• Tweet
• Share
• Email

• Tweet
• Share
• Email

Selling your kid’s clothing at a bi-yearly consignment sale can mean a chance to do some closet clearing and, with just a little leg-work, to sell outgrown clothing for more than you’d make by taking it to a consignment store. Here are some tips to help you get the most of the experience.

First of all, you will want to find out about sales in your area at least a month or two before the sale takes place. This will give you time to complete any paperwork the sale organizers need, find acceptable items to sell, prepare the items properly, and deliver them in time for the sale. Here are some guidelines for getting the most out of the sale:

• Find out the registration date. To be able to consign items, you will probably have to register to participate in the sale.

• Know what’s acceptable. Find out what items the sale organizers will accept, and which items they won’t accept. Often times they will want high-quality, lightly-used, brand-name items that are clean and in season. They may not accept items that have safety concerns, are out-of-season, or which are in poor shape or smell bad. A good rule of thumb is to only sell items that you yourself would be willing to buy and to make sure they are in good shape.

• Know the limits. Some sales place limits on the number of items you can sell. They may have a category limit (e.g. 5 pairs of shoes, 10 clothing items, etc.); they may also have a total item limit (e.g., no more than 50 items per consignor).

• Learn to price your items so they’ll sell. This is a three-pronged step. First, see if the sale organizers have any pricing guidelines, like minimum or maximum pricing, whether you need to round to the nearest dollar, etc. Then, figure out how much each item you are selling is worth. ¼ to 1/3 of the original price is a common guideline, though brand name items sometimes sell for more. One note: if someone can find a comparable outfit on sale and new, they are not going to buy the item from you for the same price – be realistic with your pricing. Finally, some sales may let you choose whether to discount the price of your items as the sale winds down. Keep in mind that if your items are priced too high, they may not sell and you’ll need to have a back up plan for what to do with them. Some sales will let you donate leftover sale items to a local charity.

• Tag your items. Tag each item as requested; some sales use 3×5 index cards, have barcodes you can use, or provide you with a printable template. Tags will often need brand, size, price, and descriptive information, as well as way to identify you as the consignor. They may also need to be attached to the item you are selling in a very specific way. See the guidelines provided by the sale you are participating in to see how to create your tags and attach them appropriately.

• Prepare your items for the sale. Make sure all items are clean and presentable. You may also need to bag books and toys or hang clothing on a particular type of hanger in a specific way. Be sure to follow the sale guidelines to ensure that the organizers accept your items.

• Know the timeline. Each sale will have multiple deadelines – when to deliver items for the sale, when to attend the pre-sale, when to pick up your commission, when to pick up unsold items, etc. Find out what they are and be there.

Once you’ve participated in a sale, you’ll have the routine down and will be able to easily prepare for the next one. In the process, you can also find some great deals to keep your child dressed in style.

Read the next issue in this series for tips on How to Buy Clothing at a Children’s Consignment Sale or Get The Skinny on Children’s Consignment Sales.