Consigning time

Spring Consignment Season is right around the corner and now is the time to start preparing. Here are some tips to help get you ready!

1. Register for Sales Early! Each sale states when they open registration on their sale website. Make a note of registration dates and plan to register early. Many sales will fill up in the first day due to limited space and then go to a waiting list.

2. Sign Up for a New Sale! If you have only done one sale before, why not sign up for a second sale later in the season? This is a great way to sell more of your items and an opportunity to see how different sales are run. Ask your friends what sales they participate in or see if there is a new sale being held in your area. You can see a list of sales organized by area of town on Consigning Time (www.consigningtime.com).

3. Sign Up to Volunteer! The best way to find the best items is to be a volunteer. Each sale offers perks for consignors who volunteer to help with the sale. The shifts range from 4 to 8 hours depending on the sale. In exchange for your time, you will get to shop before the sale opens to the public in addition to other perks that vary with each sale. Shopping early is particularly helpful if you are looking for a specific in demand item - like outdoor play items etc.

4. Begin Gathering Your Sale Items! Grab a rubbermaid bin and start to gather items to sell. It really helps to get your children involved and have them "buy in" to the process. I ask my children what toys they would like to sell. If they do not produce enough toys, I then hold up two items and tell them they have to choose which one to keep. The trick with this is that I rig the choices so one item is one I know they will never want to sell so they have to choose the item that I want to go. It hasn't backfired on me yet!

5. Create a Consignment Box! I like to keep all of my supplies together in a plastic school box. Inside I keep - White Index Cards, Sharpies (Black and Red), Scissors, Safety Pins, Rubber Bands, Hole Puncher, Plastic Ties, Ribbon and clear packing tape.

6. Gather Your Supplies! I always think it is funny that before consignment season I become obsessed with wire hangers. "Where are my wire hangers? I need more wire hangers? Does anyone have any wire hangers?" The first thing I do is scour the closets and exchange wire hangers for plastic ones. (You can buy the plastic ones at Dollar Tree to replace any wire ones you have.) If I don't find enough I begin to beg. I beg my friends and local dry cleaners. This usually brings forth a bounty of wire hangers and all is right with the world. After the hangers are taken care of - I move on to safety pins. Dollar Tree is a great source for these but many people know that so they sell out right before sales begin so you need to pick them up early or you will end up paying $4 at Walgreens - Ugh!

7. Prepare Your Shopping Lists! Walking into a consignment sale can be quite overwhelming. There is so much stuff that all of the sudden you forget what you need and end up searching through all of the great books for hours. Trust me -been there and done that. The best way to fight against this is to prepare a list. Keep it short and simple. I usually do it on an index card so I can keep it in my pocket. (I do not carry a purse when I shop at consignment sales). Write down the items AND SIZES for each of your children. Organize your list by sex because that is how sales are organized. On one side write the "Needs" and the other side write your "Wants". If you start your list now you should have a really comprehensive list by the time the sales begin.

8. Invite Your Friends To Participate! Part of the fun of consignment is sharing your great finds with a friend. I rely on my friends to give me the appropriate "oohs and aahs" about items like the Little Tykes playset in mint condition that I found for $30. My hubby just does not seem to provide me the level of excitement I require at such an accomplishment so I rely on my girlfriends. It is also wise to have another set of eyes with you when you shop so they will tell you the truth "No, your sweet girl will not look good in the orange and purple polka dotted, ruffled shirt with bows all over it". That's what friends are for so ask a friend to sign up for a sale with you so you can enjoy the experience together.

9. Get on the Mailing List! Sign up for the each sale’s mailing list so you will be notified of all of their registration dates for future sales. Many sales add an extra sale during the year to raise money for charity. Don’t be left out because you did not see the e-mail.

10. Make a Plan! Don’t wait until the last minute to get everything together and begin tagging. If you are unsure what to price something, check online pricing resources like ebay. If in doubt, just think what you would be willing to pay for the item at a sale and go with your instinct.

Halloween Costume?  Check.  Winter Coat?  Check.  Snow Boots?  Check. 

Yes, as odd as it seems these will be just a few of the items on my list this July as the first consignment sales of the season begin.  The Fall season begins in july and runs through the end of September and there are MANY wonderful sales throughout Middle Tennessee (and now Kentucky) for you to find everything you need. 

Now is the time to start preparing your items to sell (and making a list of things you need for the upcoming Fall and Winter). 

Here are three tips to help you prepare:

1.  Inventory your clothes that will still work for Fall.  If you are like me, you may have already picked up some items in the next size in anticipation of a growth spurt.  I discovered last year I already had five pairs of jeans for my son BEFORE I even started shopping.  If I had not checked, I would have bought too many.

2.  Gather toys to sell.  I ALWAYS involve my kids in this process so they "buy" into it.  I present two items and tell them to choose which item they want to keep.  (I usually rig the choices so it is one item I want to go and one I know they will want to keep).  It really helps us clear out the playroom and they don't feel like I am just getting rid of their stuff.

3.  Gather supplies you will need for tagging your items.  Now is a great time to pick up safety pins at the Dollar Store, hit up the dry cleaner for wire hangers, and pick up index cards at the Back To School sales.  Keep all your things together in a "Consignment Kit" so it will be ready when you are ready to tag.

Just remember - shopping (and selling) at consignment sales is a great way to save your family money and in today's economy - we need all the help we can get.  HAPPY SHOPPING!

**MY APOLOGIES!  I have a cold and apparently was not paying attention when I sent the email announcing the contest under "Encores and More North" instead of KIDBARGAINS!  Please forgive the cold medicine fuddled mind!!!!**

Consigning Time is pleased to be able to give away a PRESALE PASS to the KidBargains sale at Forest Hills Baptist Church for this Thursday night at 5:00! 

To enter - share with us your best "kid bargain" you have found this season.  One entry per person please and only enter if you are sure you can attend.  Winnner chosen at random on Wed. morning by 10:00 a.m.  We are also doing a contest on Facebook.   There are a total of TWO passes to be given away.  You may enter each contest!

I just love Encores and More North!  It is a huge sale but quality is never sacrificed and the owner of the sale is just amazing!  She has generously offered a Workers Sale pass for Thursday night at 7:00 to a Consigning Time member.  To enter, make a comment to this post telling me your favorite song in the whole world - the one you like to hear "Encores" of all the time!  Winner chosen Wednesday at 3:00 at random.  PLEASE only enter if you can attend as this is a very **HOT** presale pass!

WARNING:  Getting onto my soap box now..... 

CONSIGNORS:  PLEASE check your clothes before you put them in a sale.  Look at them in the natural light and search for stains.  Make sure all buttons are there and the zipper works.  It does not mater how cute the outfit is if the zipper is completely busted.  Think of the Mom who is going to buy it.  At your home, the lighting is much softer and many stains do not show.  LOOK at each item outside in the light as you load it into your car.  I caught three stained items last week when I did that for myself. 

SALE VOLUNTEERS:  If you are a worker at a sale, PLEASE check the clothes for stains.  Don't feel bad if you have to reject an item.  Stained items don't sell.  It does not make anyone a bad person to have missed an item in their clothes.  Trust me.  I still have items rejected. 

SALE ORGANIZERS:  If you are a sale organizer, PLEASE have strict rules about checking items and rejecting stains.  PLEASE!!! It gives your sale and consignment sales in general a bad name.  I know it takes time to check items but it is neccessary.  Train you workers to adhere to your standards.

QUALITY IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN QUANTITY!

That is all I have to say about that... (for now) 

Spring Consignment Season is right around the corner and now is the time to start preparing.  Here are some tips to help get you ready!

1.  Register for sales early!  Each sale states when they open registration on their sale website.  Make a note of registration dates and plan to register early.  Many sales will fill up in the first day due to limited space and then go to a waiting list.

2.  Sign Up for a New Sale!  If you have only done one sale before, why not sign up for a second sale later in the season?  This is a great way to sell more of your items and an opportunity to see how different sales are run.  Ask your friends what sales they participate in or see if there is a new sale being held in your area. 

3.  Sign Up to Volunteer!  The best way to find the best items is to be a volunteer.  Each sale offers perks for consignors who voluinteer to help with the sale.  The shifts range from 4 to 8 hours depending on the sale.  In exchange for your time, you will get to shop before the sale opens to the public in addition to other perks that vary with each sale.  Shopping early is particularly helpful if you are looking for a specific in demand item - like outdoor play items etc.

4.  Begin Gathering Your Sale Items!    Grab a rubbermaid bin and start to gather items to sell.  It really helps to get your children involved and have them "buy in" to the process.  I ask my children what toys they would like to sell.  If they do not produce enough toys, I then hold up two items and tell them they have to choose which one to keep.  The trick with this is that I rig the choices so one item is one I know they will never want to sell so they have to choose the item that I want to go.  It hasn't backfired on me yet!

5.  Create a Consignment Box!  I like to keep all of my supplies together in a plastic school box.  Inside I keep - White Index Cards, Sharpies (Black and Red), Scissors, Safety Pins, Rubber Bands, Hole Puncher, Plastic Ties, Ribbon and clear packing tape. 

6.  Gather Your Supplies!  I always think it is funny that before consignment season I become obsessed with wire hangers.  "Where are my wire hangers?  I need more wire hangers?  Does anyone have any wire hangers?"  The first thing I do is scour the closets and exchange wire hangers for plastic ones.  (You can buy the plastic ones at Dollar Tree to replace any wire ones you have.)  If I don't find enough I begin to beg.  I beg my friends and local dry cleaners.  This usually brings forth a bounty of wire hangers and all is right with the world.  After the hangers are taken care of - I move on to safety pins.  Dollar Tree is a great source for these but many people know that so they sell out right before sales begin so you need to pick them up early or you will end up paying $4 at Walgreens - Ugh!

7.  Prepare Your Shoppping Lists!  Walking into a consignment sale can be quite overwhelming.  There is so much stuff that all of the sudden you forget what you need and end up searching through all of the great books for hours.  Trust me -been there and done that.  The best way to fight against this is to prepare a list.  Keep it short and simple.  I usually do it on an index card so I can keep it in my pocket.  (I do not carry a purse when I shop at consignment sales).  Write down the items AND SIZES for each of your children.  Organize your list by sex because that is how sales are organized.  On one side write the "Needs" and the other side write your "Wants".  If you start your list now you should have a really comprehensive list by the time the sales begin.

8.  Invite Your Friends To Participate!  Part of the fun of consignment is sharing your great finds with a friend.  I rely on my friends to give me the appropriate "oohs and aahs" about items like the Little Tykes playset in mint condition that I found for $30.  My hubby just does not seem to provide me the level of excitement I require at such an accomplishment so I rely on my girlfriends.  It is also wise to have another set of eyes with you when you shop so they will tell you the truth "No, your sweet girl will not look good in the orange and purple polka dotted, ruffled shirt with bows all over it".  That's what friends are for so ask a friend to sign up for a sale with you so you can enjoy the experience together.

My name is Julie and I am a Consignaholic.  I am also a VERY thrifty shopper and I have decided that I am beginning to have a bit of a problem.  You see - I am married to a wonderful man who dearly loves me and wishes to give me nice gifts on Christmas morning.  The problem is that he has asked me for... a LIST! 

Now, to most of you this would not be a problem but for me it is a problem.  I have been trying to write this list for two weeks and have only one item on it.  I am just not used to paying full retail for things so I have a hard time asking hubby to go spend $40 on a sweater for me when I know I could find one I like just as well and probably pay $10 for it.  I know I should just get over this and make the darn list but I continue to struggle. 

It would be SO much easier if he could just read my mind!  Then - I could get back to rearranging the playroom and putting away toys that are no longer played with for consignment season.  I think though another reason i am struggling with this list thing is because it rquires me to sit and think about what I want.  Seriously - how often do we as women just sit down and write down what we want?  It is not normal.  I rarely think about what I want.  I am too busy focusing on what everyone else wants or needs.  Perhaps, I should embrace this list making challenge. 

It will probably be good for me.

Confessions of a woman addicted to consignment sales....

Hi!  My name is Julie King and I am a Consignaholic.  Yes, I admit it.  I am 100% addicted.  I absolutely LOVE childrens consignment sales.  Why am I so addicted you ask?  Well, I love to be able to provide my children with beautiful clothes and toys for only a fraction of retail costs.  On top of that, I get to meet all kinds of wonderful people who like to save money just like me.

Last week, I volunteered at Once Around The Block Kids sale that benefited Rejoice Ministries.  I got to spend time with my friends, shop for my kids, and make some money to boot!  In my book, that is a great time.  I bought the most amazing Barbie Dream House for my niece for $30.  It looks new and when my niece sees it under the tree on Christmas morning - I bet she is not going to care one bit that I did not spend $150 on it. 

There are a couple of more sales before the end of the year and then Consignment sale season starts again in February.  I am already counting the days.

Check out www.consigningtime.com - THE Place to Find Consignment Sales in Middle Tennessee. 

(Yep - it's my website!) 

Do you want a presale pass to shop at Floods of Duds this Wednesday at 7:00?  Just leave me a comment below telling me why you love to shop at consignment sales.  Winner will be announced Tuesday at 8:00 p.m..  Happy shopping!

I just got home from shopping at Reruns Are Fun at The Factory and it was AWESOME!  I bought a Ralph Lauren denim comforter for my son's twin bed for $7 and he LOVES it.  I aslo picked up theis huge bucket of plastic gears in a bucket and he has been playing with them quietly since I got home.  if you have ever met my son then you know that is a miracle!

Anyway, make sure you go check out Reruns Are Fun.  It is a great sale and opens Tuesday at The Factory.