Where do you find the best information about your resale business?
Well, in our Products for the Professional Resaler, of course. But there’s another source for great ideas you can adapt to your consignment, resale or thrift shop, and that’s (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘starting a consignment shop’
Learn a Lot: E-snooping
Posted in I've been meaning to tell you, Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, learn a lot, Products for the Professional Resaler, resale shopkeeping, starting a consignment shop, success, web on September 18, 2017| 2 Comments »
What would Kate do?
Posted in Mailbox: 1-on-1 Advice, Shopkeeping talk, tagged accepting, consignors, customers, resale shopkeeping, starting a consignment shop, success on August 28, 2017| 2 Comments »
Could refining your acceptance & pricing procedures make this a less-scary sight? Click!
A question from a shopkeeper that’s pretty pertinent at this time of year:
Q: I need to limit the number of drop off we get (just too much inventory). I am leaning towards ‘quiet hours’ and stop taking drop offs an hour before we close, and maybe no drop offs on Monday…
Here’s a pretty no-holds-barred reply. If you are easily bruised, please skip this message.
Kate says:
If consignors cannot drop off after THEIR work hours, you’ll lose those who work (and who tend to change out their wardrobes more often than those who don’t.) In many cases, the ideal “drop-off” time would be after 5pm… depending on local office business hours, distance from work to your shop, and so on.
Limiting the number of drop offs does only one thing: Limit the selection from which YOU can select the items which will sell fastest ( = you have the clientele for them)
… which gives you rapid turnover which leads to more frequent visitors/ buyers coming into the shop. Making it less convenient for consignors is not the answer.There really is no such thing as “too much inventory”… all there is is “too much inventory that is as yet unsold.” Limiting incoming means you are limiting yourself to consignors who can fulfill YOUR needs… and I think the most experienced consignees on this group will tell you that the “best” (most salable for the most $) stuff usually comes from women who are not able/are unwilling to work their drop offs around a shop’s limited schedule.
(Side note: If there was ever a day NOT to choose as a “no drop off day“, it’s Monday. Doesn’t EVERY woman clean out her closets on Sunday? And who wants that pile of stuff cluttering up the bedroom past Monday morning?)
If your shop fills up, it’s because your turnover is too low. Try pricing so that things fly out the door… not so low as to be unprofitable to you or the consignor, but low enough that most items sell before that 20% off at 3 weeks guideline.
If drop offs are driving you crazy, try altering your handling procedures and staff who are handling the goods. Some shops actually have processing personnel who work after the shop is closed for the evening… so next morning, sales staff come in to a shop ready to be freshly stocked with recorded, tagged, rehung goods.
Racks getting full? Go vertical.
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Teeny Tips, tagged display, merchandising, resale shopkeeping, selling, starting a consignment shop on August 17, 2017|
Racks getting full? Can’t squeeze another thing on them?
Here’s my favorite solution.
Go vertical.
That’s right: hang (more…)
Kudos: Saying Goodbye.
Posted in Kudos: Ideas to inspire!, Shopkeeping talk, tagged resale shopkeeping, small business, starting a consignment shop, word of mouth on August 3, 2017|
Kudos to Lina Beth in Ocala FL for saying a nice goodbye to her customers… and for
reinforcing the name of her shop
at the same time with this lovely sign above the shop door. THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING AT LINA BETH
Such a simple way to get your shop name out there while saying goodbye and thanking shoppers. She’s not taking a chance that her fans will have to say to their friends “oh you know, that nice shop down over there, it’s Linda’s or Beth Ann’s or some name like that?”
Notice that the shop reinforces its name in the signage seen as customers leave the shop.
See more brilliant ideas from shops that have received a Kate’s Kudos.
What Do Your Customers Need to be Buying Now?
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, tagged advertising, blogging, customers, holidays, resale shopkeeping, small business, starting a consignment shop on July 24, 2017|
The Ohio State Fair is starting this week. So, if your shop is within the geographical circle that’s likely to be planning to go, the main thought in your customers’ minds might be
What am I gonna wear?
and of course
I need it NOW!
Using the unspoken immediate needs or wants of potential shoppers means (more…)
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