Posted in I've been meaning to tell you on September 9, 2008|
In my continuing series Things I’ve been Meaning to Tell You, I’ve wanted to include having an elevator speech.
An elevator speech is something you should always have handy…even if you’re a resale shopkeeper whose nearest elevator is full of grain. It’s a short, (more…)
Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk on September 8, 2008| 79 Comments »
Tens of thousands of consignment, resale, and thrift shopkeepers have used Too Good to be Threw, The Complete Operations Manual, to start thriving businesses. When people ask me for the “short version” of my 200+ page manual, I give them this checklist so they can decide of a resale shop is for them.
1- Determine a desire. Is this truly what you want to do? Consider exploring the field thoroughly before you
invest your energy, time, money…and heart…in it. The investment will pay off: either you will start your business ahead of the curve or you will decide that resale shopkeeping is not for you.
2- Know if there’s a need. What shops exist now in your marketplace? What are their (more…)
Posted in Shopkeeping talk on September 5, 2008| 7 Comments »
Because nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. When potential shoppers go by, other (more…)
Posted in Shopkeeping talk on September 3, 2008| 3 Comments »
I’m easily set off on a resale rampage. Just tell me something that has
NO basis in good business, and watch the froth build up around my lips.
This rampage, which I try to hold in check most of the year, is really important for me to let fly now, as the fall-to-winter-to-holiday shopping season begins, the most important time of the year for consignment and resale shops. Here’s what was said on our Sharing discussion board that set me off on today’s Froth:
I don’t want to set a layaway policy because I don’t
want to actually do them all the time. I don’t have room.
Froth #1: if you have (more…)
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, learn a lot on September 1, 2008|
The Strand Bookstore in Manhattan prides itself on its vast selection of books. In fact, its tagline is
Home of 18 miles of New, Used, Rare and Out of Print Books
Think about this for a moment: How many miles (well, okay, yards or meters) of “new, used, rare and out of production” styles does your consignment shop carry? Or how many different decorating styles (let’s see there’s Early American, Danish, Mid-Century, Victorian, cottage, lodge, just for a start) does your hard-goods resale shop offer? Or brands? Or, actually, different choices (hint: you carry more brands than any of the “real” stores could possibly afford to.)
Oh yes. Did you notice their “Books by the Foot” promotion? Or the Strand 80? Isn’t it wonderful that there are so many ideas out there that, with a little tweaking, will give your business the business? Like this one from the dentist’s, and this one from the mall, and heck, this one from the Girl Scouts.
It’s just SO much fun, Poking one’s nose in other people’s business.
Too Good to be Threw is the flagship site of the TGtbT Family of Sites for the Professional Resalers
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
