Below are some common questions & answers that should help you get started with your Consignment selling & shopping!
Q: Your first time consigning may seem overwhelming. How do you even start?
A:
1. Begin with the current season.
2. Try to gather everything together, but don’t become overwhelmed!
3. Don’t attempt to do it all in that first sale.
Take a little amount to work on, and organize/store the rest for later! You’ll eventually have organized closets with room to spare!
4. You may have “emotional attachment” and have a hard time letting go of some things. Please keep special outfits and meaningful toys. i.e. – the coming home from the hospital outfit, 1st pair of shoes, first toy, etc..
5. If you plan on using equipment later for other children, you’ll probably want to get something newer. And you’ll realize a more significant profit if you turn things around quickly. Baby equipment kept in hot attics over prolonged periods of time can yellow and become “unsellable”.
Learn to let go and clean out the closets…make some $$!
How to:
1. Find a space to work in for several days. Ensure your significant other it will only be a few days!
2. Gather things together, from children’s bedrooms, attic, garage, playroom, children’s bathroom, etc…
3. Wash and inspect clothing in good light. Pull out items that may be donated but are not consignment quality.
4. Iron and hang clothing items, separating by sex and size.
5. Package non-clothing items and prepare for tagging. Check to ensure all pieces are present.
6. Check for recalls on equipment and toys that you plan to sell. www.cpsc.gov/index/html
7. Price and tag your items online.
8. Make sure clothing is in size/sex order before loading into car
New tagging option – *Optional* – Tape your consignor number inside your clothing with masking tape. This helps us return your items to the correct consignor if a tag falls off!
The barcode tag should be pinned on the top left shoulder of the garment. (To your right when facing you)
Q: How do I hang pants on a hanger?
A: Safety pin the waistband of the pants or shorts to the top of the hanger! So they do not slide down and around the hanger. Hangers with the paper covers work the best for pants, skirts and shorts. 
Customers like to look at the knees and the seat., if they are hung this way, customers see it all of it without removing them from the hanger…..
See How-To Videos for step by step instructions!
Q: How do I hang sets (of clothing)?
A: Hang the shirt on the hanger, and the shorts or pants on the back pinned to the hanger, not the shirt. How-To Videos
Please do not hang them under the shirt where customers can’t see the pants without taking the shirt off. Do not pin the pants to just the shirt. The weight of the pants will create holes in the shirt.
Attach the pants to the top of the hanger. You will stick the shirt by doing this, but it won’t be holding the weight of the pants/shorts, the hanger will. See our How-to Video
When putting together outfits – please do not mix sizes!
Q: How do I package puzzles?
A: The best way is to wrap Saran wrap around the puzzle, and then secure it with clear packing tape. Just make sure your tag is on the outside and accessible.
Puzzles and games that are in boxes need to have every piece. Please be considerate of others. Do not try to sell items that are incomplete. Please seal the box with clear packing tape.
Q: How do I package books?
A: Sets of books can be placed in 1 gallon or 2 gallon Ziplok type bags. Or you can use plastic cling wrap around the set of books and then use clear packing tape to apply tag.
When selling book sets, try to group by reading level.
Individual books do not have to be placed in bags. However, please DO NOT tape the tag to the outside of the book. It must be removed at checkout. Painters tape works great on books!
Q: How do I package shoes?
A: You can package shoes in quart or gallon sized ziploc bags. Place the tag on the outside of the bag and safety pin it securely, add a piece of packing tape over the top of the tag to secure it! If you bring shoes in their original box, please put them in a ziploc bag so they don’t become separated.
Laces and shoes must be in excellent condition. Limit of 10 pair. Bring your best!
Used tennis shoes are no longer accepted. They just don’t sell. I am trying to clean up the shoe area, and I will be looking closely at the shoes during inspection.
Q: What is the best way to price my items?
A: The first thing to remember is that you are selling used items.
When pricing items you plan on donating, please allow them to go half-price, we would rather you get something for it than nothing at all.
As a general rule you will want to price items at about 1/4 to 1/3 of their original retail price. If your item is a name-brand or boutique-brand such as OshKosh, Gymboree, The Children’s Place or other higher end, you can price closer to 1/3 original retail. For example, if a GAP t-shirt can be purchased on sale for $10.99, you can reasonably price it around $3.50 for good condition, $4.50 for excellent condition, and $5.50 if the tags are still attached. See our Pricing Suggestions here.
The one exception to the 1/4-1/3 rule will be indoor/outdoor toys like kitchens and playhouses (Little Tykes type items). These types of toys are in higher demand and you can expect to get as much as 1/3-1/2 of original retail price, especially if they have only been used indoors and are in great condition.
You should ask yourself “what would I pay for this?”
DO NOT price with your emotions!!! Because of treasured memories that you have attached to an item, you will always believe your items are “worth” more than someone else purchasing them. Just remember – no one can buy your memories… you will have those forever.
We are not a department store and we are not a garage sale. Don’t price yourself out of the sale. No matter how cute, please remember you are selling used clothing and items.
Q: How do I attach consignor tags?
A: Clothing: Attach with a safety pin to the top left shoulder (on the garment, not facing you!) If you are looking at the garment then it would be the right shoulder. See the HOW-TO VIDEOS for proper tag placement.
Toys and other items: Attach with a safety pin to items that have cloth or are secured in a bag.
- We suggest pinning the tag on the outside of the bag. A piece of packaging tape over the pin holds it even more secure!
- If you cannot use a safety pin, try using string, zip tie’s and/or ribbon to attach the tag. You will want to use a hole puncher on the tag to lace the string/ribbon through. Place a piece of tape over hole so it doesn’t tear off.
Q: How do I package or prepare onesies?
A: Please don’t put them in plastic ziploc baggies. We don’t accept items in plastic ziploc baggies because we cannot inspect them for stains.
What I would suggest is to put 1 on a hanger and then put two behind it and safety pin them to the hanger so that the weight of the fabric is on the hanger and not on the hanging onesie. How-to Video
Q: How do I prepare toys with small parts?
A: Please make certain that all pieces of a toy item are securely fastened together and that your toy is complete. Use packaging tape, Ziploc bags, clear plastic containers, etc. but please make sure that all the items are secure. We try to ask parents to not allow children to play with toys, but we cannot control that completely and inevitably children take things apart, scatter pieces, and/or remove index cards that are “in their way” of play so the more secure you can make your toy and the index card, the better.
You can put the index card inside the bag and safety pin it to the front of the bag to make it secure.
Q: How do I package small items?
A: Place small items like socks, hairbows, belts, etc…in Ziploc bags. We DO recommend using Ziploc bags for small items. Place the tag inside the Ziploc, then safety-pin through the bag and card so that the card is attached and won’t fall out if the bag is opened.
Q: What is my profit percentage?
A: Consignors receive 66% profit from their items. Volunteers that work three 3-hour volunteer shifts receive 70%!
Q: Why don’t you have S, M, L in children’s sizes?
A: The reason we don’t have those listed is because we don’t size the clothes that way on the rack. Then when putting them out, volunteers don’t have a clue what size to put them into, they get put in the wrong size, and then the item won’t get sold because it has been in the wrong size all sale. So – just try to remember the size your child was wearing when they wore the S, M, L and put that size on them. Every company has a different size for their S, M, L too and that makes putting up items impossible. Gymboree’s Small is not the same as Kelly Kids small, etc….
Q: Want to become a consignor diva?
A: Here are a few steps to help you!
1. Presentation is Everything
Break out the iron and press all of your clothes and some toys, if necessary. It’ll hide a bit of the pilling as well 
2. The Price is Right
Most people agree that the best pricing strategy is about 1/3 of what you paid retail for an item.
3. Add Notes on Sizing if Needed
If something fits like a 12 month item, but is labeled 18 months, make a note and make sure it is placed in the 12 month area. Items often get left hanging because they look too big / small in their sections.
4. Read Your Consignor Instructions TWICE
Every sale is a bit different so don’t miss the opportunity to sell because you didn’t follow directions!
5. Group Wisely
Don’t try and hide worn / useless items with good ones… you’ll drive everyone else crazy! Instead, think like the shopping maven / mom that you are and group intelligently. If you do have multiple items, make sure you can easily see all parts.
Q: Why no straight pins?
A: They are very dangerous. We need to protect the safety of our shoppers and our volunteers. No clothes pins either. They do not stay on and take up too much room on the rack.
Q: Consignor Fee – Why do you charge a consignor fee?
A: The $10.00 consignor fee helps cover the overhead costs of running our sale. Rent, utilities, advertising, insurance, rental fee’s, credit card processing, etc….
