After all these years, I didn’t think there was anything new to learn about
resale. But my volunteer job at a consignment-only, not-for-profit shop has proved me wrong!
You’ve heard me preach forever about the disadvantages of item limits on incoming. It’s inconvenient for the consignor, she selects the wrong things to bring, the best consignors won’t put up with it, and so on.
Well, here’s another reason to NOT have item limits:
It messes up YOUR head.
The shop where I’m working has a 20 item limit. Canny consignors bring in 25 or 30 things. So what did I find myself doing? Choosing the 20 “best” items from those offered. After all, the consignor interprets the 20-item limit as I am entitled to bring in 20 items. . . and so, kinda, did I.
Even if that meant I was accepting things I wouldn’t accept if there was no limit. Without limits, I’d choose the 2 or 12 or 22 best. I’d choose what would sell and not accept the things that wouldn’t.
But no, I was taking 20 from each consignor, even if the last few were not things I really thought I should. And I was forced to reject some mighty fine stuff once I had gotten to #20 with the folks who offered the 25 or 30 really good things.
By thinking “20 item limit” and mentally turning that into “20 from each person, regardless of quality”, the “bad” were driving out the good!
Is that any way to run a consignment shop?
This article was originally run on TGtbT.com, and is reprinted here because it is more important than ever to operate any retail business with care and thoughtfulness.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
As previous owners, I started my consignment shop by reading your book. I have now been in business 20 years! We have 8 part-time employees. I would like to know if there is a national average hourly wage for sales associates. Mine work 2 to 3 days a week. I believe we have always been fair but want to stay aware. Thank you for your help.
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Hi Charlotte,
I am sure there is some sort of national average (try the dept of Labor site), but I remain skeptical of any sort of “average”… obviously, averaging Manhattan wages with Smalltown Anywhere results in a number that’s equally meaningless to both markets.
Besides, there’s nothing “average” about our businesses, right? Or the people we want to work for us, or the jobs we ask them to do. On top of that, remember that most consignment shops ask a lot more from their staffers than a “regular” store, in that we deal with buyers and suppliers on a hourly basis. The clerk in a new-merchandise store doesn’t have to know how to handle a consignor, but ours do… so they deserve every bit of the wages you can fiscally manage, IMHO!
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