Shopping consignment sales is a ton of fun, but everyone knows kids clothes cost money. Buying new clothes every season can be hard on the budget. One way to re-coup some of that money is by consigning their outgrown clothes.

As my children have grown I’ve sold clothes, shoes, baby equipment, toys, car seats, baby carriers, you name it! I have found that sometimes, you can get enough to cover everything you buy in a season, and a little extra spending money!

In this second half of my two part blog series (first post here), I will share tips I have gathered while consigning my kid’s stuff.

1. Know your sales

Different sales will offer different benefits to consigning with them. Around here, the standard commission you will receive from your sales is 60%. However, one local sale offers ways to earn up to 85% commission by doing things such as referring others and volunteering with them. They also offer a drawing to win big prizes like a Disney trip! Lots of other sales offer consignors shopping benefits. Like early access to sales, including Discount Day, where items are generally 50%.

2. Give yourself plenty of time

If it is your first time, you probably have a ton to consign. My first time consigning, I waaaaay underestimated how long it would take me to go through things and prepare. I had a year’s worth of baby clothes, toys, and accessories. It didn’t sound like much, but it was an unbelieveably big task. I waited far too long and barely put a dent in what I had to consign. I know know to start a few weeks in advance and do a little bit every day.

3. Choose what you are consigning wisely!

Always choose things that you would consider buying if you saw them at a sale. Be sure clothes are clean and wrinkle free. You want them to be very visually appealing to the buyer. Try to weed out stains, especially big ones, as they probably will not sale. Contrary to popular belief you CAN donate stained clothes to places like Salvation Army and Goodwill. This is where your older items should also be donated because they typically won’t sale. Also, make sure you are consigning items appropriate for the season. Many sales will not accept items that do not align with the upcoming season.

4. Price items fairly

Remember, this is a consignment store, not a boutique. No matter how much you loved that precious little outfit, the Mama buying it is going to see that wash wear and tiny spot of OJ you never got out. These clothes have already been loved and probably show it.

My general pricing (which may vary depending on your location) for clothing is shown in this  graphic.

When pricing other items, such as nursery decorations or toys. I usually look at the condition of the item. If it’s like new, I’d price it at 60% of retail. Good used condition 50%. General used condition 30-40% depending on item.

5. Hang clothes in a certain manner.

This is something most first time cosigners don’t think about. You need to make sure your clothes are hanging front facing with the hanger in a reverse “r”. This is so people browsing can easily see them. Make sure all pieces of an outfit are visible. You may need to use safety pins to make sure the clothing is strongly secured to the hanger. It is typically best to use wire hangers, and the clothes don’t usually fall off easily. Many sales require them. When adding your tag, you will need to follow the format that the sale requires. This varies from sale to sale so be sure to check. However, regardless of format, be sure to hang your tag in the mid-upper left shoulder of an outfit, so the price is quickly visible to consignors.

6. Consider consigning multiple places.

This is especially true if other sales don’t require you to change the tags. Not having to change the tags makes it really simple. Some sales get more visibility than others. Some have a different customer base looking for different things. There is a good potential to sale things you didn’t at the first sale. Most importantly though, you get those awesome consignor perks again, like early access to sales!

Hopefully this makes your first time consigning easier. If you discover your own tips as you go, please share! Happy consigning!

Author

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  Amanda Dover

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