Helping shoppers you can’t help today, builds your business tomorrow.
Many consignment, resale and thrifts recommend their peers to shoppers. Some do it verbally, some carry their peers’ business cards, some use group or even self-made brochures listing resale shops.
Some use their web sites to link to resources such as the NARTS member list or even HowToConsign’s Resale Directory. And some go even farther (or is it further?). Take a look at Dani’s Village Consignment’s web site. They sell womenswear. But there’s a menu item there labeled “Child/Maternity”. Follow that link to a nearby friend’s shop which carries childrenswear and maternity… and her menu has a “Women & Juniors” link directing its visitors to Dani’s!
Should you do this? Of course.
After all, if the referral can save your shoppers money, money that they can spend in your shop… why wouldn’t you refer your clientele to a reputable shop that you’re proud to have as a peer? The side benefits of being consumer-friendly, keeping shoppers away from the mall and shopping locally, not to mention the eco-benefits… what’s not to like?
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
It’s like the old movie, Miracle on 34th Street…when Santa refers customers to their competitor. It worked! I think Macy’s referred customers over to Gimbels.
I recommend a nearby (8 blocks away) non-profit resale that has given us furniture donation pick ups when their store was overflowing with stuff. Our delivery driver does a lot of deliveries for their customers, so they’ve had a trusted relationship for years. Their store is a comfy store, and has a different feel than ours. Our customers are pleasantly surprised when I refer them to another nfp resale shop, so it builds goodwill for us.
Heidi, you bring up a very good point: showing OUR goodwill to our public = bankable goodwill, them to us.
And of course, we’d rather any customer find what s/he needs at resale prices rather than overspending for new… that way, the customer’s budget’s healthy enough to keep on shopping with US!
Great advise! I have been referring people to other shops since I opened a year ago and it has brought me more business not the reverse. People always come back. They know that I go out looking for items for them and if I don’t have it, I know where they can find it.