mcanant · September 2013

It's a lot to think about me. Part of me sees a market (and area) for where a well thought out store could do well, but realistically, I am not sure if the profits would ever be there to give up a day job.

KKCARLS · September 2013

Another selling point would be GOOD used maternity clothes. The sales and stores both have small selections but it is always really outdated. ( I get it, people don't want to get rid of the maternity clothes until they're done having kids) But if there was some way you could get great stock of used maternity clothes - maybe paying higher commissions that would get me in the store.

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Advice needed- Consignment sales- Big or small?

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