Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

(If you’re just arriving here at Auntie Kate’s Blog, we’re in the midst of a mini-series. Read our beginning message.)

It’s really easy, in any business, to get hung up on the little stuff…dare I say the petty stuff? And in retail, there are petty details galore to draw your attention, energy, and concern. Add to the standard retail issues, the unique twist of RESALE and consignment, where every piece of merchandise is unique and requires individual attention, and you could have the makings of a disaster on your hands…unless you remain aware of The Big Picture.

And just what, you may will ask, IS The Big Picture?

I’m so glad you asked. The Big Picture is your goal, your aim, your business’ mission statement, your purpose in life. Every action, every decision, every answer has a Big Picture. Like: What do you want for lunch? Well, depends on your Big Picture vis-a-vis lunch. Is your goal (for lunch today, not necessarily every day) to eat something quick and non-messy because you’re checking in sequined cocktail gowns right now (or, as my favorite staffer used to call them, sequence gowns)? Or is your Big Picture that six 6 gown that has your name on it, so you’ll have a plain yogurt, thanks for asking.

Your mind and soul and heart are in reality a Louvre, a National Gallery of the Arts, a Tate Gallery of masterpieces. There isn’t just ONE Big Picture in your life, there are many…and there are even some traveling exhibitions that are here today, in Tucumcari tomorrow (alas, the Boyfriends of Yesteryear!) The trick is to figure out which Big Picture matters in this instance.

You’ll find that taking a few moments to decide which Big Picture is in front of you now, will help you make wise decisions.

Don’t get so caught up in the sea gulls that you don’t see the sea.

Maybe you’ve heard me tell this story: Once, I visited a shop where the handwritten price tags came in various lengths. Some were 2″ long, some were 1 1/2″ and a goodly number were actually only about 1/2″ long. Behind the counter sat the proprietress with a pile of tickets, cutting off the consignor information that had been written very small on the bottom edge for her bookkeeping and saving the rest of the tag for re-use.

Now of course I’m all for recycling, for saving money, for using up. But here this woman sat, not saying hello, yet alone getting the dust bunnies out from under the racks. But by golly, she saved up to $1 a day by reusing tags. I was just praying a stiff wind wouldn’t come along and blow her miniscule pieces of tag away before she could get them recorded in her consignment records.

She was focusing on the sea gulls as the tide came in. And went out. I left without buying a thing.

Then there’s the “problems” resalers create for themselves by ignoring their Big Pictures:

• I don’t do layaways, I have no room. Big Picture ignored: Customer Convenience
• We can’t cash your consignor check, we don’t keep that kind of money around. BP ignored: It’s a lot more tempting to spend cash in hand, and she’d have it, if your BP includes selling merchandise.
• It’s the landlord’s job to clean up the garbage in the parking lot. BP ignored: It’s your shop’s reputation that’s being trashed as potential clients wade through the rubbish.

You get the picture, right?

I hope your Big Picture includes, along with health and happiness and family and friends, success at your career.

Clown picture from Tickles, Yowza and the Clown kids Poco and Dots-a-Lot in BC at ticklestheclown.com. Seascape from some English auction gallery.