How to Sell/Consign Your Clothing &Accessories

by Catriona Whitehead

When I complete an In-Home Styling Session, my clients are often left with items that no longer have a place in their wardrobes. Some pieces don't fit their new body, some are too worn, some haven't been worn at all. What do I do? I divide these items into donate, trash, and sell or consign piles, and get to it. If you want to make a little cash back on those items that still have plenty of wear in them, read on. To begin, here are some differences between selling and consigning:

Selling an item means you are paid on the spot for that item. The percentage you receive varies with each secondhand store and is based on the price at which the store sells your item. 

Consigning an item means the secondhand store displays your item for purchase for a specific amount of time, paying you a percentage of the profit in the event that the item sells. Some stores pay you within days of an individual item selling, others pay one lump sum for all consigned items at the end of the selling period.

If you'd like more assistance in selling and consigning, hire me:

365waysayearstylingservices.com

To DIY here are THREE STEPS to successful selling and consigning: 

STEP 1: Look through your wardrobe (jewelry, shoes, and bags included--forget the undergarments                 and socks) and divide your unwanted items into three piles:

a) TRASH

                   these items have 

                                -holes that cannot be sewn

                                       -stains that cannot be removed

                                                                     -missing details, i.e. irreplaceable buttons or trim

                                                                            -too much wear, i.e. fraying at edges, worn-out fabric

b) DONATE

these items are in good condition, but not ideal for selling/consigning

c) SELL/CONSIGN

these items are

   -in good condition

             -current or vintage styles

                                                                    -in season or approaching, i.e. winter items offered towards                    end of fall or during winter

STEP 2: Search for secondhand clothing stores near you and sell/consign your items. Read up on                      their selling/consigning process (*some stores require appointments to sell or consign).                        Here are some examples of what may be included in the selling/consigning process:

                       a) you can only bring a certain number of items for inspection

                       b) the store must accept a certain number of items in order to create a contract 

                       c) you must remain in the store during item inspection

                       d) the store representative recommends that you bring certain items back at a later date,                            due to current overstock on a particular type of item, seasonal needs, etc.

STEP 3: Obtain a copy of the contract, signed by both you and the store representative, laying out the                terms of your agreement. In the event of consignment, a few days to a week after                                  consigning, you should receive an inventory list of the items consigned.  

STEP 4: Receive your money! Consider donating any rejected selling/consigning items OR, if                            indicated by the store representative, saving some items for a later date. I typically try two                  or three secondhand stores before donating rejected selling/consigning items.