Have your say!
I invite you to “comment” to this post if there are ideas and concerns you wish to share with your consignment, resale, and thrift peers. I do hope, as well, that you’ll answer the concerns of others here. You can even choose to reply to a specific comment (old or new) if you want to add your viewpoint.
See? Auntie Kate clicked “reply” to answer Tissa (so did Rene), and tpresson “replied” to Rene. (Click the graphic to enlarge)
Our industry is all about helping others…
as we would wish to be helped. The latest comments are at the end of the list, and you can “reply” directly to ANY comments, new or older by clicking the “reply” word directly above the poster’s gravatar/image.
Want to watch for an answer or reply? There’s a checkbox beneath where you enter your comment or your reply to a comment, which will send you an email when someone adds to the conversation.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Is this an appropriate venue to offer a resale store that is up for sale?
Please respond. Thank you.
Hi KIdsResale! Only http://HowToConsign.com Treasured Sponsors may have free rein to “advertise” here on my site. Of course, HAVING your business LISTED on the #1 Google-ranked site, http://HowToConsign.com, would be a PLUS in promoting your business as a Great Buy, showing your dedication to the industry…. please visit http://HowToConsign.com/sponsor.htm to see how you can ADD VALUE for a pittance to what you’re trying to sell: your resale shop!
Help please. I am looking for a cute, nice way to say “feel free to let your kids play, but please clean up after them.” I am looking for different ways of saying this without sounding like I really don’t want kids to play. One of the things I love about my children’s consignment store is that people are comfortable here and kids LOVE to come here. I would just like to have a reminder posted for parents…
I’m of the camp that no matter how cute the sign is it says that you don’t really like my children in your store. I’m not sure what the kids are leaving. We have playroom and our sale toys are not reachable by little hands in our toy room which is separate from our playroom. This playroom is always a mess.
I want parents to spend they ENTIRE time in my store, and we know how abruptly it can end, shopping and being relaxed. I’ll pick up after their kids for them.
A a shopper myself I know I feel a little uncomfortable because no matter the words it ultimately conveys that “we have a problem with some children and their parents”. I then get stressed about what my kids can touch and how far I go from them.
The real offenders are never going to stop their children from destruction or pick up after them no matter how many signs you put up.
Just one person’s opinion.
Good point, Wendy, Would parents be offended, no matter what a shopkeeper says or how nicely? And for sure, what you say about the real offenders never heeding signs, anyway. Is it worth the possible offense, to try to educate those who won’t BE educated?
Great viewpoint!
Hard one always. I am only maternity but in Utah… 90% of all my customers have little ones in tow. I was amazed to find that 99% of the moms with kids always have them clean up before they go. I knew I didnt want a huge mess but my biggest concern was pregnant women tripping on toys out on the floor. My solution- very few and simple toys 5 books, a couple blocks, one wooden bead thing that go around the wires and a box to put them in. There is a little tv (no chairs because those would move) oh and a dinosaur that roars, it’s a favorite 🙂 I placed it right next to the fitting rooms in the far back away from the front door (scary) My sign says ” This Play area was made especially for your children to enjoy. Please leave all the toys in this area so that no mommies will step on them and fall 🙂 A lot never see it but some do. Plus since I don’t sell kids stuff, it’s easy to spot toys that their kids are leaving all over the place. The store is very minimal and organized so if there is a block on the floor we all know who did it… Sometimes it’s my own. I also have no problem telling kids to stop touching something or letting their parents know what their doing and it usually follows with “I don’t want them to get hurt” I play nice but it is still my store and my rules. I feel like it’s my home and I’m providing a service but I won’t let anyone disrespect that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing for a parent to feel cautious about their kids touching stuff in a store. They should because even if there were no breakables or toys, a child could still feel like the fire extinguisher was a toy, and tear the whole thing out of the wall… True story.
How about the lady that let her son SIT in my vintage hatbox! Needless to say, I had to throw it in the trash. That’s the reason I don’t have a children’s shop. I have no patience, some parent’s now days don’t seem to want to discipline their kids.
I have a children’s and maternity consignment store. Customers are always asking if we carry baby books. Does anyone have a good wholesaler recommendation? I would like a small variety, and I don’t want them to be too expensive (less than $20 retail). Thanks for any suggestions!
Jelly cat makes some great baby books. Also check into taggies. These make great gifts and are inexpensive.
This is a great forum for chatting. It’s not SHARING, but it works! Thanks Kate!
Thanks Carolyn, and hope you will be able to lend your expertise and viewpoint when you have a few moments here and there.
There’s also some thoughtful requests for opinions over on the Ask Auntie Kate page, and comments and suggestions always welcomed there, too!
I believe this format will increase the thoughtfulness and value of our contributions, don’t you? As OPEN HOUSE (this post) gets too unwieldy, I’ll start a new page or post…
I’ve been saving for awhile and I’m not quite where I wanted to be when I got a place. My savings goal was with everything estimated high. I’m going this Sunday to look at a place. It’s a lot bigger than I planned (I’d say about 10,000 sq. ft., over double what I’d hoped for), but it’s been empty so long that the guy is auctioning off the lease. The highest bidder gets a two year lease at that price. I know what is in my budget, but I’m curious as to what you all would consider fair for 10,000 sq. ft. I can’t even get a good idea of utilities for the space b/c it’s only been used as a restaurant. If I get it at a good rate I’ll be thrilled since it’s in a prime location in the town, if I can’t then it’s not meant to be and I’ll just keep saving. Thank you for any input you have. 🙂 Have a great day everyone!
Eileen,
A “fair rent” on 10,000 sq ft would be dependent on SO many variables, anything I could say would be meaningless. For example, the location (traffic, access to major highways, visibility from road, access from road, neighboring businesses)
and condition (are you going to have to rip out restaurant equipment and will the landlord allow that? what about remodeling and are there accessibility issues that must be addressed?)
and market value of retail leaseholds in your community (that’s easily gotten, with lots of chatting with landlords and commercial realtors)
and finally, the actual lease and its clauses and provisions. I am gonna take a wild guess and suggest that your utility companies can provide you with ball-park figures for 10000 sq ft of retail space… if not, ask like-sized stores with like-hours and friendly managers/owners!
Best wishes and let us know how the auction goes!
Kate
Hi Auntie Kate!
The owner was super nice. I walked through the restaurant and thought it looked great, but it would have taken months to get into because he would have to auction off the equipment.
The owner is more concerned with enriching the town than making a profit, so he showed me the building he owned right next door. (Not that he doesn’t want to break even!) The owner also owns a heating an air company and he just redid that part of this other building (that I didn’t even know was up for rent). He even offered to replace the carpets. This space is much smaller at 1400sq. ft. BUT is much more open and much more utility cost friendly for a start up.
I have a few days to consider it and I most definitely am. In fact it’s rather hard to turn down. The terms of the lease aren’t half bad and the owner is a great person. It’s also on the main drag through town. I wasn’t even planning on looking for a place for a few months, but since he was auctioning rent on the restaurant I didn’t think it would hurt to look. I think this other building is a better opportunity and it’s in my price range now.
Keep posting Kate! I’ve learned so much from your site it isn’t funny.
–Eileen
Thanks for getting back to us, Eileen. The whole idea of auctioning off a lease intrigued many of us!
But geez, “it isn’t funny”? I thought http://TGtbT.com had at least a LITTLE humor in it…
when do you know it is time to open a second store?
We have been opened for 1 year and a half and have been doing great; in our original business plan we put down that we would strive to open a second store within the second year.
What’s your take?
Mimi – We’re in the same boat. We’ve been open a year and a half I’m ready to open the second store as our business plan says but I’m nervous. My husband works in the store full time, I’m still working at a law firm full time with a wonderful salary and benfits. Its so fustrating when I’m only in the store very part time and there’s soooo much to do, I feel like I’m missing out on so much. But making that plunge to quit my job and open a 2nd store, When is a good time to do it is the 64 million dollar question
Kim,
LOL: Ditto: my husband manage the store full time while I work for “corporate America” with a wonderful salary and benefits and I am frustrated not to be there as much as I should be.( only every 2 weeks on Saturday).
What kind of store do you have?
Thanks, Kate, for incorporating the Sharing Board into the blog format. I think it’s just fine.
DID YOU HEAR THE WHIMPER?
As Congress passed HR2715 to amend the CPSIA? ‘Memba that? Well our industry may have had some relief – but others weren’t so fortunate. Sad to say Rick Woldenberg has given up his fight. Makes me sad.
http://learningresourcesinc.blogspot.com/
I’ve written Rick a thank-you note for all he did… and hope that other resale shopkeepers will do the same. He’s an American of the first order: looking at what the legislature does with a keen eye on reality, the way politics can eat away at the very principles our representatives were elected and are paid to protect. A good man indeed.
Yes, he is a hero to me and I don’t have a lot of them. He has made a lot of powerful enemies and I hope that doesn’t come back to haunt him.
If you are really ready– pick the best of the available location, don’t agree to a long term lease. I believe that if people will read the paper for garage sales and drive down every back road in search of the ultimate bargain- they will find you.
I have always found that if you can get that first job, item, whatever that you want- something better will present itself and you will be ready to go. It will be the most fun, the most work and most rewarding experience of your life.
Sounds as if you have the PASSION, just go with your FAITH….my advice is to pick a location that has some other ‘good walk-in traffic’ from other shops nearby that women will be visiting that will see your signs and be curious. It is lot of hard work but so rewarding…be prepared to work very hard for two years…Best of everything to you!
Hi Kate and Friends,
I have been wanting to open a resale shop for about 5 years, last year I was convinced it was time and I scoured my area for good locales. I couldn’t find anything I thought would be a good fit for me. So I never opened. Here I am a year later and still the location choices seem inferior in my opinion. I’m starting to believe I won’t allow myself to think any location is good enough. How do you know when it is really the best time to open. I’ve read the book, twice, I have all my day to day paperwork in order IMO, but I think I am just afraid.
Hi Prettythings!
I would say, a good time to open is during a slow time of the year… It lets you get all the kinks out and figure things out. We opened our store in February of this year and we’ve been getting busy’r every month. We’ve had employees since about month 3 and we are in about month 8. The store has been paying for them along with the other “costs” of the store. We’re really excited!
As for the location, I too agree, it would be best to be near where there is walk-by/walk-in traffic but you have to also think of what kind of “traffic” that is, what kind of clientelle and if it would be a good fit with the type of product you will be selling.
We are children’s & maternity and we are located about 6 doors from a Subway, and have 2 or 3 dentists within our parking lot and are backed up to a pretty busy road.
Hi there everyone! Cynthia here. Hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to the busy fall season! But, to all my fellow shopkeepers, especially newbies to the business – a small nudge is in order as well! Be good to your body! Wear comfortable, supportive shoes (even if they ain’t so attractive). Standing/walking all day on hard floors will, eventually, show up in foot problems. Most especially – be kind to your hands. Be aware of repetitive motions you make – all those hangers you let hang from your hand etc. For control freaks (I say with a kind smile) that feel they must do all of or most of either the sorting, entering, pricing or tagging – don’t be surprised if you end up with hand ‘issues’ if you stay in business for any length of time. I know!
I had hand surgery yesterday on my right thumb, forefinger and middle finger. Not from arthritis – ‘repetitive stress’ (not carpal tunnel) prompted my body to create excess calcium deposits around the joints to help ‘protect’ them. Had surgery on a foot two years ago – basically as the result of poor footwear choices in the early days of the shop.
Just thought I’d plant the bug in your ears so when you get busy, maybe you’ll be a teeny bit more aware of the stress you put on your body – especially in the busiest season. Take care of yourself – you deserve it!
Surgery yesterday and impeccable typing today? You go girl!
Thanks for the warnings. And glad to hear that you didn’t have to deal with Irene last weekend.
Cynthia, That is very good advice. I hope everyone will listen to it. I estimate that I have steamed over 100,000 garments over the past 14 years and now have a shoulder and elbow that I would like to rip off on some days. Over using the same joints will catch up with you over the years.
I have been working all year to open a kid gear consignment shop and am 6-8 weeks away. Its all coming together. I had just started browsing Sharing and got much info from it, stuff I never would have thought of. There was one discussion that I wish I had noted on, about consignment software. There was a couple mentioned by name, of which I can remember the name of only one and it seems like I remember a bit of a squabble between one company and Auntie Kate (she won). Now I am ready to purchase and it seems like NARTS endorsed one but I dont know the name of it.
I saw on the internet that BCSS is cheaper and makes a lot of comparisions to others that are most favorable to themselves. They also talk about companies out to rake the new store owner. Can someone point me in the right direction here?
Bonnie
Toy-Go-Round
Sure can, Bonnie. Try the various softwares, as seen on the Links Page at TGtbT.com, for yourself… then make up your own mind as to which suits you. NARTS doesn’t endorse one company; if you are a member of NARTS, you can see which companies are members of the resale association which is a HUGE point to consider.
Of course, if you have my manual, you will know my best advice for you at this point in your hopefully long and rewarding career. Re-read pages 201-203. And heed.
Yes! I have been a member of HTC for two years now! I have purchased many of your booklets, the resale bible, Too Good to be Threw, and even your book, The Picker Who Perished! I love that they have been very enjoyable to read, along with being extremely informative! I tell consignors, shop owners, (cause I have to go shopping where ever I travel) to check out your websites for more information on how others work resale. I always send people that think opening a resale shop would be fun your way too! Fun, but a TON of work I always tell them! LOL! I think what you offer is way more important than just the sharing. It was just nice, as a shop owner, to be able to head on over and see what other folks are doing in their businesses. Again, I do really appreciate all you do for us!! I know it must have been hard to let the sharing go, and even harder to tell us its gone. Hugs! I will see you next year in Saint Louis!!!!
Julianna
Let me add my thanks, Kate. You offer us so much.
I imagined you were taking time off, so only tried to get to sharing again today. Various folks had asked for our vendors when they visited our store, Clothes Circuit, during the Dallas convention.
The round size dots we use for shoes
Precision Press & Label
P. O. Box 185524
Fort Worth, Tx., 76181-0524
800-343-5994 Fax: 817-595-1782
precisionpressandlabel.com
We order the white with black lettering
Promotional emery boards
Stanley M. David & Assoc., Inc.
2351 W. Northwest Hwy., Ste. 1107
Dallas, Tx., 75220
promo@smdavid.com or http://www.smdavid.com
214-638-5221 Fax: 214-638-4058
Window and curbside banners
Curb Appeal Signs Banners Flags | 6300 Maple Avenue | Dallas | TX | 75235
1-800-332-8730 debbie@curbappealsigns.com
I remain available to follow up with those of you had other questions. Our own local consignment association meets once or twice a year and we remain available to one another by phone and email for help on common issues. Like Kate, I strongly believe we all reflect on the professionalism of our fellow shops. This “Sharing” void could have you looking at ways to create the community of resalers Kate feels would be so beneficial in your town. I wish you all a prosperous fall. Irene
Gosh Kate! I never knew! Thank you so much for all your years of service! I really appreciated all the info that was available to us. So sorry that the funding never came through! I wish we had known the situation. I guess we all know how much it was worth now that it is no more. I know I miss Sharing Sooooo much!
Does NARTS have a good board? Is it comparable? What about us starting a yahoo groups? That is free, although we would need moderators. That way we can search archives, and have files and pictures to post in.
Thank you Kate! I am sorry that there were so many that never contributed money toward the cause. Hugs!
Julianna
Owner of Replay Children’s Wear
Thanks for your concern, Julianna. But my decision that Sharing was not the answer was never, and STILL isn’t, about money. It’s about support.
I had envisioned it as a platform for resalers of all sorts to SHARE and support one another. To help, with their experience, their concerns, their time and yes, a teeny bit of their money, every single resale shop to do better. I envisioned a shopkeeper in Town A drawing a shopkeeper in Town B (and those in their own town as well) into Sharing, into learning, into listing their businesses on the consumer-education site, HowToConsign.com.
I had high hopes that my audience of hundreds upon hundreds of involved and concerned shopkeepers like those reading this message would reach their peers, would understand that when one of us does better, more of the public would think more highly of our entire industry, and not only would the public be served well, but the planet’s resources would be eased by an infinitesimal amount, and we all would have satisfying and rewarding careers that we could be proud of.
Believe me, NO ONE IS SADDER AT SHARING HAVING FAILED than I. After all, I’m the one who put her heart, soul, effort and time into providing for use. I guess I am a lousy preacher, that I couldn’t even get such a simple message as “help others and you too will be helped” across.
I bless all who understood that one must give to get and who did offer sensible advice, actual resources, and concern on Sharing. And those who introduced our little Sharing community to other resalers and who added their name to the roll call of professional resalers on the consumer-centric HTC site. And to the 8 or 9 shopkeepers who actually ponied up the completely-symbolic dollar to sponsor a neighboring non-profit during EarthWeek. I have made many professional friends thru Sharing, and enjoyed a lot of laughs and some can-you-believe-THAT moments, but Sharing did simply not accomplish its name.
I will continue, as I have for 15 years, to provide help through my 2 websites, this blog, my 3 Facebook accounts, my 2 Twitter accounts, the free e-newsletter for the general public, the growing archive of free articles at TGtbT.com and the additional information available to HowToConsign.com Sponsors, my monthly NARTS column and my annual volunteer presentations at Conference. I hope that resalers will actually comment on, and add their viewpoint and knowledge to, my 10-15 posts a week here on the blog. And hopefully, somewhere along the way, a few of you might purchase for your own use, or as a gift for a peer, some of the Products for the Professional Resaler that I sell at TGtbT.com.
Good selling to each and every one of you!
Kate
I certainly understand Kate’s reasoning and it appears obviously that those of us who are willing to help are too late. I learned of all of Kate’s products after stumbling onto the forum around a year ago so if I would have had more to contribute myself I sure would have. I was in the process of a question posted when the site went down and then on vacation and never knew Kate wanted volunteers to test a new one or anything. I thought those few were “hand-chosen” by Kate and I just didn’t make the cut being so new.
Regardless, as I said, it’s obvious we are too late to try to help keep Sharing going. I’m saddened by this but there’s nothing I can do anymore. I would volunteer money, time, etc., but it seems the spark for this forum is gone for Kate. I did sponsor HTC within a few months after my store opened. In a sense, I felt like my membership INCLUDED the forum and made it that much more valuable to me. Alas, done is done.
Julianna, I’d be interested in a Yahoo group or whatever, too; in fact, I’ve been researching trying to start some sort of forum myself that I would hope Kate would join as well as everyone else. I’ll do whatever I can… and I do like the idea of a Yahoo group actually. I’d be happy to moderate or whatever.
Another thing I’m missing terribly is the archived information from Sharing. I was in the process of copying posts to notepads for reference. I’ve missed out on so much that I would never have even thought to ask about myself! Always a day late for me as usual.
Anyway, I hope some of you will stay in contact with me either via facebook or by email. My information is below and I’ve signed in for this post using my personal facebook account.
Thanks again Kate for all you’ve done; I’m only sorry that I wasn’t around for all the years you did give to Sharing. I cherish my year of membership and appreciate all of the other offerings you have.
Jodi – Cheap Frills Consignment Boutique
http://www.facebook.com/CheapFrills
CheapFrillsConsignment@gmail.com
You bring up an interesting point, Julianna, I’d like to clarify.
“Membership” is not a part of TGtbT.com… and never will be. Every resource there is free to all. The only cost is if you think some of the Products might be helpful to your business.
Sponsorship by your store of HowToConsign.com is a totally separate business decision:
Should I list my shop on HTC so that consumers can find me, so they will seek me out, so they realize that I am a professional?
If I suggested to the other shops in my town that they too become Sponsors, will that make my town look “worth the drive” to HTC viewers? Maybe I could even “gift” them with a Sponsorship, so that this happens.
My Certificate of Sponsorship in HTC on my brag wall: will that proof of professional association lead potential suppliers and shoppers to value my business more?
Will my Sponsor listing help the image of the industry I am in so “strangers” see it as a desirable way to shop?
If someone sees my name and clicks over to visit my web site, or locates me exactly on the Zoomable map, will that earn me back my modest Sponsor cost?
Will my link on the #1 Google-ranked HTC help my search engine placement?
Would links from my site to the articles on HTC help me be able to reinforce to potential clients: “This is the industry standard” to incoming merchandise?
Does the information Kate maintains on a private page for Treasured Sponsors help me be more profitable and run my business with more ease and joy?
In short, is HTC Sponsorship a viable way to improve my business for a dollar or two a week?
I trust your business will continue to support your industry and your peers, and help in the growth of your own personal wellbeing, by showing your regard for the consumer PRE-education that is the purpose and reason for being of HTC.
I just wanted to post again how sad I am that Sharing will likely not return. I know I really, really appreciated the forum being available and felt like I had someone to talk to related to the business (which I don’t have here). I cannot tell you enough how much I miss the people who were on the forum and miss the wealth of information available there as well as just having a place to vent a little about something other shop owners would be familiar with. I logged into the forum first thing every morning (I even got up earlier so I could take time to read there!) and peeked in several times a day as well as at night before going to bed. It was always a highlight of my day to see what everyone was up to and to hear about new stores opening and anniversaries being planned. I know if it weren’t for the forum itself I never would have been as comfortable to take the plunge myself. Because of the forum I became a Treasured Sponsor of TGTBT/HowToConsign. I feel sad not being able to have that venue to share my milestones with others and to share in others’ milestones. It’s just not the same without the forum and I do hope you change your mind about scrapping it completely! I often think maybe there is a new forum (I thought some of the original sponsors/members were invited to test a new forum?) that I just wasn’t invited to. I know I shouldn’t take it personal (it’s only business, right?) but I actually feel a void. If a new forum does come up I’d sure appreciate knowing about it! I don’t even have contact with many from the forum outside of the forum and that makes me sad, too. Here I was getting excited about possibly going to the conference next year and joining NARTS… again, all because of the forum. Now I’m just sad and feel uncomfortable without that sounding board of information.
Kate, I truly, truly hope you reconsider this. Maybe some of us Sharers could assist in some sort of a forum so it wouldn’t be so much of a burden on you? I’d be willing to do what I can to make it happen.
I’d love to hear from the other Sharers! I miss you all!
Jodi
Thank you for your kind words, Jodi, and yes, 3 shopkeepers did indeed volunteer to help me test a new forum. Three out of many hundreds who participated in Sharing. The new forum has many neat features… but ultimately, it turned out to be more money than I felt I could afford to gift resalers with.
Yes, we all enjoyed getting together and Sharing (including me!)… but my time monitoring less-than-helpful replies, answering questions others didn’t bother to, and now a financial investment… simply did not make financial or time sense for me. More and more of our participants were spending time on Facebook and less time on Sharing (I was finding myself prodding people to participate!), people didn’t seem to understand that Sharing was the place to add their tips and hints and to introduce their resale shopkeepers peers to, that they were encouraged to reach out and help others have better businesses for the good of us all. Why, less than a dozen shopkeepers out of those hundreds even sponsored their neighboring NFP thrift shops for $1/year during our EarthWeek offer… a dollar, for heaven’s sake, to sponsor your earth-friendly neighbor!)
Of the many, many vendors whose business depends on our industry: none has offered to step up to the plate to front the finances. Less than 10% of Sharers felt that they wanted to spread the “gospel” that resale shopping is the way to go by supporting their peers on HowToConsign.com (heck, less than 1% ever contributed a thought to her/his fellow shopowners on Sharing!). So, in balance, I would have to say that Sharing failed to do what I was spending 15-30 hours a week facilitating: making the industry easier, more fun and more profitable for shopkeepers, better for the environment, and more visible and highly-regarded by the shopping public.
In the end, sad to say: I volunteered 8-10 years to give folks a place to Share. Only a minute percentage had the spirit to “share” back in any manner. So when push came to shove, and I was going to have to pay with money as well as all the time and effort and research and thought… it just doesn’t make sense. I think you’ll have to agree, and yes, I too will miss Sharing. Just not enough to keep giving and giving, with little support from most of those who enjoyed and benefited from it.
Bless all who truly did participate, and I will always be available on my web sites and their many many free articles and ideas, my FB accounts, my Twitters, the free USED ain’t seen nothin’ yet newsletters, the column I donate monthly to the NARTS member publication and the workshops I volunteer every year at Conference (and the Conference blog I offer seasonally), the donations of Products and my time I give to NARTS to keep Conference affordable, and of course I am always available by email. I truly believe in our resale industry and have worked very hard to make it more professional and respected (and more profitable to each and every person who ever visited any of my free resources, including Sharing!), and I will continue to do so. But Sharing is no longer a viable way to spend my time.
Many thanks,
Kate
If you’re using an email marketing service now or are considering using one, you might find this educational. Who knew there was so much to consider when choosing a service or how many there were.
http://www.stepbystepmarketing.com/daily/email_marketing_tips/which-online-email-marketing-service-is-the-best/
To see the comparison, click on “Top Ten Reviews.”
Hi Hope,
We too opened a children’s & maternity resale store in February. We’ve been surprised at how well it’s been going… Hope it stays that way! We work really hard to keep busy. I guess I should say we work smarter, not harder.. Isn’t that how things are supposed to be? That’s what everyone has always told me, no matter what they are talking about.
We too have not been through a holiday season so we don’t know what exactly to expect.. We carry a number of hair bows both from local makers as well as internet sites where we can obtain them really cheaply… We plan to keep those stocked. We’ve noticed through smaller holidays that “themed” bows don’t sell that well.. Just sticking to the regular ones.
We’ve been signed up with Melissa & Doug and ordered a number of things through them. They give free shipping for retail orders over 1500. We started when they had a special for free shipping with a 750 dollar order. We’ve since ordered a few more times. Our rep calls anytime they have specials too like a free rack when you buy everything to fill it sort of thing. We’ve been very happy with most of the things that we’ve purchased from them as far as what is selling. Our rep told us to keep the price below $20 an item for our store and we should sell fine.. We’ve been doing good with it. She told us their big shows are going on now and large orders are coming in and will clear them out soon, so if you need to order for holiday time to do so SOON!
We’d like to carry some inexpensive kids jewelry(necklaces, bracelets, etc) but haven’t found any that we’d be able to get cheap enough to sell cheap enough that weren’t total junk.
We’ve also thought about adding a small amount of jewelry for moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, etc… But, that will probably wait until next year.
I think we’ll continue how we are going currently and make more purchases/changes in the new year…
We opened a children’s consignment store in Feb of this year and it’s going really well! We are getting nervous about the holiday season and wondering if we should add some new items for people to purchase for Christmas gifts.
Do any of you kid’s store owners have any suggestions?
Is the holiday season realy slow for you?
My children’s and maternity consignment store has been open for a year now. I was quite surprised last December at how busy the store was as I didn’t expect people to be doing their Christmas shopping with me. But I found a lot of people will buy used for gifts- people from all different economic situations. I had a hard time keeping enough toys in the store. Since my consignor numbers have tripled I don’t think I will have a problem with that this year.
As for new items, I don’t carry anything like what you are suggesting. The only new items I carry are baby things- cloth diapers, becopotties, teething jewelry, etc. I do also carry locally-made hairbows but did not have them yet last Christmas so we will see how those sell. I have had a few grandmas comment that they will get their daughters or daughters-in-law new cloth diapers for Christmas since they can be addicting for those of us who use them. 🙂
Betsy, I know you’ve spent a lot of time and work in finding suppliers for your items… Is it possible you’d be willing to share some of them? Pretty much all of the “new” items you carry. We’d be interested in carrying a little bit of all those items you’ve listed. There is a seller (I am sure, many sellers) on ebay that sell the large flowers on a hair clip, about $1 a piece, we sell them for 3.99 with no problems.. After our last order of about 100, I found a more “direct” way of getting them for less… between .65-.85/each…
Hi Jon,
My suppliers are no secret :). I carry Tiny Tush diapers, Osocozy diapers, Razbaby teethers, Inspired by Finn amber teething jewelry, Imse Vimse swim diapers and training pants, Becopotty comspotable potties, Bella Bands, Proud Body’s belly cast and belly painting kits, and I can’t think of anymore right now. These are companies that I simply contacted them through their websites and became a retailer. Tiny Tush is a local company so I get a lot of traffic from that as she refers a lot of people to me. The majority of my sales income comes not from selling children’s or maternity clothes but in the toys, baby equipment, and new items I sell. We are in a small, touristy town with an outlet mall close by so that may be part of the lack of clothing sales. But that’s ok as I don’t make as much money per item on them anyway. The only hairbows I have are from a local mom who only sells them in my store. I also have terry cloth bibs that our area senior center makes to sell in my store.
I think Melissa and Doug is a great idea if you are selling the items your rep suggested. I would sell Melissa and Doug but there are 2 other stores in my small downtown shopping area who stock them already.
Jon, in addition to the suppliers Betsy has shared, be sure to investigate those on our Links Page and on the Kidswear Page on TGtbT.com.
We get a lot of people in for used toys as gifts but one other item that does well is Jelly Cat. They have great plush and cute books. I would suggest against getting anything holiday specific like a holiday bear or something like that. Being new you just don’t really know how many to order and end up with overstock that can’t be sold until the next year.
Hi Jessica, Sharing will most likely not return. But while you’re here, I hope you will participate in some of the comments here, like the one just above yours?
WHY no more Sharing board?
It won’t return? I’m SO sad!!!! I thought it was just being updated?!? GASP!!! I do hope you have something similar in the works though Kate! 😦