Believe it or not, I have found the any type of toy sells better than clothing. I know I personally use the consignment sale as a way to PURGE toys, but it is a great way to pick up practically brand new toys for a fraction of retail.
I know when it comes to buying puzzles and games, there is nothing more frustrating as a shopper than to get home and realize that there are pieces missing or that part of the game doesn't work. We bought a DVD Twister game at a sale in the fall and when we got home, the entire DVD was in Spanish.
So, when it comes to tagging puzzles and games, have your children either work the puzzle or play the game before you tag it. Trust me, they will tell you what is missing and you certainly don't want to sell something that isn't 100% complete. When it comes to toddler wooden puzzles, put the puzzle pieces in a clear baggie and tape it to the back of the wooden board. Add your tag to the outside of the bag and make sure you use clear packing tape to keep it all secured. On puzzles in boxes, once you have confirmed all pieces are there, use clear packing tape to seal the original box back together. Tape tag to the outside of the box.
On games, you will use the clear packing tape to seal the original box back together. Tape your tag to the outside of the box. If you are selling games that have DVDs or you are selling video games, make sure you check them for scratches or that they actually work. Sealing the game inside it's original box doesn't allow the consignor to check for scratches so they are relying on you to make sure you have already made sure it worked.
Tomorrow's post I will talk about getting baby items packaged and tagged, including bottles, bibs, receiving blankets, etc.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Getting It Ready: Day 2: Equipment
It's day 2 which means it is time for me to talk about getting any type of baby/child equipment ready. When I say equipment, I basically mean high chairs, car seats, strollers, bumbos, etc.
Equipment is great to sell because not only is it one of our top sellers, but many people find they can get a great chunk of money back out of items they have gotten a lot of use out of. Things like Bumbos are easy to sell for $20 which is more than half of original retail. Simply wiping them down with a clorox wipe makes them look like new and they are in huge demand. During the last sale. we sold at least 25 of them and literally had none left at the end.
Items like car seats become a little harder to sell simply because they tend to show more wear and they get recalled more often. They also expire which many people don't know. Car seats are required to have a date stamped on them when they are made. This is usually on a sticker underneath the actual seat. Carseats are considered expired after 6 years but we at Encores and More North don't take them after 5 years. It is important to keep in mind how old your car seat is when it comes to pricing. If you have a Britax car seat that is 4 years old, it's hard to realize it may only be worth $30-$40 but keep in mind in another year or so, it's not worth anything. Another thing to note(especially with Britax), you can sell the covers without the actual car seat. Many people will buy a replacement cover for their Britax.
In my opinion, the most important thing to do when it comes to equipment is to make sure it is clean. No one wants to get home with a high chair that has loads of yucky food under the seat covering. If you keep your items clean and in good shape while using them, you will certainly be able to price it higher when it comes time to consign. If you find that you break a piece off your equipment during use, don't forget to contact the manufacturer as you can usually buy replacement parts directly from them.
I have found that generally on equipment you can usually get half of the original cost back out of the item. When you consider the amount of use you get out of things like exersaucers, swings, etc. I think this is a great return on investment. When I am purchasing things at the sale and then it's time to resell it again, I have found I get almost 100% back out of the item based on the original consignment price.
So while you are getting your clothing and shoes tagged, don't forget to tag your equipment. You'll be shocked at how quickly your consignment check quickly goes up when you get rid of equipment!
Tomorrow's post: puzzles and games
Equipment is great to sell because not only is it one of our top sellers, but many people find they can get a great chunk of money back out of items they have gotten a lot of use out of. Things like Bumbos are easy to sell for $20 which is more than half of original retail. Simply wiping them down with a clorox wipe makes them look like new and they are in huge demand. During the last sale. we sold at least 25 of them and literally had none left at the end.
Items like car seats become a little harder to sell simply because they tend to show more wear and they get recalled more often. They also expire which many people don't know. Car seats are required to have a date stamped on them when they are made. This is usually on a sticker underneath the actual seat. Carseats are considered expired after 6 years but we at Encores and More North don't take them after 5 years. It is important to keep in mind how old your car seat is when it comes to pricing. If you have a Britax car seat that is 4 years old, it's hard to realize it may only be worth $30-$40 but keep in mind in another year or so, it's not worth anything. Another thing to note(especially with Britax), you can sell the covers without the actual car seat. Many people will buy a replacement cover for their Britax.
In my opinion, the most important thing to do when it comes to equipment is to make sure it is clean. No one wants to get home with a high chair that has loads of yucky food under the seat covering. If you keep your items clean and in good shape while using them, you will certainly be able to price it higher when it comes time to consign. If you find that you break a piece off your equipment during use, don't forget to contact the manufacturer as you can usually buy replacement parts directly from them.
I have found that generally on equipment you can usually get half of the original cost back out of the item. When you consider the amount of use you get out of things like exersaucers, swings, etc. I think this is a great return on investment. When I am purchasing things at the sale and then it's time to resell it again, I have found I get almost 100% back out of the item based on the original consignment price.
So while you are getting your clothing and shoes tagged, don't forget to tag your equipment. You'll be shocked at how quickly your consignment check quickly goes up when you get rid of equipment!
Tomorrow's post: puzzles and games
Monday, February 1, 2010
Getting it Ready: Day 1: Shoes
Since March is rapidly approaching, I felt it was time to do a little series called "Getting it Ready." This week I'll be doing one short blog post each day about how you can get everything tagged and ready in time for the sale. Today we will focus on shoes.
When it's time to gather my shoes to get them ready for tagging, I immediately start putting them into stacks. The first stack is "NEW/LIKE NEW". Shoes that would go in this stack means they never wore them or they might have worn them once. They have no visible wear and mine usually still have tags left on them. The second stack is the "WORN" pile. Here I put everything else that they have worn throughout the last season. The last pile is "YUCK" and I am quick to pull those yuck shoes out of the worn pile. I spend the most time on the worn pile: finding mates, examining them for damage, can this spot be cleaned? If I find items that are really too worn, they go directly to the YUCK pile.
I am usually surprised at how well I do with my shoes. All my YUCK shoes go immediately to donate, but everything else gets tied together with curling ribbon, tagged and then off it goes. Make sure on your tags you bring attention to the brand or what you originally paid for the shoes. Make sure you also put the accurate size on the tag up in the corner where you would put the size.
My best deal buying shoes at Encores and More North? Ugg boots for $8. Yes, I was pumped. They were very clean too!
Tomorrow's Post: Equipment (Exersaucers, High Chairs, Strollers)
When it's time to gather my shoes to get them ready for tagging, I immediately start putting them into stacks. The first stack is "NEW/LIKE NEW". Shoes that would go in this stack means they never wore them or they might have worn them once. They have no visible wear and mine usually still have tags left on them. The second stack is the "WORN" pile. Here I put everything else that they have worn throughout the last season. The last pile is "YUCK" and I am quick to pull those yuck shoes out of the worn pile. I spend the most time on the worn pile: finding mates, examining them for damage, can this spot be cleaned? If I find items that are really too worn, they go directly to the YUCK pile.
I am usually surprised at how well I do with my shoes. All my YUCK shoes go immediately to donate, but everything else gets tied together with curling ribbon, tagged and then off it goes. Make sure on your tags you bring attention to the brand or what you originally paid for the shoes. Make sure you also put the accurate size on the tag up in the corner where you would put the size.
My best deal buying shoes at Encores and More North? Ugg boots for $8. Yes, I was pumped. They were very clean too!
Tomorrow's Post: Equipment (Exersaucers, High Chairs, Strollers)
Monday, December 7, 2009
2009 Donations
I know many of you always want to know where all the donated items go at the end of the sale. A wonderful friend, Laura Ly, takes all the donated items back to her home and seperates them out based on needs that we are told about. We also allow Laura to have a few yard sales with the items with the money going to medical treatments for her daughter who has cerebral palsy. We at Encores North have been blessed to see how far Madalyn has come with these experimental treatments that their insurance will not cover.
To give you an idea of just how much the consignors donated at the Fall 2009 sale, it took Laura and her husband plus many friends and family HOURS to pack up the items and the items literally filled 2 UHaul trucks. I receive many emails of families/groups in need and I literally forwarded those emails on to Laura who has the biggest heart. We were able to donate several suitcases full of clothing to children in orphanages in Ethiopia, clothing to a family who lost their home to a fire, a box of items went to Haiti, another family with a newborn in Springfield who lost their apartment to a fire, and one of the nurses from the NICU at Vanderbilt came and was able to get loads of preemie and newborn items for the families who don't have anything at the hospital. Here is her list of where items went:
1. The summer clothes went to the Baptist church in Portland. They are taking a mission trip to Honduras in January.
2. The shoes went to Soles for Souls.
3. All of the donated clothes not on hangers from you and friends and family along with toys and misc. items went to Chris Warren (Angela's pastor) He took it to the Cope Center in Springfield and HALO that give clothes to those in need.
4. All of the fall and winter baby clothes, maternity clothes, and baby stuff went to Open Door Pregnancy Center in Springfield.
5. Some clothes went to a family in Portland whose house burned down.
6. Sweats, sweaters, and jackets went to Barren Heights retreat for families with disabilities.
7. 2 boxes of clothes went to Vena Stuart Elementary in Gallatin. I was told this school is the most in need in Sumner County.
8. 2 boxes of pants went to H.B. Williams elementary for children who have accidents.
9. 2 boxes of navy and tan pants and polo shirts went to metro schools for children who have accidents.
10. 2 boxes of clothes went to a family of 5 in need. Two are foster children and mom is 25 weeks pregnant and on bedrest.
11. 1 box of clothes went to a family in need with a child with Spina Bifida.
12. All of the clothes left hanging in my garage went to Micki at Be Blessed. They are working to give clothes to children in need in Robertson Co.
13. I gave any new toys, electronics, movies, socks, and purses to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
So when you are hanging and tagging for the Spring 2010 sale, please consider putting a D for donate under your consignor number. Not only will we waive your $10 consignor fee, but your items are greatly impacting many lives in Sumner, Robertson, and Davidson Counties. Also, if you know of a group or family in need, please don't hesitate to email us.
To give you an idea of just how much the consignors donated at the Fall 2009 sale, it took Laura and her husband plus many friends and family HOURS to pack up the items and the items literally filled 2 UHaul trucks. I receive many emails of families/groups in need and I literally forwarded those emails on to Laura who has the biggest heart. We were able to donate several suitcases full of clothing to children in orphanages in Ethiopia, clothing to a family who lost their home to a fire, a box of items went to Haiti, another family with a newborn in Springfield who lost their apartment to a fire, and one of the nurses from the NICU at Vanderbilt came and was able to get loads of preemie and newborn items for the families who don't have anything at the hospital. Here is her list of where items went:
1. The summer clothes went to the Baptist church in Portland. They are taking a mission trip to Honduras in January.
2. The shoes went to Soles for Souls.
3. All of the donated clothes not on hangers from you and friends and family along with toys and misc. items went to Chris Warren (Angela's pastor) He took it to the Cope Center in Springfield and HALO that give clothes to those in need.
4. All of the fall and winter baby clothes, maternity clothes, and baby stuff went to Open Door Pregnancy Center in Springfield.
5. Some clothes went to a family in Portland whose house burned down.
6. Sweats, sweaters, and jackets went to Barren Heights retreat for families with disabilities.
7. 2 boxes of clothes went to Vena Stuart Elementary in Gallatin. I was told this school is the most in need in Sumner County.
8. 2 boxes of pants went to H.B. Williams elementary for children who have accidents.
9. 2 boxes of navy and tan pants and polo shirts went to metro schools for children who have accidents.
10. 2 boxes of clothes went to a family of 5 in need. Two are foster children and mom is 25 weeks pregnant and on bedrest.
11. 1 box of clothes went to a family in need with a child with Spina Bifida.
12. All of the clothes left hanging in my garage went to Micki at Be Blessed. They are working to give clothes to children in need in Robertson Co.
13. I gave any new toys, electronics, movies, socks, and purses to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
So when you are hanging and tagging for the Spring 2010 sale, please consider putting a D for donate under your consignor number. Not only will we waive your $10 consignor fee, but your items are greatly impacting many lives in Sumner, Robertson, and Davidson Counties. Also, if you know of a group or family in need, please don't hesitate to email us.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Spring Sale 2010
Yes, it's only October 26th, but I officially started working on the Spring 2010 sale today. I actually started working on my personal consignment stuff a few weeks ago as I swapped my kids' closets out. I figured it was easier to go ahead and start hanging sets vs. putting them in bins and having to iron them when it's time to tag.
I OFFICIALLY started working today because I picked up my first batch of spring/summer boutique inventory. I have found with the down turn in the economy, I get phone calls from stores going out of business or stores that have overstock more and more frequently. I was pleasantly surprised at the inventory I picked up today because I have never purchased from this store before so I wasn't sure what I would be getting. Loads of adorable swimsuits and Easter attire, with some awesome stuff for girls size 10-16 which in my opinion is VERY hard to find. I LOVE spring/summer clothing so I am already getting excited about the next sale.
Have any of you started pulling out your spring consignment items?
I OFFICIALLY started working today because I picked up my first batch of spring/summer boutique inventory. I have found with the down turn in the economy, I get phone calls from stores going out of business or stores that have overstock more and more frequently. I was pleasantly surprised at the inventory I picked up today because I have never purchased from this store before so I wasn't sure what I would be getting. Loads of adorable swimsuits and Easter attire, with some awesome stuff for girls size 10-16 which in my opinion is VERY hard to find. I LOVE spring/summer clothing so I am already getting excited about the next sale.
Have any of you started pulling out your spring consignment items?
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Matching Sets
There is nothing worse than getting home from a consignment sale and realizing that an outfit you bought really isn't a set. Example: a size 24M shirt and sweater matched with a 4T skirt. Yes, I know it's the same line from Gymboree, but the sizes don't match so it's not a set. Yes, I know your child might have junk in the trunk, but my kid doesn't so don't put a 4T bottom with a 24M top.
Now, if you are like me and your children always wear one size bigger in a top than the bottom, I have no problem with you making it a set but CLEARLY note that on the tag. If it says size 24M, I am buying based on the premise that all the pieces are that size. If you are putting a size 3 top with a size 4 bottom, just put TOP 3, PANTS 4 on the tag. Chances are it will still sell, but you need to be honest in your tagging.
I find that when I tag at the last minute, I might do this on accident so as winter rapidly approaches and you clean out spring/summer clothing for the next sale, pack them away in matching sets by size and if the size doesn't match, consider selling it seperate.
Remember that sets do sell best!!
Now, if you are like me and your children always wear one size bigger in a top than the bottom, I have no problem with you making it a set but CLEARLY note that on the tag. If it says size 24M, I am buying based on the premise that all the pieces are that size. If you are putting a size 3 top with a size 4 bottom, just put TOP 3, PANTS 4 on the tag. Chances are it will still sell, but you need to be honest in your tagging.
I find that when I tag at the last minute, I might do this on accident so as winter rapidly approaches and you clean out spring/summer clothing for the next sale, pack them away in matching sets by size and if the size doesn't match, consider selling it seperate.
Remember that sets do sell best!!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Want to be the FIRST person to shop at Encores North Spring 2010 sale
Well, let me tell you how to do it. In case you didn't know, the ONLY people that shop before the workers are me, my mom, my sister, my mother-in-law, and my best friend Angie who works about 200 hours per sale with me. Otherwise, the first shoppers enter at 5pm on worker day. Those workers either work or barter to be able to shop at 5pm and we value their 3 shifts plus sort to be worth $200.
This Saturday, October 3, at Beech Elementary in Hendersonville there will be a live auction that is held during Country Day, our annual fall festival. At that live auction, ANYONE can bid on a certificate that will allow you to shop at 12pm on worker day which is a full FIVE HOURS of shopping with no worries of someone else getting items you want.
The auction will start at 10:30am and the certificate will only allow ONE ADULT to shop and will be sold for the highest bid. All money from the auction will go to Beech Elementary! There are also tons of other items to be auctioned including a PT CRUISER so come check it out. Tons of games for the kids, food, live and silent auction and other activities. Come out and see us and HAPPY BIDDING! I can't wait to see who wins!
This Saturday, October 3, at Beech Elementary in Hendersonville there will be a live auction that is held during Country Day, our annual fall festival. At that live auction, ANYONE can bid on a certificate that will allow you to shop at 12pm on worker day which is a full FIVE HOURS of shopping with no worries of someone else getting items you want.
The auction will start at 10:30am and the certificate will only allow ONE ADULT to shop and will be sold for the highest bid. All money from the auction will go to Beech Elementary! There are also tons of other items to be auctioned including a PT CRUISER so come check it out. Tons of games for the kids, food, live and silent auction and other activities. Come out and see us and HAPPY BIDDING! I can't wait to see who wins!
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