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Archive for the ‘Shopkeeping talk’ Category

Learn from these truly-involved resale shops:

The shops who join their peers as Sponsors at HTC can be truly inspirational to consignment, resale, and thrift shops of all levels. locations and longevity. Here’s just three good ideas I came across this week!

A shop which is on top…and plans to STAY THERE.

Wandering Wardrobe in Springville UTThis is the broadcast email Patty sent out from her shop, Wandering Wardrobe in Springville Utah. Why is this email worthy of note?

  • It’s a photo of the storefront, which is the main way most customers identify any shop. And she was smart enough to get a good shot of her “Best” banner last year.
  • Patty mentions that perhaps her fans would like to submit her name for other, allied categories.
  • Patty shows her community support by asking if there are businesses that her readers would like her to vote for. Tit for tat and social outreach!
  • Oh, and to do that, her readers will have to respond top this email…thus beginning a conversation with her avid supporters.

How could YOU use simple tactics for your business?

A shop true to their mission…and their prosperity!

Remarkable Resale in Rochester ILKitty, owner of Remarkable Resale in Rochester IL, is a fervent believer in recycling. So fervent, indeed, that it’s a point of pride (and education of her clientele!) for her vast business to use recycled merchandise bags.

But Kitty doesn’t just re-use packing material. She turns each gently-used bag into a point of pride with a 3″ x 5″ sticker in the shop’s signature blue and white, which says don’t be surprised if you’ve seen this bag before/ WE RECYCLE, followed of course with her shop name, address, phone, and URL.

Kinda reminds me of the stickers I used to use, back when most of TGtbT.com’s Products for the Professional Resaler were hard-copy sent by mail. I reused envelopes and stuck a PROUD to recycle! sticker on each. How could you use this idea in your shop?

A shop true to its cultivated image

Clothes Circuit in Dallas TX: clothes fresh as garden blooms

One of my very first consignment-shopkeeper friends is Irene of Clothes Circuit in Dallas TX. Her great talent, which I always strived to follow? Irene treats her previously-enjoyed merchandise as worthy of the finest, “new” store treatment. As an example, this spring window. The few pieces are meticulously groomed and displayed, and the props and setting show to their clientele that this merchandise is worthy of the finest ownership.

Oh, and as a bonus? The window is amusing and worthy of word-of-mouth. Doncha love it? I have some more examples of Clothes Circuit displays, and I’ll share them with you anon.

(Did you notice the pun in my headline? I am so un-punny that I feel the need to call your attention to it.)

I thank these Sponsors of HowToConsign.com for their willingness to share and, through their Sponsorship, to support our resale industry!

What inspirations do you have to share? We’d love to hear!

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Can’t you just SEE this

“Frames” wallpaper, by Graham & Brown, in your shop entry or behind your sales desk?

Ready-made (more…)

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Ideas grow when you take a look at similar businessesOne thing about the Internet…you can tap into some of the most brilliant minds in the world from the comfort of your keyboard. And it’s especially rewarding when you

look at a business which has some traits in common with yours, but is a few degrees different,

because you get to become a consumer again, and look at the concept through fresh eyes.

Take this one for example: it’s a “seasonal sale” of sorts. But not a kidswear consignment sale full of clothes and gear, not even one of the many growing adult resale events, no, this is a sale of previously-enjoyed….event props. It’s called The ReEvent. (Update: site now kaput. You’ll have to imagine it.)

First, the web site itself. What can we learn?

  • The clean appeal of the uncluttered home page. The crisp white background and the collage of elements all in green is as far from “musty dusty” as possible.
  • A single line that motivates, and sums up the event: Feel good being GREEN while saving some GREEN.
  • Mailing list sign-up which is so much more: It’s an invitation; it’s an “RSVP” as they call it, which predisposes you to mark the event on your personal calendar; it’s the first page you come to on the menu; and it’s got a poll right there that is customer research and motivational at the same time (brilliant!) which, since it seems to be part of the sign-up process, is less likely to be skipped.

Next, the event and how it’s presented to their prospective consignors, shoppers, and vendors.

  • Cute names for 2 consecutive evening demos: All Things Green ~ All Things Bling
  • Contest: First, they enter online. Then everyone votes online. THEN the finalists are voted on at the event. Not sure how all of this works, but the whole contest is angled to get attention and audience participation and bodies to the event itself.

But…if you’ve been following me through the web site: just what is this event? A seasonal consignment sale for everything from wedding attire to cameras and chafing dishes, seashells and bolts of ribbon? A vendor event aimed at presenting event planners and suppliers to the public? A bridal fair?

Could be all of the above…wouldn’t you love to see how it all turns out?

(and BTW, if you’re near Overland Park KS, could be a great place to pick up some display props!)

Save

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NHow social media can be used by the consignment, resale, thrift store industryARTS recently asked me: “What social media do you use?” It’s the first in a series of questions they are posing to the workshop presenters for Conference 2011, to introduce the speakers to association members. That’s an easy question to answer. But the bigger question I’d like to ponder is:

How do you, as a resaler, use the social media you spend so much time on?

So, (more…)

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Who’s your Ideal Consignor…Donor…Seller?

And how (more…)

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