Advise for your consignment, resale or thrift shop is as close as your computer: Just Ask Auntie Kate!
In the tradition of Dear Abby and Ask Ann Landers, we present Ask Auntie Kate. Yes, Auntie Kate will reply to your most vexing problems, most heart-felt concerns, your secret shames and undiscovered desires. If you have a nagging situation, email her at Kate [at] TGtbT.com. All posts will be anonymous, and may be edited for brevity and clarity.
Here’s a question which came in to Ask Auntie Kate recently:
How to indicate markdowns
Kate, My business partner and I have recently starting using a software program for consignment. The software unfortunately doesn’t discount prices on the ticket.
We would like to use different color
tickets to help our customers understand when Items are discounted. Can you help us understand how you do this?
Auntie Kate answers:
Hi Sharon, I am no great fan of using colored tickets to indicate markdowns, and I’m even LESS a fan of having MD dates printed on the tags.
The best, the only profitable way, to do markdowns is with a red marking pen. This blog entry is a little bit of what I have found to be the most advantageous way to present reduced prices to your shoppers. Here’s all the posts on the blog that have to do with markdowns.
And of course, the full thoughts are in my manual.
………….
What’s another word for “you gotta be kidding”?
A shopkeeper asks:
Is there a polite way to tell our consignors or sellers that their clothes are out of date? It seems so rude and blunt.
Auntie Kate answers:
First, you have to delete the words OUT OF STYLE from your brain. Just erase them. Pretend it’s Greek to you.
Next, you need to tell, truly, why these items are not what you can sell. And that’s simply “we don’t have the customer for this item at this time.” Or “this style doesn’t seem to be selling.” Or even (my favorite) “this was darling/great/super….(pause)…in its time.”
hi,
i have a question. Is it legal for a consignment store to sell, unsold clothes for 1$ and not give nothing to the owners? let me explain better..after the 60 days consignment you can pick if get the clothes back or not. If the owners says “no” can the store sell for 1$? isnt that still being sold?
thanks you.
ill open a consignment store myself and i was just wondering.
sely
Hi Selene, While I cannot give you legal council, since I am not a lawyer and don’t know under which government you live, I do believe a contract is a contract, and if you have worded your consignment agreement correctly (see the Manual for this), had the consignor sign and date it, and have given her/him a copy, that probably covers it. However, do see your lawyer if you have any questions.
Melissa and Doug products are great. I have a place about a mile from me that offered them and I purchased some for my kids. I know the lady that sells them and she can’t keep them in her store because they sell so fast.
Hi again Auntie Kate. I am strongly considering offering New Art Supplies in my store knowing that young children (ages 1.5-5, my core audience) love to draw and paint. I heard from my NARTS peers that Melissa and Doug products are ones to consider. I also like Faber Castell, which are high quality and not as common in my trade area. (Melissa and Doug products are sold in 4 full-price retailers in a 3 mile radius of my store.) It’s a big inventory investment and I am curious to hear what you and your readers think.
My one year anniversary is in 2 weeks and I am trying to come up with a “catchy” promotion for this event without spending a lot of money on advertising. Any suggestions?