“I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet.” - carrie bradshaw

What I love about living in new cities is being able to explore all the hole in the walls and establishing myself as a patron at those places. Especially, when it comes to shopping. Since moving to the DMV, I’ve found two amazing consignment shops that I love — both located in Alexandria, VA. This post will provide some ways that you can master the art of consignment if you’re a first timer or don’t seem to have much luck. But first, let’s talk differences…

Second-Hand Stores

• Quality of items tend to be fair

• Household name brands

• More affordable

• Lenient with wear, date, style

  Consignment Stores

• More expensive

• High-end name brands

• Quality of items tend to be new, gently used

• Process more extensive for selling

  DISCLAIMER: By no means am I suggesting you don’t shop at second-hand stores. I simply choose to sell more expensive items to consignment shops. I still like to frequent second-hand stores. It’s about what you want to do.

• To start, find a shop that you’d like to consign with. Due to racial, socioeconomic disparities and urban planning (aka Gentri) within large metropolitan areas, you will likely have to go north (or whatever damn direction) to find those shops. I always suggest visiting the store first as a preliminary trip to eye inventory, experience customer service, scout prices, etc. This helps you get an idea of which shop is right for you.

• Second, visit the shop’s website and/or social media, look for their consignment agreement and FAQs. These documents explain what to expect when consigning, how much of a percentage you and the store profit from your items, markdowns, and so on. Some consignment stores practice a 50/50 agreement — the buyer receives 50% of the profit as well as the seller, for example. Read the contract in full and familiarize yourself with the consigning rules. This typically entails more than second-hand stores.

• Once you’ve made a solid decision about what store you’d like to consign with and read agreements, start gathering the items you want to sell. Stores may ask that the items are no older than two years, but you can push it. Folks are moving into more vintage and dated styles anyway, so something you’ve had in your closet for more than two years may suffice.

  RULES OF THUMB

  • Make sure your items are in solid condition — no rips, tears, holes.

  • Items should be in season. Another thing to check on the shop’s site — when they take certain items for the seasons. But, common sense would tell you not to show up trying to sell cut-offs in December.

  • If you have any stains or stench on your items, clean them. Turn them inside out, too. I’ve found foundation marks and wine stains (???) on the inside of a shirt. I don’t know….your 20s are wild.

  • Once items are washed and dried, it’s always a good idea iron them. This assists with the items’ appearance as the store decides which to take. Think about rack/hanger appeal.

  • Prepare the clothes as if someone were about to wear them. For example, if a dress came with a belt, tie the belt onto the dress, secure the belt.

  • Use a large bag to pack in all of your items (folded) so that they don’t singe or latch on to each other in the process of transport.

    Keep in mind: Though you may be prepared to sell 20 items, don’t expect the shop to take all 20.

• Many consignment shops sell your items for a percentage of the retail price. Make sure you provide the ORIGINAL retail price. Google is your friend. Typically, if you type in the brand name and description of the item on the search engine you can find MSRP.

• Schedule an appointment with the shop for them to review your items. Usually, I like to stay in the store while they go through my items to browse the store and decide if I want to use my earnings to shop there or for my own pocket change. I also like to stay in the store to make sure that the associates are being fair and handling my items with care. Just because you’re consigning, doesn’t mean you don’t value your belongings anymore. Make sure they treat you and your items with respect and that their asking prices are on par with yours. You can always bargain if you think an item deserves a higher selling price.

• If they don’t take certain items, don’t worry. They will let you know why they didn’t take. If they don’t provide an explanation, ask. You have the right to know. After this, you can either try another consignment, second-hand store, or DONATE DONATE DONATE!

Once finished with your appointment, you may receive a log-in for a consignor site to keep track of sales, money in your account, and when your items expire. Stay on top of these things, so that the deadline doesn’t creep up on you and you don’t receive unsold items or most importantly, your $$$.

Good luck, neighbors. Go ahead and drop some of your favorite consignment and second-hand stores where you live in the comments!