I often have people ask me what I do with the money I make from consignment sales. I thought this would be a great topic for discussion and I could throw in a little contest too! I mean, seriously, who doesn't love to win something right?
I started consigning in 2000 when I discovered Baby Lulu. We had one child who was 1 1/2 at the time and I instantly fell in love with this clothing line. I was also becoming obsessed with Gymboree at the time. Back in those days, a Gymboree hat from a hard to find line would easily sell for $30 on ebay, so I quickly figured out that by scouring consignment sales, I could pick up some hard to find pieces AND save lots of money. At the time, I was selling my daughter's outgrown clothing on ebay, but I was quickly getting fed up with all the fees AND the people that didn't pay AND the people who complained once they got it AND (well, you get the point). I decided to give consigning a try. Honestly, I didn't have a lot of faith that I would sell very much. Even though I was selling higher end brands and everything I had was in good condition, who was really going to pay ebay prices for my stuff? Yeah, I was wrong. Even though it was a lot of work to get my items hung, priced, dropped off, picked up, etc., once I got that check from the first sale (actually it was cash in a baggie with all my cards, remember those days?) I was HOOKED. Suddenly, all that time I spent at the post office in line to ship stuff, all the money I had spent on packaging materials, and all the hassles of ebay buyers were a thing of the past....I was hooked on consigning and I've never looked back. Sure, I've tried different outlets over the years (yard sales, craigslist, etc) but by far, I have found that consigning is the easiest way to go. You are typically able to get top dollar for your item simply because if you pick the right sale, you are hitting a MASSIVE target audience.
Four years ago, I hired a VIP tagger and man, did my life change! No longer did I have to spend hours and hours finding hangers, pins, baggies, etc. They literally came to my house, picked it up and I was done. Yes, I was paying 20% more and a supply fee, but I was also finding that they were pricing it higher than I would have in the first place; therefore, I really didn't notice the lower percentage. Pair that with the fact that I found out I was cleaning out even more items than usual simply because I knew I wasn't the one having to price it all and man, oh man, I was in love.
So, that leads to the question...what do I do with my consignment earnings? Well, fast forward to 2011 and we now have 5 kids 12 and under. I typically set aside $1000 of my earnings to buy all 5 of them their next season wardrobe. I am a big fan of buying ahead and putting stuff back in the closet (that's why I love restock, always finding next season items!), so typically I can stretch my $1000 pretty far. This year, on top of that, I am setting a goal for our family. I would LOVE to take a Disney cruise in 2012 so all of my earnings above and beyond what I need for the clothing budget will be dumped into a vacation fund for this cruise.
So, you ready for the contest? Well, here it is :) If you want to be the first consignor to be able to shop at either Encores North or Encores Murfreesboro presale, all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog post about what you plan to do with your consignor check! In your comment, let us know what sale you plan to shop (or if you plan to shop both, say that too!) On Wednesday, August 24th at 10pm CST, we will pick two winners (one from North, one from the Boro) from the comments left and the winner will get to come in 30 minutes before the consignor presale starts! I can't wait to read your comments and who knows? You comment may inspire someone else to consign, or better yet? Give them a great idea to save for!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Encores North: Everything you need to know BEFORE you print your tags!
I thought I would spend a few minutes this morning giving everyone the lowdown on what to do and not to do when it comes to printing your tags for the sale. Yes, we are using a new system this time, but I promise once you sit down to use it, you will be thrilled with the ease of the system and it's really cool to test out some of the features (like seeing how much inventory you have entered, transferring items from sale to sale, etc)
All that to say, you need to make sure you are doing some KEY things RIGHT before you spend all your time tagging only to get to drop off and realize you have done it WRONG. By following these simply guidelines, drop off will be a breeze and you will be telling all your friends how amazing the new system is.
First and MOST importantly, there are two tagging systems in place:
The one for the Encores North CHILDREN'S sale can be accessed by going here: http://seller3.myconsignmentmanager.com/encoresconsignment/northsale/
The one for the Encores North ADULT'S sale is here:
http://seller3.myconsignmentmanager.com/encoresconsignment/northadult/
Once you are in the system, PLEASE remember that you will need to access the other system if you pricing both children's and adult items. If you tag 10 pieces of kids clothing and then find an adult sweater, switch systems. You can use the same number for each system, but this is VERY important: you will put an "A" before your number in the adult system. So, if your kids number is 2589, your adult number will be A02589. When you go to print your tags, don't be alarmed if the numbers now read 002589 and A02589, this is normal and correct!
Once you are ready to print tags, you need to make sure your printer is printing them 6 tags to a page ON CARDSTOCK. We will not accept paper tags.Please set your printer settings to gray scale or draft (so your barcodes do not print too dark) and set the scaling to “Fit to the Page”. Like Goldilocks, aim for not too dark, not too light, but “just right!”
Here are some things to beware of:
One last thing to remember, DON'T hand write tags. We can no longer take them. Don't have a printer? Head to a friend or family's house and print your tags there. You are able to type it all in at home and then access it from a different location to print. DON'T make a bunch of $5 tags and then make copies of those tags...each item must have it's own item number and if you are copying tags, the system will only recognize it being sold one time (each tag is coded with a specific item number for that item)
Have questions? We are absolutely here to help and no question is silly! consignorquestions@aol.com
Happy Tagging!
All that to say, you need to make sure you are doing some KEY things RIGHT before you spend all your time tagging only to get to drop off and realize you have done it WRONG. By following these simply guidelines, drop off will be a breeze and you will be telling all your friends how amazing the new system is.
First and MOST importantly, there are two tagging systems in place:
The one for the Encores North CHILDREN'S sale can be accessed by going here: http://seller3.myconsignmentmanager.com/encoresconsignment/northsale/
The one for the Encores North ADULT'S sale is here:
http://seller3.myconsignmentmanager.com/encoresconsignment/northadult/
Once you are in the system, PLEASE remember that you will need to access the other system if you pricing both children's and adult items. If you tag 10 pieces of kids clothing and then find an adult sweater, switch systems. You can use the same number for each system, but this is VERY important: you will put an "A" before your number in the adult system. So, if your kids number is 2589, your adult number will be A02589. When you go to print your tags, don't be alarmed if the numbers now read 002589 and A02589, this is normal and correct!
Once you are ready to print tags, you need to make sure your printer is printing them 6 tags to a page ON CARDSTOCK. We will not accept paper tags.Please set your printer settings to gray scale or draft (so your barcodes do not print too dark) and set the scaling to “Fit to the Page”. Like Goldilocks, aim for not too dark, not too light, but “just right!”
Here are some things to beware of:
- Thick, dark bar code lines that run together
- Wavy lines or fuzzy lines
- Spotty or very light lines
One last thing to remember, DON'T hand write tags. We can no longer take them. Don't have a printer? Head to a friend or family's house and print your tags there. You are able to type it all in at home and then access it from a different location to print. DON'T make a bunch of $5 tags and then make copies of those tags...each item must have it's own item number and if you are copying tags, the system will only recognize it being sold one time (each tag is coded with a specific item number for that item)
Have questions? We are absolutely here to help and no question is silly! consignorquestions@aol.com
Happy Tagging!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
ATTN: M'Boro and Mt. Juliet Consignment Lovers
Ok, here's the scoop! Encores is branching out and because our new branches are in areas we aren't from, we need help getting space for our upcoming Fall 2011 sales!
What we need:
*At least 4,000 sq. feet (needs to be open space-no offices, well lit, and air conditioned)
*Have decent parking
*We would prefer to have it to use from a Saturday to the following Sunday
*Would love to use a church gym, school gym, community center and also open to empty commercial space
We aren't afraid to clean it up and we have EXCELLENT references and insurance in place!
Here's where YOU come in:
We need someone who might have an "in" with a location like I mentioned above. Do you know of a church that would be willing to let us use a fellowship hall/gym for a large donation to their building fund? Are you a member of a civic club that has space they rent out for functions? We want to hear from you!
If you can do some leg work for us and talk us up and help us get a lease, here's what we are offering: a $250 gift certificate to our Fall 2011 sale AND you get to be the first person to shop! In order to get these perks, we have to get a signed lease with your lead :)
We so want to become a blessing for the Mt. Juliet and Murfreesboro communities but we need YOUR help to make it happen! If you have any leads, feel free to contact us!
What we need:
*At least 4,000 sq. feet (needs to be open space-no offices, well lit, and air conditioned)
*Have decent parking
*We would prefer to have it to use from a Saturday to the following Sunday
*Would love to use a church gym, school gym, community center and also open to empty commercial space
We aren't afraid to clean it up and we have EXCELLENT references and insurance in place!
Here's where YOU come in:
We need someone who might have an "in" with a location like I mentioned above. Do you know of a church that would be willing to let us use a fellowship hall/gym for a large donation to their building fund? Are you a member of a civic club that has space they rent out for functions? We want to hear from you!
If you can do some leg work for us and talk us up and help us get a lease, here's what we are offering: a $250 gift certificate to our Fall 2011 sale AND you get to be the first person to shop! In order to get these perks, we have to get a signed lease with your lead :)
We so want to become a blessing for the Mt. Juliet and Murfreesboro communities but we need YOUR help to make it happen! If you have any leads, feel free to contact us!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Working at Encores North
We need workers!
Yes we do!
We need workers!
How 'bout you!
Yes, I used to be a cheerleader in my former life. Former being the chosen word. Thought I would throw in a little cheer this morning to get you fired up about working at Encores North!
When I started Encores in 2005, I was mainly looking for a place to sell all of my children's outgrown things. Simple enough right? Fast forward 6 years and I can clearly see how God put some of the most amazing women (and men) in my life simply from a little consignment sale. It's amazing to me how something as simple as the sale can help you form relationships with other women who truly get what your life is like! Do you feel like all you do all day is wipe booties, say no, and pray for nap time? Well guess what, there are lots of other moms just like you that are working Encores and More North that you can swap war stories with! Do you work full time and feel like just finding the time to squeeze in a few hours each day for your kids is hard enough? Yep, there are those moms there too! Are you a grandma who simply adores helping your children find amazing deals for your precious grandchildren? Yep, you'll find those women there as well.
All that to say...
We need workers for our Fall 2011 sale. Not only do you get to see all the amazing stuff that comes in if you choose to work the drop-off days, but you might even find some people who you are able to laugh with about your stressful life. You might find some people who truly want to see pics of your precious grandchildren. You might find some women who rush in to change into their consignment clothes after a long day at work. You might just form some friendships that you can look back on years from now and be thankful for!
Come work with us! I promise you will love your experience (and if you don't, let us know). I promise you will LOVE shopping with the workers (just think, no craziness!). It's a win-win and I don't want you to miss out! Sign up today: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fseller3.myconsignmentmanager.com%2Fencoresconsignment%2Fnorthsale%2F&h=gAQBk9H9s
Yes we do!
We need workers!
How 'bout you!
Yes, I used to be a cheerleader in my former life. Former being the chosen word. Thought I would throw in a little cheer this morning to get you fired up about working at Encores North!
When I started Encores in 2005, I was mainly looking for a place to sell all of my children's outgrown things. Simple enough right? Fast forward 6 years and I can clearly see how God put some of the most amazing women (and men) in my life simply from a little consignment sale. It's amazing to me how something as simple as the sale can help you form relationships with other women who truly get what your life is like! Do you feel like all you do all day is wipe booties, say no, and pray for nap time? Well guess what, there are lots of other moms just like you that are working Encores and More North that you can swap war stories with! Do you work full time and feel like just finding the time to squeeze in a few hours each day for your kids is hard enough? Yep, there are those moms there too! Are you a grandma who simply adores helping your children find amazing deals for your precious grandchildren? Yep, you'll find those women there as well.
All that to say...
We need workers for our Fall 2011 sale. Not only do you get to see all the amazing stuff that comes in if you choose to work the drop-off days, but you might even find some people who you are able to laugh with about your stressful life. You might find some people who truly want to see pics of your precious grandchildren. You might find some women who rush in to change into their consignment clothes after a long day at work. You might just form some friendships that you can look back on years from now and be thankful for!
Come work with us! I promise you will love your experience (and if you don't, let us know). I promise you will LOVE shopping with the workers (just think, no craziness!). It's a win-win and I don't want you to miss out! Sign up today: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fseller3.myconsignmentmanager.com%2Fencoresconsignment%2Fnorthsale%2F&h=gAQBk9H9s
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
I know many of you have been wondering about all the details for the Encores North Fall/Winter 2011 sale! I promise we haven't been keeping them a secret, but when we found out we could no longer use the old Goody's location in Rivergate, we started a frantic, long search for a new space. All that searching paid off as we have found our best location yet (and hopefully one we can use for years to come!)
Encores North Fall/Winter 2011 will be held in the new Expo center in Hendersonville. Located right in the heart of Hendersonville, it can be accessed either off New Shackle or Old Shackle Drive in Hendersonville. The exact location is 90 Volunteer Drive in Hendersonville, TN 37075. It's so easy to get to from either the Vietnam Veterans bypass OR Gallatin Road. The best part? It's over DOUBLE the size of the old Goody's...yes, it's over 80,000 square feet. The other best part? In addition to our amazing kid's sale, we will be bringing back an adult and home decor sale at the same time in the same location. Now, you can truly buy and sell everything your entire family needs!
Here's the details:
DROP OFF:
September 19-September 21
WORKERS ONLY SHOP:
September 22
CONSIGNOR'S PRESALE:
September 23
NEW MOM'S SALE:
September 24
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
September 24-October 1
All the details will be updated on the website over the new few days so keep checking back at http://www.encoresconsignmentnorth.com/. I can promise you this is going to be the BEST sale yet...we are so excited for all the shoppers to have tons of room to shop in. We will also be offering booth rentals to local businesses and other ways to advertise! Start tagging and we'll see you in September!
Encores North Fall/Winter 2011 will be held in the new Expo center in Hendersonville. Located right in the heart of Hendersonville, it can be accessed either off New Shackle or Old Shackle Drive in Hendersonville. The exact location is 90 Volunteer Drive in Hendersonville, TN 37075. It's so easy to get to from either the Vietnam Veterans bypass OR Gallatin Road. The best part? It's over DOUBLE the size of the old Goody's...yes, it's over 80,000 square feet. The other best part? In addition to our amazing kid's sale, we will be bringing back an adult and home decor sale at the same time in the same location. Now, you can truly buy and sell everything your entire family needs!
Here's the details:
DROP OFF:
September 19-September 21
WORKERS ONLY SHOP:
September 22
CONSIGNOR'S PRESALE:
September 23
NEW MOM'S SALE:
September 24
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
September 24-October 1
All the details will be updated on the website over the new few days so keep checking back at http://www.encoresconsignmentnorth.com/. I can promise you this is going to be the BEST sale yet...we are so excited for all the shoppers to have tons of room to shop in. We will also be offering booth rentals to local businesses and other ways to advertise! Start tagging and we'll see you in September!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Fall 2011 Encores North Sale
FROM BREA:
I'm sure many of you have noticed lots of changes with Encores North Fall 2011 sale. First, let me encourage you that "a little change will do you good!" There's many things that are changing that I had been meaning to implement for a while now, but the sale is often so much work, that it sort of sneaks up on you and by then, it was always too late to make those changes.
I want to share with you my new role at Encores North. In January of this year, my husband and I made the final decision to sell the sale to the owners of the original Encores in Franklin. We felt and continue to feel that they know our vision for what we wanted Encores to be to our community and have promised to continue it's traditions of customer service and giving back to the community. The new owners agreed to keep the staff as it was, so you will still see all the familiar faces at Encores North. I have stepped back as much as possible to allow more freedom with my family, but to also take on a new role both as a trainer for future Encores sales and as a trunk keeper for Matilda Jane Clothing.
With that being said, the new owners, Natalie (sale manager) and I worked together to develop some positive changes for the sale...to make our sale the biggest and best around! We implemented a new tagging system which many of you have already checked out. Here's a couple of helpful hints for the tagging system:
1. Once you get a number for any of the Encores sales, you don't need to get a new number for the other Encores sales. Just email the other Encores sales you want to participate in and they will get that number registered for that sale as well. Just think: NO RETAGGING! It's an awesome feature of the site.
2. Because you have to fully register to get a number, you will now have a password and username attached to your number. No more worrying if you are using the right number or wondering if someone has transposed their number. This system prevents that from happening!
Another HUGE change which is amazing is our search for a new location. Let's face it, we had completely outgrown the Goody's space in Rivergate. We began our search for a new location right away and have been given some amazing opportunities for great, larger, SAFER space. We are in the final stages of nailing down a lease, so please continue to check our facebook page for updates as we will list that info as soon as we have it.
With that being said, appointments and worker shifts will not open until we have the dates and location nailed down. Please don't think that because it is listed as closed that we no longer have shifts left: actually, it's quite the opposite. We will need loads of workers to pull off our best sale yet.
I still plan to be a huge part of Encores North and I am already SO busy working getting all this NEW Gymboree and boutique clothing tagged and ready to consign. I have a feeling that we are getting ready to blow the doors off Sumner County with an amazing sale. What can you do to get ready?
1. Tag your items! Don't let it sneak up on you and be stressed at the last minute pulling items together.
2. Tell your friends! The more people that know about Encores North, the more shoppers we have which means your items sell better! It's a win-win!
3. Sign up for shifts once they become available! You will often hear people say that once you shop with the workers a FULL day before consignors, you never go back. Imagine the deals you can score while you shop in a nice, peaceful environment.
I'm excited about the future of Encores North and I can't wait to see how much you guys are going to love the changes. THANKS for your continued support of the sale! It's been an absolute blessing being part of such an amazing sale and I look forward to being involved for years to come!
I'm sure many of you have noticed lots of changes with Encores North Fall 2011 sale. First, let me encourage you that "a little change will do you good!" There's many things that are changing that I had been meaning to implement for a while now, but the sale is often so much work, that it sort of sneaks up on you and by then, it was always too late to make those changes.
I want to share with you my new role at Encores North. In January of this year, my husband and I made the final decision to sell the sale to the owners of the original Encores in Franklin. We felt and continue to feel that they know our vision for what we wanted Encores to be to our community and have promised to continue it's traditions of customer service and giving back to the community. The new owners agreed to keep the staff as it was, so you will still see all the familiar faces at Encores North. I have stepped back as much as possible to allow more freedom with my family, but to also take on a new role both as a trainer for future Encores sales and as a trunk keeper for Matilda Jane Clothing.
With that being said, the new owners, Natalie (sale manager) and I worked together to develop some positive changes for the sale...to make our sale the biggest and best around! We implemented a new tagging system which many of you have already checked out. Here's a couple of helpful hints for the tagging system:
1. Once you get a number for any of the Encores sales, you don't need to get a new number for the other Encores sales. Just email the other Encores sales you want to participate in and they will get that number registered for that sale as well. Just think: NO RETAGGING! It's an awesome feature of the site.
2. Because you have to fully register to get a number, you will now have a password and username attached to your number. No more worrying if you are using the right number or wondering if someone has transposed their number. This system prevents that from happening!
Another HUGE change which is amazing is our search for a new location. Let's face it, we had completely outgrown the Goody's space in Rivergate. We began our search for a new location right away and have been given some amazing opportunities for great, larger, SAFER space. We are in the final stages of nailing down a lease, so please continue to check our facebook page for updates as we will list that info as soon as we have it.
With that being said, appointments and worker shifts will not open until we have the dates and location nailed down. Please don't think that because it is listed as closed that we no longer have shifts left: actually, it's quite the opposite. We will need loads of workers to pull off our best sale yet.
I still plan to be a huge part of Encores North and I am already SO busy working getting all this NEW Gymboree and boutique clothing tagged and ready to consign. I have a feeling that we are getting ready to blow the doors off Sumner County with an amazing sale. What can you do to get ready?
1. Tag your items! Don't let it sneak up on you and be stressed at the last minute pulling items together.
2. Tell your friends! The more people that know about Encores North, the more shoppers we have which means your items sell better! It's a win-win!
3. Sign up for shifts once they become available! You will often hear people say that once you shop with the workers a FULL day before consignors, you never go back. Imagine the deals you can score while you shop in a nice, peaceful environment.
I'm excited about the future of Encores North and I can't wait to see how much you guys are going to love the changes. THANKS for your continued support of the sale! It's been an absolute blessing being part of such an amazing sale and I look forward to being involved for years to come!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
So far, SOOO good
When we initially found out the dates we could get the building for the sale, we were a little worried about how well attended the sale would be since it happened to fall the week of Spring Break for Nashville, TN.
We worried for nothing.
Our opening day, Saturday, was our largest Saturday ever. We typically have a line until around 2pm and then it slows down. We didn't catch the line until 4pm yesterday and that was with running 22 lanes. Insane.
When I walked back to strollers and realized we have less than 15 left out of the 119 that we started with, I was shocked. We have 2 Bumbos left! We started with 39. We have 9 swings left. We started with 90.
The good news? Consignors are going to be thrilled with their checks.
The bad news? We NEED consignors to bring in more goodies during our restock days, Monday-Wednesday from 11am-5pm. If you have large toys, equipment, beds, furniture, strollers, clothing, ANYTHING, please consider spending today tagging it.
Here's our rules on restock: MUST use the online tagging system you can find at online at Encores and More North. Clothing can be all seasons, but must be free from stains, odors, and other damage. Same goes for equipment. Carseats must be no older than 5 years and have not been in a wreck. We are taking NO drop side cribs unless than have been repaired using the manufacturer recall kit.
Come see us at Encores North this week, as we typically have over 100 consignors bring in more goodies. We have people come and shop EVERY day, so I promise we won't look at you like your crazy if you come back every day. We still have loads of amazing clothes and other goodies, so come check it out!
We worried for nothing.
Our opening day, Saturday, was our largest Saturday ever. We typically have a line until around 2pm and then it slows down. We didn't catch the line until 4pm yesterday and that was with running 22 lanes. Insane.
When I walked back to strollers and realized we have less than 15 left out of the 119 that we started with, I was shocked. We have 2 Bumbos left! We started with 39. We have 9 swings left. We started with 90.
The good news? Consignors are going to be thrilled with their checks.
The bad news? We NEED consignors to bring in more goodies during our restock days, Monday-Wednesday from 11am-5pm. If you have large toys, equipment, beds, furniture, strollers, clothing, ANYTHING, please consider spending today tagging it.
Here's our rules on restock: MUST use the online tagging system you can find at online at Encores and More North. Clothing can be all seasons, but must be free from stains, odors, and other damage. Same goes for equipment. Carseats must be no older than 5 years and have not been in a wreck. We are taking NO drop side cribs unless than have been repaired using the manufacturer recall kit.
Come see us at Encores North this week, as we typically have over 100 consignors bring in more goodies. We have people come and shop EVERY day, so I promise we won't look at you like your crazy if you come back every day. We still have loads of amazing clothes and other goodies, so come check it out!
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