Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Really good ideas’ Category

The resale industry’s most popular pins!

Posted in Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , on May 8, 2014|

If you don’t get a chance to follow Too Good to be Threw on Pinterest, here’s a quick report on our most popular pins there. Of course, this is “subject to change”, since we’re always finding great visual aids that could “help YOUR SHOP be all you dream it can be”!

Imagine this: book cases lined up: use the center space for double or triple hung items, shelves for folded onesies, baskets of booties, baby shower gift things, add an awning and Voila! A “Grandparents’ Corner” in your consignment, resale or thrift shop!

Grandparents' Corner with bookcases!

 

This mirror tray trimmed in bits and bobs of jewelry really caught consumers’ eyes. If you’re not saving and baggie-ing up broken pretties for crafts, you might be inspired to do so!

Recycle broken jewelry into a grorgeous vanity tray!

Another pin that tickled lots of fancies. I wrote: One of my fav vintage looks. If the cheapy frames you find don’t have their “original” hanging wires, just add your own. Great display window backdrop (w/fashion photos) or in your entryway with anything you like: care tips, clever sayings, customer snapshots…

Recycling vintage frames in a casual manner!

For sources on these pins, please click each.

Which pins on the Too Good to be Threw Boards have been most inspiring to you? We’d all love to hear!  Comment, below!

Read Full Post »

Shooting a consignment shop video: Here’s a good example

Posted in Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, Weekend Warrior, tagged , , , on April 26, 2014| 2 Comments »

Wish you had a video or two to introduce potential shoppers to your business? I’ve found a simple but sleek example.

Update 6-1-15 : The video’s no longer viewable, so you’ll have to see it in your mind’s eye… the points below are still pertinent! –Kate This short video is from a fashion blog, and is a good example of a video you could easily create for your shop.

Opening sequence shows not only the neighborhood, but also the shop front. This is vital if you’re introducing new folks to your consignment, resale or thrift shop: give them a visual to remember as they’re trying to find you.

Give-and-take. The blogger interviewing the shop manager is a good way to get a lot of info across in a lively manner. Conversation is inherently more interesting than a lecture. Even if you have to interview your mother, include some repartee!

There are other people! Nothing makes photos or videos of public spaces like your shop look weirder than NO CUSTOMERS. Always makes me think a neutron bomb’s wiped out the populace.

Use of stills within the video allows for labeling the pieces of the sample outfits and showing some motivating pricing.

No relying on the in-camera mic… lapel mics make your video so much more professional. Having that echo-y, far-off sound in your business video not only looks amateur, it makes it hard to hear what you’re saying.

140426 fashionpolizei

Read Full Post »

Killing doorknobs

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , , , on April 15, 2014| 6 Comments »

Sometimes when you’re taking a quick photo for your social media, you really don’t want to take the time to set up a backdrop.

That’s understandable. But kill the doorknob.

Please.

Case in point: (more…)

Read Full Post »

Good thoughts in a jar

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on March 27, 2014| 6 Comments »

Here’s a way to keep yourself and your staff attuned to the happy reasons you run a consignment, resale, or thrift shop.

Too Good to be Threw is the Premier Site for Professional Resalers

And a way, too, to put the not-so-happy aspects of running the shop in the proper perspective.

Keep a jar on your sale counter. Every time something NICE happens, write a “happy memory” note and tuck it inside.

  • Compliments, friendly customer, the perfect display everyone adores.
  • The little boy who HUGGED the toy car his father bought him.
  • The home-baked cookies Mrs. Jones dropped by.
  • The sun shining.
  • The customers who clapped when shy little Lucie came out of the dressing room in her first-ever prom dress.

Every time something NOT SO NICE happens, and you’re irked or upset or downright mad, open the jar and throw away a happy memory note. If you can. Is the NOT SO NICE happening…

  • the short-tempered consignor,
  • the customer who always wants you to sell her something for less than it’s priced,
  • the neighbor who smokes right near your open shop door

… really worth tossing a happy memory for? If it is, fine, throw one random happy memory away.

But I think you’ll find you’d rather hold on to the happy memory, and toss the bad incident where it belongs: in the trash.

Here’s to a packed-full jar of happy memories, and to your very seldom feeling that something unhappy requires you to fish a happy out and throw it away. Hey, here’s an idea… at your staff year-end holiday party, how about opening that jar and reminiscing about

all the wonderful times you’ve had all together in your shop?

.
The photo, as far as I can tell, is originally from inchmark.squarespace.com

Read Full Post »

Turn used jewelry into Valentine’s gifts!

Posted in Really good ideas, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on February 1, 2014|

For a quick and easy (and inexpensive!) way to have a whole showcase full of gift suggestions in your consignment or resale shop, I didn’t have to hunt any further than this pin from a craft-show blog.

Using dollar-store note cards, wrapping paper for a “carpet” and maybe a few paper doilies here and there to act as “spotlights” on your best offerings, a full showcase with this display can be set up in an hour and show your shoppers that heirloom, vintage, nostalgic… (or even gasp bought-new-from wholesalers) jewelry makes a great gift for family and friends.

Save

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »