Auntie Kate The Resale Expert

Right after Christmas is a terrific time to build your consignment, resale, and thrift store business.

For 3 reasons.

First, there’s a lot of unwanted things sitting unwrapped under the tree this week.

too big

too small

she has no taste AT ALL.

what was he thinking

to give a gift so stinking?

Can I switch it for something I adore?

(Apologies to Dr. Seuss)

And a lot of those unwanted items aren’t returnable/exchangeable. Or those lines at customer service are too long or the postage to return something to an e-tailer makes it just not worth doing.

What’s the recipient to do? Bring them to you. (My, I am on a poetic roll here today, aren’t I?)

Then there’s a lot of things that are wanted even more simply because Christmas is over.

Some were disappointed Christmas morning: She was SO counting on getting a changing table for the incipient offspring, or he really wanted a recliner. Others have Santa cash to spend. And still others have a newly-acquired need that your resale shop can fulfill. A New Year’s Eve outfit for a first date, a suitcase to go with the tickets to Puerto Rico he received.

Did you know that bridal shops are their busiest in January because of all the Christmas-morning engagement rings?

And then there’s the upgrades.

The third reason you can court an upswing in your resale shop’s selection and sales: You can attract previous possessions that are now replaced by their upgrades: gorgeous red sweater that’s now not quite as gorgeous as the double-ply cashmere Santa brought.

So craft your ads, write your broadcast emails, create your blog entries, hone your Twitters and your FBs…and get folks in right now!

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about how to stretch your post-holiday  upswing in resale traffic right on into January.