I hope you’re knee-and-elbow deep in Christmas (Holiday, Hanukkah, Winter
Solstice etc) planning this weekend. I hope your expectations for the holiday selling period in your consignment (resale, thrift etc) shop are great.
But I suspect they are not. And worse, I suspect that your very expectations are going to be self-fulfilling.
If you do not anticipate your shop having a good selling period between now and the holiday season, you’re throwing money away. Not only is that bad for you (obviously) but it’s terrible for your local economy, your potential market, your staff and your clients (consignors, sellers, donors, assorted people who wander in, etc.)
Think about what’s going on now:
Consumers have been leery of buying anything much, pretty much all year long. BUT: they’ll buy now if not before. Why not at your place? See What does a 3-year-old “want” for Christmas?
There’s folks out there, gonna be wasting money right and left. Buying bubble-bath baskets and gag gifts. BUT: Your shop can stop them before they overspend! If you haven’t yet thrown everything you have into persuading your suppliers to comb their homes for those NWT items which can be re-gifted…do it now. Get that 90% of consumers to explore your shop.
If you aren’t willing to give up the business ghost because others tell you “I wouldn’t shop secondhand for the holidays”… then get Holidays in Resale, a Product for the Professional Resaler. Now.
The holiday you save may be your own. Or your customers’. Or your consignors’. Or your village’s. Don’t give up the ghost of Christmas Present(s).
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Mens shirts are flying out the door for the holidays! Unusual tees as well! Jewelry is great, but purses have slowed down… but I have feeling they will pick right backup when they see these amazing finds.
Scarf and hat sets… a great local gal knits them for us! Smencils for stocking stuffers! Hairbows too. All at the counter.
Skirts and Blazers are up front….
Store is decorated for christmas… our theme is Twilight christmas… so the tree has apples.
NWT items.. been calling out for those for quite awhile and getting them in slower then I would like… but the nwt jammies sold right away.
Halloween…. great buy back promo gave them gift certs to utilize… worked fabulous! While they are off the floor and packed they are not put away… gotta get that done 🙂
So much to do… plus above average receiving…crazy great! Plus I have to get to my blog… Deb told me I can get to it now… hmmmm.
Thanks for the greatpost.
Kate, one of the biggest parts of our holiday season is the dresses and accessories for all those parties!!!! It starts in October and goes right into the 2nd week of December…we play it up as much as possible and have found it to be a huge financial reward in the past. Keep your fingers crossed for this year – I’ve been sick an unable to work for over two weeks now…have not had much say in what is actually happening at my store!!!!