February 9, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Do you feel, sometimes, like there’s lightning crackling all around you, great ideas that flash into your resale shopkeeper brain…
and just as quickly fade away?
And then, when you need to come up with a clever idea, a nifty solution or a unique Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged success | Leave a Comment »
February 8, 2010 by Auntie Kate
The Randomizer has spoken: the winner of our Wacky Wednesday Giveaway is
Elizabeth Sowers of Mommy’s Lil’ Rascals in Pennsylvania!
This is the second time Elizabeth Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Wacky Wednesday Giveaways | Tagged HowToConsign.com | 2 Comments »
February 7, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Maybe there’s a harder job than consignment shopkeeper or resaler. (Though personally, I doubt it.) If so, these ladies might have had it.

The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not our circumstances. — Martha Washington
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, quotations of use | Tagged success, thought for the day | 1 Comment »
February 6, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Explore a (apparently-abandoned) blog on looking/ living fabulously while paying attention to one’s green-ness.
Even if it’s not breaking news, there’s some great ideas and info here. Even, dare I mention it, some good copywriting examples you might highlight as your Wacky Wednesday Giveaway contribution and chance to win at
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Used Stuff in the News | Tagged blogging, recycle | 2 Comments »
February 5, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Soon your shop will be bursting with great incoming goods for the new season.And some not-so-great.
Whether you consign or buy outright, or even operate a donation-only thrift store, you see Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged accepting, ecology, recycle | Leave a Comment »
February 4, 2010 by Auntie Kate

Click the book cover for Resale Success Secrets.
I love reading secrets to success, even if they are written for another industry than resale & consignment. Here’s my 30-second takeaway from an article I found.
The 3 Secrets to Success
Success secret #1: Take action
…advice can make you lots of money, if you know the success secret: You actually Continue Reading »
Posted in I've been meaning to tell you, Shopkeeping talk | Tagged attitude, success | 1 Comment »
February 3, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Today’s Wacky Wednesday Giveaway is sponsored by Once Again Consignment in Roswell New Mexico. Why? MollyB says
HowToConsign.com has brought Once Again Consignment to the top of Google. With a common name, I was struggling to be recognized online. With the additional exposure and links at HowToConsign.com my store is now on page 1 for every search (other than the generic Once Again, which was a TV series). I know that there are new customers finding me because of my listing on HowToConsign.com, and I know that those customers are well educated about resale. A sponsorship listing on HowToConsign.com has proven to be a great asset to Once Again Consignment.
Molly will give a HowToConsign.com
Sponsorship from now until June 30 2010 if the winner is not now a Sponsor (
a $29 value.) If the winner happens to be a Treasured Sponsor by this Sunday February 7, that shop will win a
full year, Treasured Sponsorship until June 30 2011! (
a $99 value.)
If you’re not yet a Sponsor, you can join now to increase the value of the Giveaway.
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Wacky Wednesday Giveaways | Tagged advertising, blogging, holidays, mailing list | 32 Comments »
February 1, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Not that you want to have to be a superhero one day,
but really, read then file this for possible reference (preferably somewhere where fire, flood, or tornado won’t get it!)
Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged daily operations, small business | 4 Comments »
January 31, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Need a quick “why-shop-with-us” message? To Twitter, put on Facebook, to blog
about or send your Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk | Tagged advertising, customers, mailing list | Leave a Comment »
January 29, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Some of my favorites. I can just see these in dressing rooms, above wall shelves, anchoring Continue Reading »
Posted in My Favorite Things, Shopkeeping talk | Tagged display, resale | Leave a Comment »
January 28, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Is it time to raise your prices in your resale shop? It could be.
It might be time to take a fresh look at your pricing structure if you’ve been at the same place, price-wise, for a few years.
According to the Consumer Price Index Calculator, what $25 would buy in 2007, costs $25.87 now.
That means that for every Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, economics of resale | Tagged home decor, profit, resale shopkeeping, selling | 8 Comments »
January 27, 2010 by Auntie Kate
It’s Wacky Wednesday once again. A free giveaway for consignment, resale, and thrift shop owners/ managers.
You want your shop’s name (and tag line, if all goes well) to STICK in people’s minds whether they’re looking for something specific, gathering up Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, Wacky Wednesday Giveaways | Tagged advertising, competition, HowToConsign.com, promotions | 17 Comments »
January 26, 2010 by Auntie Kate
Beckie and Debbie of My Sister’s Closet prepared this great page for their consignment and resale peers at Sharing a while back. Perhaps you read it then.
It’s worth an “Encore”, especially now when you may have the time to catch your breath and think about ways to make your shop more polished…
and to increase the Perceived Value of your merchandise!
(Here’s Continue Reading »
Posted in Shopkeeping talk, economics of resale | Tagged accessories, merchandising, perceived value, profit | 1 Comment »