Consignment shopping is one of the best ways to save money on everything from maternity clothes to high chairs – even Halloween costumes! You can find the best brands of baby clothes, nursery furniture, strollers, and just about anything else baby-related at one of the many resale shops and consignment sales around the country. I consider myself the consignment queen, and it’s a title I wear proudly. It doesn’t come with a crown or sash, but it does put money in my pocket. If you’re interested in becoming consignment royalty, read on and discover just how easy it can be!
Step 1 - Get over the stigma
Forget any preconceived notions you may have about buying things second-hand. Today’s resale industry is cleaner, trendier, and more mainstream than it used to be. Most consignment stores have very strict standards for the items they accept, which means you no longer have to sift through a mountain of junk just to find one bargain. I wore the trendiest maternity clothes when I was pregnant, and all the compliments only cost me a small fraction of the retail prices.
And if you’re worried about what people will think if they find out, put that thought right out of your head. Consignment shopping is growing more popular by the day. There are plenty of moms who have enough money to buy everything retail, but choose to hunt for bargains instead. You’re in good company!
Step 2 - Know the basics
If you’re not familiar with consigning, you should first of all understand how it works. It’s a very simple process that begins with moms who have stuff their kids have outgrown and ends with you buying that stuff from them. These items are not donated. The sellers hope to make a profit and, therefore, bring only their nicest things to consign. The consignment store is a just a medium between sellers and buyers.
You should also know the difference between consignment stores and consignment sales. Consignment stores are, of course, permanent establishments that shoppers can visit at any time. Consignment sales are events that are usually held twice a year at a designated location, like a community center, church, or warehouse. These events are often big productions that only last a few days. They tend to have a much larger selection of items than a permanent store, so it’s worth going if you can find one. It’s especially worth it if you’re looking for big-ticket items like cribs, electric nursing pumps, and expensive toys. Consignment sales usually have tons of these things to choose from. KidsConsignmentSales.com gives consignment sale listings by state. If that doesn’t work, try a Google search.
Step 3 - Go shopping
Once you’re ready to brave this new frontier, there are a few guidelines you can follow to make the most of your time. First of all, don’t even consider taking kids with you on a consignment shopping trip. I learned this lesson the hard way. I didn’t realize until too late that consignment shopping does take a little more time and concentration than regular shopping.
If you’re buying clothing, consider the season you’re buying for. Just like at other clothing stores, you can usually expect to find fall/winter clothes beginning in late summer and spring/summer clothes in late winter. Most consignment stores have sales at the end of the seasons, which means extra savings for you!
It’s a good idea to bring more than one form of payment, just in case a store doesn’t take checks or credit cards. You don’t want to find the perfect, figure-flattering Mimi Maternity dress, and then not be able to pay for it. It also helps to bring a large bag that can be used to place items in while you’re looking around. When you find adorable, baby-sized Ralph Lauren shirts for $7.00 and Gap sundresses for $6.00, you tend to end up with more merchandise than you can carry.
Step 4 - If at first you don’t succeed…
…try another store. All consignment shops and sales are not created equal. If you weren’t impressed with one store, try another one – maybe on another side of town. You can also try coming back another day. Each store’s inventory varies drastically from one week to the next, depending on what goodies their consignors have dropped off. Even my favorite store, Bearly New, goes through a slump every now and then. I never have two disappointing shopping trips in a row, though.
Step 5 – Join the Club
Once you get hooked on consignment shopping, you’ll want to maximize your savings – and even make a profit – by becoming a consignor. You can open an account with your favorite consignment stores and use the earnings on your sales to shop for free! They will also cut you a check if you prefer, but I think it’s much more fun to exchange things I can’t use anymore for things I need right now – without spending a dime. Most stores pay consignors 50% of the selling prices of their items, but it’s a good idea to check around and see which ones have the best deals.
Consignment sales often pay a higher percentage, but you sometimes have to do more work to prepare. The Just Between Friends sale, for example, pays 70%, but moms have to tag all items in a certain way and hang ironed clothes on a specific type of hanger. The profit potential is worth the trouble, though, if you have a lot of nice things to sell.
Now that you have the scoop on consignment shopping, it’s time to get out there and try it. It’s a little-known secret that consignment shoppers often run across brand new items with tags – never used! With consignment shopping, you just never know what gems you might find once you start digging. If you play your cards right, you can spend next to nothing on your shopping trips and come home with valuable goods that retail for hundreds of dollars. What more could you ask for?
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