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Archive for the ‘Shopkeeping talk’ Category

How to open a consignment store: Second Hand is First Rate when you aim for Resale Success!

Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk on September 8, 2008| 79 Comments »

How to open a consignment or resale shop in 10 easy steps:

Tens of thousands of consignment, resale, and thrift shopkeepers have used Too Good to be Threw, The Complete Operations Manual, to start thriving businesses. When people ask me for the “short version” of my 200+ page manual, I give them this checklist so they can decide of a resale shop is for them.

1- Determine a desire. Is this truly what you want to do? Consider exploring the field thoroughly before you invest your energy, time, money…and heart…in it. The investment will pay off: either you will start your business ahead of the curve or you will decide that resale shopkeeping is not for you.

2- Know if there’s a need. What shops exist now in your marketplace? What are their (more…)

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Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd

Posted in Shopkeeping talk on September 5, 2008| 7 Comments »

One of the less-known ways to make your consignment, resale, or thrift shop really succeed is to draw a crowd.

Because nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. When potential shoppers go by, other (more…)

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Buy it today, it may not be here tomorrow….or at least put it in layaway.

Posted in Shopkeeping talk on September 3, 2008| 3 Comments »

I’m easily set off on a resale rampage. Just tell me something that has NO basis in good business, and watch the froth build up around my lips.

This rampage, which I try to hold in check most of the year, is really important for me to let fly now, as the fall-to-winter-to-holiday shopping season begins, the most important time of the year for consignment and resale shops. Here’s what was said on our Sharing discussion board that set me off on today’s Froth:

I don’t want to set a layaway policy because I don’t
want to actually do them all the time. I don’t have room.

Froth #1: if you have (more…)

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How many yards of clothes do YOU offer?

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , on September 1, 2008|

The Strand Bookstore in Manhattan prides itself on its vast selection of books. In fact, its tagline is

Home of 18 miles of New, Used, Rare and Out of Print Books

Think about this for a moment: How many miles (well, okay, yards or meters) of “new, used, rare and out of production” styles does your consignment shop carry? Or how many different decorating styles (let’s see there’s Early American, Danish, Mid-Century, Victorian, cottage, lodge, just for a start) does your hard-goods resale shop offer? Or brands? Or, actually, different choices (hint: you carry more brands than any of the “real” stores could possibly afford to.)

Is you mind now spinning with ads, blog entries, fliers and quotes for reporters? Hmmm…you’re doing an honest day’s labor, today on Labor Day! Sneaky little task-master, aren’t I?

Oh yes. Did you notice their “Books by the Foot” promotion? Or the Strand 80? Isn’t it wonderful that there are so many ideas out there that, with a little tweaking, will give your business the business? Like this one from the dentist’s, and this one from the mall, and heck, this one from the Girl Scouts.

It’s just SO much fun, Poking one’s nose in other people’s business.

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Style Staples from Tim Gunn and Tide: A Resale Selling Tool

Posted in Shopkeeping talk on August 30, 2008| 1 Comment »

Tim Gunn talks about the basics of a stylish wardrobe. His suggestions and dialog can be useful selling tools in your shop.

Tim Gunn’s video is here.  UPDATE: Tide took this video down. Silly Tide. Don’t miss the other videos as well, such as the one on accessories.

Ask your sales assistants to watch the videos too to further develop their sales expertise. Who knows, they might surprise you and put together a “Basics are beautiful!” swing shop in your store.

And you know what resalers will (more…)

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