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Stock up on kids' items at swap meet
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Help a Mom: Selling at consignment sales

Published: 2013-01-15 20:51:00
Updated: 2013-01-15 20:51:00

I updated Go Ask Mom's consignment sale database last week. Click here for information about three dozen sales, which feature new and gently used clothing, toys, gear and more for kids at reduced prices, across the Triangle and beyond.

The sales right now will be featuring summer and spring items - think bathing suits, shorts, sundresses and other warm weather attire. These are great places to stock up on items for your kids.

But our question today isn't about shopping the sales, it's about selling at them. A reader, who is a regular shopper at the sales, now is thinking about selling at one. She's looking for recommendations. Here's what she wrote:

I have never sold anything at one of these sales before. However, I have purchased plenty! I am interested in any feedback anyone has on selling. Does anyone have a sale they recommend? I am especially interested in the Frog in My Pocket sale and their busy mom services. Thanks!

(Frog in My Pocket's busy mom service involves the sale tagging, hanging and presenting your items for purchase. For the service, the sale takes a bigger cut of whatever sells - 50 percent - instead of the 65 percent or more that other consignors can earn).

For full disclosure, I have consigned items at a few sales in the region, but only regularly at Kidz Stuff Consignment Sale at Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh. The church is near my home and I sell items and shop the sale each season. I have had great success here selling larger items and clothing and picking up some adorable things for my girls.

Bottom line, I think that a consignor's success really involves scouting out the sale, seeing what sells (clothing vs. furniture, for instance, etc.,). and pricing your items to sell.

What's your experience as a consignor? Can you recommend a sale?

Please share your tips in the comments box below. (If you don't see the comments box below, you'll need to log in or sign up for a WRAL account. You can do that by going to the top of the page and clicking on either "log in" or "register").

Help a Mom features questions from readers every Wednesday. If you have a question that you'd like to ask Go Ask Mom readers, click here to email it to me.

8 Comments


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I've had good luck with the Kids Exchange. The tagging and putting the items out at the sale are a lot of work but I can usually get my husband to do the heavy lifting!

Ive done well selling big items- strollers, exersaucers, bouncy seats etc. and helps offset the cost of buying gear for the child's next stage in life.

I know some people have had a lot of luck selling clothes at them but I haven't. By the time I purchase the required hangers and tagging supplies, not to mention my time getting it all together, it is a wash at best. I just donate clothing and take the tax write off for it. Then I don't have to worry about a tiny little stain or purchasing supplies. I'm doing something good and end up with more money in my pocket when it's all said and done. My kids don't have nice clothes, so maybe if our things were that higher end namebrand stuff it would be worth it… Certainly not for your Kohl's and target type stuff. The idea of a sale that will do the tagging for you is very tempting but I think I'll probably stick with donating

try selling on ebay. It has worked for me.

I've been selling at Just4Kids for years. It's a great sale, ran very well and you track you sales online as the sale runs that week. Honest ladies that run it. You don't buy hangers, you get them for free @ dry cleaners all around town. You print tags at home and just have to buy zip ties. Very simple, but yes, time consuming. And when money isn't flowing easily nowadays, my time spent preparing is well worth the return I get. I personally, won't do KidsExchange. Did it once and although I did make a lot of money, it was very poorly ran with theft issues. (just my opinion). When you price your items, the typical rule of thumb is price it for 1/2 the size of the item of clothing (i.e. Size 4T sells for $2). make outfits of tops/bottoms and it sells much faster. If you have original boxes for toys, use them (and save them going forward!). The toys sell better that way. Like other posts, the net of the sale helps offset the purchases of the next seasons clothes! Well worth the time!

I sold for several years at the Kids Exchange sale, until my son (who's now 12) aged out of the clothes sold. My daughter (who's 9)likes to go on the 1/2 price Sunday and pick a few outfits out. While it was worth it to consign, volunteer, and shop early to pick up cute things for my kids, I didn't really do it for the profit. I have found that when I'm trying to sell the "nice" clothes (Hanna Anderson, Strausburg, Patsy Aiken, etc..) eBay works much better.

Hello, I have had GREAT success at KidsEverywear at the Morrisville Outlets. They also have detailed instructions on their website (I think it's kidseverywear.com) for preparing items for consigment (how to hand them, tag them, etc). Additionally the website for the KidzStuff sale has some good pricing guidelines. My opinion, well worth it to consign!

I too have theft issues at Kids Exchange, I now use the zip ties to "lock" my items to the hangers. I also put a peice of tape on the tag before I punch the hole as a reinforcement. I have better success selling high dollar items on Craigslist or eBay.

I like the Twice as Nice sale (www.twiceasnice4tots.com) It's never crazy like the KE at the fairground, and the clothes are a lot nicer. I also think it's really important to price your stuff correctly. There's no way I'm willing to pay the same amount that I can at Target or old navy for brand new stuff. Be realistic when pricing your stuff, then it'll surely sell!

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