Advice for your consignment, resale or thrift shop is as close as your computer: Just Ask Auntie Kate!
Update June 2016: There are now about 700 comments on this page, and while they are completely fascinating, it can be difficult to find your specific issue. For more guidance see our Products for the Professional Resaler, covering over 30 areas of resale shopkeeping.
Also, check out the articles at Too Good to be Threw in our Back Room. They might have the info you’re looking for.
In the tradition of Dear Abby and Ask Ann Landers, we present Ask Auntie Kate. Well, actually, it’s Ask Auntie Kate and her resale industry buddies, because I expect you… yes you, Dear Reader… to chime in with your thoughts, experiences and perspectives. Don’t be shy. People ask questions because they want answers.
To keep questions and responses together, you need to be sure to hit “reply” when you’re reading the post that you want to, well, reply to. Otherwise everything gets all mish mashy and tops hang off their hangers and placemats are stuck in with the pillow cases and tags get lost and it looks like a mess.
Yes, Auntie Kate will reply to your most vexing problems, most heart-felt concerns, your secret shames and undiscovered desires. After she gives her friends a chance to put in their 1o-cents’-worth. So ask, answer, or opinionate away.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
Hi Kate!
In authenticating handbags I was wondering if you have ever used any special services for certification ?
Maureen Condon Kelly:)
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The only authentication services I know of are the couple who are NARTS members… check their affiliates list.
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I am a director of a non-profit organization that supports military families. We are working with a company in Vermont to buy decorative pillows, rugs etc. at wholesale that can then be purchased from us (through word of mouth) at retail…..we do not operate a store of any kind. are we required to collect tax on these items?
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Lisa, thanks for visiting! I am not qualified to answer sales tax questions, which are particular to states, and vary with online purchases. But I am sure the lawyer on your NFP / NGO board (a must, right?) can research your particular situation and tell you.
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I want to thank you for a great idea I saw yesterday morning in one of your blog posts about bag sales. I use the but/sell/trade business model for my resale clothing store, so own 90% of my inventory. I love the idea of having a sale where my shoppers have to buy multiple items to get the deal. Your “10 for $25“ idea was awesome in the middle of winter when it can be slow on freezing cold & bad weather days. I tailored the idea to “$5 for $25” and included all items priced $20 or less” for an average of $5/item, and I made double what I would normally make on January 2. Many shoppers doubled-down and spent $50 or bought more than the 5 items. GREAT idea that got everyone excited and created lots of positive energy! I never would have moved that much inventory, yesterday. Thumbs up!
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Thanks for the note, and happy that this easier-to-do, easier-to-shop, easier-to-advertise version worked so well for you!
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