How to Create Your Consignment Shop Layout

If you currently own a consignment shop, or are interested in pursuing a consignment business, read through these tips on how to create the best layout for you!

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Racks
• Shelving
• Mannequins/Displays
• Chairs to sit in
• Dressers/Cupboards for little items
• Paint/Wallpaper/Art

1. Figuring out a good layout for your consignment shop can be a difficult and overwhelming task, especially at first. Take your time, think about what you would want to see when you first walk in the door and what should be displayed in the back. Eventually, you will find a wonderful traffic flow and easy to follow directions for your clients.

2. 

   First thing to work on is the front part of the shop. Display some of your best items in the front of the store and use several mannequins at the windows to draw people in. Be cautious! If you put the most expensive item at the front door, it could easily promote shoplifting. Show the best quality you have, not necessarily the most expensive. If you can, purchase racks that have glass tops, or shelving across to display even more. When working in consignment, there is often so much to look at, displaying some of your best pieces will prompt the shopper to purchase more.

3. 

   Divide all of your items into sections, and have a distinct flow and order to your items. Sections could be used as follows: Tops and Blouses, Pant and Pantsuits, Skirts and Skirt sets, Dresses, Suits, Formalwear, Petites, Plus-size, Juniors, Infants, Equipment, Vintage, Decor, Shoes & Accessories. The possibilities are endless, but depending on what clientele you will focus on, always group like-items together. Put things in order by color or by size from smallest to largest. Make sure to purchase directional signs to put at the end of the racks to show your customers what they are looking at. Purchase lots of size rings to show the size increases for each section. This will display order and a "method to your madness" in your own unique layout. The back of the shop is wonderful to put dressing rooms, shoes and accessories or other items. When people try things on encourage them to leave their unwanted items in the dressing rooms or have an easily accessible rack outside the dressing rooms so you can always put back the items yourself. Hang a cute sign in the fitting rooms that you prefer to put the items back. Some ladies really like to help by putting unwanted things back on the floor, but most of the time they don't put it back correctly. This will help keep things in order and will be easier to locate items if pulling them for a consignor!

4. 

   Create vignettes when displaying. For example, put all blue glassware items together such as vases, pictures, a shiny top and a pair of shoes. Vignettes will display to your clients that you have a knack or creating outfits or putting together rooms.

5. 

   Check out several store supply warehouses when purchasing things for your shop. Robertham.com is great and so is storesupplywarehouse.com. Also check out local resale stores, Ebay, or yard sales to see if they have racks, jewelry counters, or other display items for sale. They can be easy to purchase from a local business who's going out of business too!

6. 

   Never forget to include a little seating throughout your shop for people to rest. Little benches or a cute chair outside the fitting rooms are great for people who come in groups. Also, keep children in mind. Have a small area with a toy chest or little table to color at for them to play while mommies shop. This will keep them busy and not be running around crazy! Plus, mothers will spend more if they have the break from constantly watching children.

7. There are lots of tools online to create a layout for your space. Check on google, or just grab a notebook and start drawing. If you have been in business for a while, change the layout of your shop every few years or move the sections around. This will show that you are a great shopkeeper and will keep repeat clients on their toes and able to find more of your items they may have never seen before! Use my tips and your consignment business will flourish!

Tips & Warnings

• If you have the money, hire a professional interior designer. They can provide great ideas on how to decorate the inside of your shop and can easily help with the flow.

• Take classes at your local hardware shop, such as Lowe's, to learn how to do flooring, painting, woodworking, or other thing you can implement into your business

• Visit other local consignment shops and make notes on how their layout flows

• Read my other articles by clicking below on how to help your small shop be a success!

• Don't over extend yourself, hire movers or decorators if you need assistance