Even if the consignment sale season doesn't start for a few more months, don't wait until then to find a consignment sale near you. Now's the time to find and choose the consignment sale you'd like to sell in. First thing is to FIND the sales. I like to use a consignment sale search site like ConsignmentMommies.com and of course Google always works. There are MANY things to consider when you are looking for a sale to join:
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Date- When is drop off? Does it overlap with another childrens boutique online sale you're participating in? How many days does it last? Are you available to volunteer? Is it near the beginning, middle or end of the consignment sale season?
You basically need to look for a sale that will fit your schedule and availability. There are pros and cons to selling at the different times through out the consignment sale season.
Beginning- Pro:Your items are some of the first available that season. Con: People may not be shopping for that season's clothes yet.
Middle- Pro: Lot's of people should be shopping for that season's clothes by now. Most people have not finished shopping for the up coming season. If it's a fall sale this is usually when most people are shopping for back to school and Tax-Free weekend usually falls somewhere around here. Con: There are a lot of competing sales.
End- Pro: If selling in multiple sales, you can sell clothes you bought at other sales, but don't fit or 'left overs'. (Please only sell 'left overs' if they are still quality items. Ask yourself: Is there a reason these are 'left overs'?). A lot of people will shop consignment sales to pick up items they forgot or couldn't find. During the fall/winter season a lot of Christmas shopping happens at consignment sale. During the spring/summer season a lot of people can bring their children with them since they are out of school. Con: Most people have finished their consignment sale shopping for that season.
Type- There are a lot of new specialized sales that have popped up recently. The most common being 'Name Brand Only'. Now days there's everything from 'Green' to 'Multiplies' to 'Large Items' to 'Boutique' to 'Teen/Prom'. Make sure you know what is accepted at the sale.
Location- Most people will only sell at local sales. This really is a good rule of thumbs unless you are willing to take the risk that the expense (gas, trailer rental, time, childcare etc.) will not out-weigh the rewards. Make sure you are willing and able to travel to the sale location, not only for drop off, but for the preview sale, volunteering and pick-up.
Percentage Seller Receives- Most sales hover around 70%. Sometimes you can even receive more if you volunteer or sign up early. Make sure you know how much you will be receiving. Anything 65% or more is fair.
Number of Sellers- Here again, there are pros and cons to selling at a large or small sale. Lots of sellers usually means lots of buyers, but also lots of competition. Fewer sellers usually means fewer buyers, but also fewer competition. If you do choose a large sale, and price your items competitively, you will still get a high sell rate and therefore make more money.
Quality- This can be a little tricky if you've never been to a previous sale. The best way to judge a sale is to gather info from previous sellers or the web site. Checkout a sale's web site for photos: Does the merchandise look organized? Do the volunteers look happy? Is there enough room to display merchandise? or is it piled in such a way that some items could get lost on the bottom?
What quality of items will they accept? Are they supper picky or supper lacks on the quality of items? 'Middle class sales' are preferable. Usually the high end sales (Super picky on quality) don't have your everyday needs, have over priced items, and usually don't have enough room to hold and display everything. The low end sales (accept anything and everything)usually end up looking more like a glorified garage sale.
Tagging System-Do they have a bar code system? or hand written tags? Hand write tags are not only a pain in the neck (and wrist), they are also a security hazard: tags can be easily changed. A lot of sales use My Consignment Manager. The nice thing about this is you can move items from one sale to another with out having to re-tag them.
Requirements of the Sellers-Almost every sale requires a sellers fee from each seller (Should NEVER be more than $20). This is usually taken out of the final check along with the sale's percentage. Some sales are now requiring all sellers to work a volunteer shift or reduce the price of all items on the final sale day. Make sure you are comfortable with all the seller requirements including: drop-off and pick-up procedures, Racking or sorting your own items and anything you may have to sign.
Why-There seams to be two main reasons a consignment sale is born: as someone's personal business or to support a cause (Church, Preschool, Mom's group, etc.) Make sure you are comfortable supporting this business or cause.
There really is nothing wrong with someone running a consignment sale as a private business, in fact these really are some of the best ones to work with. They are usually more organized and well run. They still support a very good cause: they put a roof over someone's head, and provide a living for a family.
Why do I suggest you research a sale before working with them in any way? This will help save you lots of time, money and cut down on your stress. As a parent, God knows we don't need anymore stress than we already have.;) So ask around, snoop on some web pages, send e-mails to the organizers, do what you have to to get your answers and know that your items are in good hands.
The days are long gone when fashion was only for adults. In today's world the majority of children are very aware of what is fashionable. A lot of young people are greatly influenced by what they see on television, which makes them picky as to what clothes they will wear. A number of years ago, when one of the very well known names in fashion held a children's fashion show, a lot of people raised their eyebrows. But today, things have changed, and there are hundreds of well known designers who make stylish clothing for children. The world of fashion has found a new market.
Watching Hollywood gossip shows and seeing stylish celebrities out and about with their well dressed sons and daughters, makes it hard not to want to dress your child in the same manner. In these current times dressing for success is a must Every single day there are hundreds of new products and services launched and the attendant millions of dollars spent to get us to buy these items is staggering. It is no different in the fashion industry.
Not too long ago, I saw a commercial on the small screen for a famous children's outerwear brand. The images of stylish, photogenic children cavorting happily in their designer jackets and pants, made me realize that advertising really works. Most likely you have seen comparable ads that professionally promote the most popular lines of children's wear.
Children today are extremely knowledgeable and particular regarding the clothing that they will and will not wear. It is difficult to impose your choice of clothing on your child. You can thank Hollywood movies for children wanting to wear exactly the same type of clothing as their favorite actors. A popular television show called Teen Rock Bands has also had a very big influence on children because of the popular and funky designs that the musicians wear.
Finding children's play clothing or dressy outfits at wholesale prices is not an overly difficult task. The best place to start your shopping is on the internet. There are a variety of online stores that offer a wide range of children's clothing from fleece and linen pants, to stylish jackets and designer shirts. Don't forget to look online for sales at the end of the season as well. There is such a large variety of styles, patterns, and colors available, that you are sure to find something pleasing for your child.
I recommend buying your children's clothing wholesale instead of spending hundreds of dollars on overpriced department store designer clothes, or at children's boutiques. Many online clothing companies sell clothing for children at rock-bottom prices. Just do an online search and you will discover a virtual mall for your child that has the best clothing at the very best prices. With just a few mouse clicks, you can select and purchase a fresh new wardrobe of hot designer outfits that will delight your child.