Consignment 101

Pre-Planning and Pricing

Clothing:

·         Seasonal clothing only. 

 

Spring Sale
Shorts
Bathing suits
Short sleeved shirts and dresses
Tank tops
Sandals and warm weather shoes
Water shoes
Pants and jeans ok (not lined)


Fall Sale
Snow clothes

Sweaters

Fleeces

Snow boots

Gloves/mittens

            Corduroy/Heavy jeans

            Long and short sleeved shirts
            Fall/Winter shoes (Crocs are OK)

• Sets must be a matching outfit of the SAME brand and SAME size. No matching up a 2T shirt with 3T pants, etc.
• Make sure all items are clean and in good condition. Wash them and inspect them for any defects such as stains, rips, tears, and missing buttons.
• Small items and accessories can be packaged together in bags i.e. socks, tights, new onesies.
• Pricing recommendations are 30% of retail for mall brand clothing (Gap, Gymboree, Old Navy, etc.).  
• Boutique clothing (Janie & Jack, Boden, Tea) should be priced higher according to condition (see our boutique link for approved brands in the sidebar).

Non-clothing

• If the toy requires batteries, they must be included and the toy must work or it will not be accepted at check-in. 
• Large items should have all essential pieces and need to be assembled at the sale.
• Make sure toys are clean and damage free.  Minor wear from use is to be expected.  Vital missing parts are not acceptable.
• Large items often get 50-60% retail, based on condition.

 Entering Items into the system:

When entering use a standard format (Each line is a maximum of 24 characters).

Line 1:  Brand/Store Name (number of pieces if set)

Line 2: Description

Example:

If you do not have enough room on the second line need to put the color in the top line that is fine*

     

• A list common stores and their abbreviations is available in the “How to describe your items” document.

For all items, remember to mark discount if you wish to sell your item for half price on the last day and/or donate if you want the item to be donated to charity if it does not sell. If possible, highlight “Reduce” on the tag. (I try to do this before tags are cut)

Hanging and Tagging Clothing

·     clothes hung on hanger like question mark

• wire hangers ONLY
• Hanger limit for smaller sizes (0-3, 3-6, 6-12, 12-24 months) is 15 hangers. A set counts as 1 hanger.
• Pins and tagging guns to attach tags.
• Be sure to pin/tag in seams or through the tag to avoid damaging the garment
• Tagging gun placement in left armpit or through another left arm seam.  If not possible, barbs can be placed through garment tag.
• pins should be placed at left shoulder seam of garment
• If the garment buttons, snaps, zips…do it. 
• Smaller items in Ziplocs should be sealed and taped closed.

Non-clothing

• do not tape over the printed label bar code
• books can be placed in bags or wrapped in plastic wrap
• attaching tag to books, not in bags, should use painter's tape to prevent damage
• toys with multiple pieces need to be in secure bags
• Toys too large to bag, that also have multiple pieces, need to have all pieces secured.
• Zip ties can be used for attaching shoes to each other.
• DVDs (no VHS) should not be sealed shut so they can be inspected
• Crib mattresses only with crib or toddler bed, may not be sold separately

Consignor Duties

• Register and sign up for drop-off shift and any volunteering shifts
• Enter all items in data base, tag and hang correctly
• Arrive, on-time, for drop-off shift. 
• BRING printed and signed seller agreement, self-address (no stamp) envelope for your commission check
• Be as organized as possible.  Gather clothing according to size and gender.  It helps YOU when hanging the clothes on the racks.  It will make it go faster and prevent people from trying to take your rolling rack. 
• Have clothes properly hung before dropping off and make sure all non-clothing items are prepped to put out.  Remember all battery operated toys must WORK and have batteries in them.  Securely attach all parts together.
• NO SHOPPING WHEN HANGING CLOTHES
• A volunteer will inspect all your items for damage and seasonality.  Be prepared to take items home.  The lights make stains more obvious and we all miss something.  Items can be washed and returned, if the stain comes out.  Tags will be removed at check-in if the items are deemed unsellable. Don't be offended by returned items. We all have them.
• It helps to have your own print out of your items at drop off.  When items are returned to you, you can immediately mark that on your list.  At pick-up, bring the same print out when accounting for your returned items, the returned items are already marked and not assumed lost/stolen.  There is a SMALL chance of loss or left during the sale. 

• Large Items
• Large items like cribs, pack and plays, stroller need to be assembled, on site, by you.  If you can't assemble it on your own, please let us know as soon as you arrive, so we can arrange someone to help.  Items that do not have all parts and pieces cannot be sold.  Accessory toys don't necessarily count.
• Large and high priced items, including purses, will need a claim ticket to be bought.  Those need to be written out and attached when you place the item on the floor.  Tickets and zip ties will be available at drop-off. 
• If your large item has several pieces that are not attached, be sure everything is secured to the item.  Items like play kitchens and workbenches with lots of accessories often have those accessories pulled out by little hands and then scattered to the 4 corners of the building.  That often makes the price look too high, if all the toys are missing.

• Pick-up
• Have your list of your items to be picked up.  During the sale, the original printout from drop-off can be used to check off all the sold items. This will leave you with a list of the unsold items.  Remember, to not include the items marked for donate. 
• Find your pile of items and compare to your expected list.  If items are missing, DO NOT PANIC.  There is often a collection of items that have lost their tags and cannot be sorted by consignor.  If there are still missing items, DO NOT PANIC.  Ask if there are still items to be sorted and ask Christine or M-L or their appointed rep what to do if there are missing items.  It has happened often that they were sorted into the wrong pile 1050-->1005 and we just need that person to check through their items.  Items have been located by looking for the most logical error pile. 
• If you have chosen to either Donate everything or have sold everything, you DO NOT NEED to come. 
• If you have NOT CHOSEN to donate all your things and you do not come to claim them during the designated pick-up, they will be donated.  If you have an emergency and can not make arrangements to have someone else pick-up, call M-L or Christine before the end of the night to make other arrangements.  DO not send an email or post in the FB group.  They need a phone call.  RI KIDS CONSIGNMENT will send no last call emails.

Shopping the pre-sale

• Be sure to pick up your pass on the way out from drop-off.  If you are just a volunteer, your pass will be given to you at your first shift.
• Be sure to come to the appropriate pre-sale based on your participation.  There are different entry times for volunteers, based on the number of shifts.  The non-volunteer consignors have their own time as well. 
• Strollers NOT allowed during the presale.  Based on occupancy, should be allowed at other times.  Strollers are subject to inspection at exit.