A Consignment Information Line, or Hotline, is a wonderful way to assure that people who call your store get all the information necessary to become consignors, and feel welcomed and encouraged.

You can use a separate phone line answered by a professional- quality answering machine or a voice-mail extension. Because it is a recording, you’re assured that callers get perfect information every time, in a complete, logical manner.

Never again will you worry that you forgot to include something!

Never again will your explanation sound rushed, tired, or insincere. Best of all, having a recording means less time spent by you and your staff reiterating the same information all day long. And potential consignors can get the information at any time, whether your shop is open or not.

Of course, your hotline message can also be about how you buy outright if that’s how you obtain your merchandise, or about what items you gladly welcome as donations and where and when, if yours is a NFP thrift shop. I didn’t really need to say that, did I?