Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘consignment’

Consignors got choices. (As do sellers and donors.)

Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , on November 6, 2013|

131103 Moriarty_Sheila-Two_Friends_Talking

(Click the pic to learn about the artist)

A couple of old-timers in the consignment business got together recently, and one remarked that her industry siblings were seemingly having a tough time obtaining merchandise. “Is it the economy?” she asked. “Nah, said the other. “It’s pure and simple, there’s

more competition

now. Look at all the new shops opening up. They may or may not make a go of it, but in the meanwhile, they’re sucking away suppliers from the other stores.”

Then these old-timers put their combined resale industry experience (over 70 years! Imagine the number of consignors they dealt with!) together to make

a list of what drew potential suppliers to a particular shop

and what didn’t. Besides the blindingly-obvious draws of location, cleanliness and friendliness, the other pluses were:

  • An easy-to-understand process for consigning.
  • As few restrictions as possible: times to bring things in, numerical limits.
  • Transparency in consigning: what are you accepting today? How much will it be priced at?
  • Payment instantly or near-instantly. Cash in the palm of the hand or check.
  • Feeling valued, rather than discredited or as an interruption of the business. This applies to the intake, payment, communication and retrieval process.

As to

what turns off potential suppliers

soon after a relationship is started:

  • (Pretty much the lack of the above list.)

And what would

stop a potential consignor from using a particular shop?

  • Having to “trust” a shopkeeper. No receipt for items left on consignment, no copy of the agreement, lack of ease in finding out how the items are selling or when they might receive their money.
  • Seeing their items go for a lower price than they feel comfortable with (this applies somewhat to the original price the shopkeeper sets, and somewhat to arbitrary “markdowns” of newly consigned goods, AKA “You marked down that X from $50 to $40 just because you were having a sale? But you said you’d price it at $50 and it was only there a week!”)
  • Being forbidden to reclaim unsold items, whether or not they actually planned to. Just the thought of this led most potential clients to have doubts about the honesty of the shop.

What have you found are consignor turn-ons and turn-offs? What do you do to get the best goods into your business and to keep them coming? Tell us in the comments.

.

Save

Read Full Post »

When in doubt, sing the alphabet song

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , , , , on September 16, 2013| 17 Comments »

People and Quality first, then Resale Stuff Thereacfter, a mantra from Too Good to be ThrewWHAT’s productive when?

That’s a tricky question in our industry. After all, we have a minute-to-minute balancing act between incoming goods and shoppers… so which is more productive to ongoing success and profit

right this very minute?

Working with consignment, resale, and thrift shopkeepers  I remind them that their merchandise is worth zero until someone buys it… so there is a priority which is always true.

I like to teach the mantra PQRST to help them decide focus on what to do moment to moment:

PQRST

= People and Quality (of interaction) first… Resale Stuff Thereafter!

 

What do you think? Would this be a valid part of not just your staff training, but your shop’s “corporate culture”? Agree or disagree? Let’s hear it, in the comments…

Illustration based on an original here.

Read Full Post »

Do I blog, Facebook, or Instagram that?

Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , , on August 25, 2013|

Where would you put this announcement?It’s all about social media, when you want to motivate those who friend/ follow/ fan you to come in to shop.

There’s lots of stuff that you could share online that would polish the reputation of your business for the long-term, that could get shoppers in quickly, or even sell an unusual piece of merchandise you just got in. So where do you tell folks?

You want it FAST

Time-sensitive messages, such as items you just got in or today’s specials, need Facebook or Instagram. Which you use depends on your number of followers. Both, of course, is the best option. Twitter works well, too.

Scads of info for bricks-&-mortar shops using FB.
 

You want it to LAST

These types of updates should be relatively timeless: companionable “chats” about your shop’s mission or vision; casual “friends'” type info like beauty tips, merchandise use, even recipes; points of view on using the type of merchandise you sell, such as “what type of sofa suits” or “what the kids need for camp.”

For messages you want to last, use your shop blog. After all, a mini-essay or even a few links to “Decorate in eco-fashion” or “Which necklace for which neckline” can be Facebook-able for months or even years afterword: a single blog entry can be used to alert potential customers on social media to your business many times!

More on blogging for your retail store, and even a resale-specific Product for the Professional Resaler.

You want the PAST to improve your business FUTURE

Have you used your remodel, move, or even just the backstage prep for a special event as Facebook status updates or tweets? Combine them with a selling message and put it on your shop’s Pinterest. Then, later, you can remind folks of your shop simply by saying “Have your seen our Santa Sale pins? To be sure you don’t miss the Valentine Values event, sign up for our email notices!”

Using Pinterest for your resale business.

(And that brings up the issue of when and how to use your broadcast email capabilities. But that’s another post! In the meanwhile, here’s our past entries about email.)

Now, you know, or can learn, to interconnect the various social media so your contributions to the constant web conversation show up where, and when, you want them to.

Don’t forget, a good entry or update is often repeatable on that channel or others… at a different time of day, on another day, or even months later.

Read Full Post »

Got a moment? Get a brainstorm or at least a compliment

Posted in 5- Minute Fixes, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , , on August 7, 2013| 2 Comments »

emergencycomplimentcomWe all have those small, spare moments in our consignment or resale shops when we just need a break from accepting or pricing or killing dust bunnies. We need a break from the day-to-day. So what do we do? Catch up on Facebook, read email, play Angry Birds?

I have a better idea.

When you need a little pat on the back, click over to emergencycompliment.com and get one. I guarantee it’ll unhunch your shoulders after dealing with a difficult member of the public. Maybe even make you laugh. Laughter is always a good thing.

Or maybe you’re not so much in need of a laugh as you are a little inspiration about your business. Then

try this Auntie Kate magic link: Kinda like a fortune cookie, click here to get a random Auntie Kate post. Unlike a fortune cookie, you can keep clicking til you find a message that seems like it’s just for you.

 

 

Read Full Post »

A reason to resale shop every Saturday.

Posted in economics of resale, Shopkeeping talk, tagged , , , , , , on July 26, 2013| 3 Comments »

TGtbT.com is happy to announce that every Saturday morning from now until mid-December, the Sponsors of HowToConsign.com have made possible

A real-life reason to go resale shopping!

These reasons will be (more…)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »