Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

I’m tickled to announce this week’s winner of our Wacky Wednesday Giveaway for several reasons:

Jessica!

First reason I am pleased: Because Jessica’s shop is in Michigan, and if she chooses to spend her $25 Too Good to be Threw gift certificate on a Sponsor listing at HowToConsign.com, I’m sure that there’s tons of folks who’d be tickled to find her shop!

Second: “Cause 18’s my lucky number (hey, I take pleasure in the smallest things 😉 )

and third, because her 4 pieces of advice are spectacularly GOOD. Jessica posted:

We got a ton of advice before opening and the three best pieces of advice were

1) never lower your standards (whether it be for customer service, incoming consignments or cleanliness of the store)

2) always be ready to change

3) always have at least 6 months of operating expenses in the bank including every penny you owe to consignors at all times

I’m thrilled that Jessica called attention to keeping up one’s standards in all ways…it’s so easy to forget how important each facet of running a shop is.

And always be ready to change: Keeping the flexibility and the willingness to change as the market demands keeps you several steps ahead of resale or consignment shops who can’t or won’t see the changes all around us. (Not to mention more customer-oriented than most “new” stores!)

Always have 6 months’ expenses is something many shops forget. Oh, they had it when they opened but that was years ago and they don’t need to worry anymore, right? I think the recent snowstorms, or a road diversion or other mishaps have shown us all: keep the operating expenses always ready to use if needed!

Including every penny you owe to consignors… that one piece of advice sums up a healthy, vibrant, growing shop. The money owed consignors (or your BOR budget, if you’re a buy-outright) is never ever spent on anything. Read more on How can a consignment shop go bankrupt?

So Jessica, let me know how you’d like to spend your $25 gift certificate (HowToConsign Sponsorship here; Products for the Professional Resaler here) and congratulations!

Thanks to all who participated and special thanks to Patty of Wandering Wardrobe in Springville Utah who offered this week’s Giveaway prize!

Watch for this week’s Wacky Wednesday Giveaway… it’s a question I am SURE everyone knows the answer to. In fact, I’ve been answering it in my head all week 😉

Past Wacky Wednesday doings and comments.