How to Sell Clothes to a Consignment Shop

Our closets are full of items that, for whatever reason, we no longer wear. Maybe we lost weight or bought on impulse a little too often, or perhaps we switched from a dressy professional environment to a casual one. Your quality castoffs can be turned into extra cash, so take inventory, then head to your local consignment store.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Vintage Clothes
• Vintage Shoes
• Phone Directories
• Vintage Jewelry

1. Gather your discards and separate them by season and style. Consider consigning items that are in good shape, stain-free and not too worn, and that you believe might appeal to someone else.

2. Grab the phone book and check the business pages for entries under resale, secondhand, clothes or consignment. Make a list of all the stores in your area.

3. Visit a few shops as a consumer, paying attention to the assortment and prices. Although your profit is tied to the selling price, if prices seem a little inflated, you may end up with items that don't sell.

4. Call each shop and get a clear idea about what type of clothes they buy: in-season only, casual, professional, designer, etc. Make an appointment at shops that you believe may be interested in your items.

5. Have a sales associate explain the store's policy. Typically clothes are kept for a period of 30 to 60 days. Nonsellers will be returned to you, while sellers will earn you a portion of the selling price.

6. Keep a record of what you consign, and if you don't hear from the store first, make a note to call a few days before your selling period ends. Depending on the store, you may receive cash, credit or a check.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be wise to dry-clean suits and blouses before you offer them, as you only want to show clean and wrinkle-free items. This small investment may make the difference between an item being selected or rejected.

• Brand name and designer labels do very well at consignment shops.

• If your consignment items don't sell, consider donating them to charity or local social service programs.

• Keep your receipt or consignment list in a safe place. This is your only official record of the things you've deposited.