Category Archives: Consignment Shops

Consignment advice, insights and tips for scoring the best second-hand deals.

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Become a Millionaire by Shopping Garage Sales

ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE

So how does one become a “Garage Sale Millionaire?”

Our own Aaron LaPedis, AKA “The Garage Sale Millionaire” shares his tips:

EDUCATE YOURSELF: Reality TV is not always reality, BUT, shows like Antiques Roadshow and Pawn Stars can still be good teaching mechanisms in that you can learn what items are in demand and how the experts appraise them. Become an expert on a handful of items, so when you come across those items, you know how much, if anything, they’re worth on the market.

Remember, sometimes the most valuable things to collect depend on the geographic region you’re in. If you live in the South, you’re surrounded by Civil War stuff, whereas in Colorado, there’s not much of it, so it’s priced at a premium. The same goes for Western memorabilia – it’s popular in the Midwest, where there’s less of it. So when collecting, consider the place you’re doing it in: What is that state or region known for? That’s where you’ll get the best price and the best value.

NEGOTIATE – IT’S THE ART OF THE DEAL: Be it a thrift shop, consignment shop or pawn shop, when you’re talking about the money, find out who the owner is because you’ll get the best deal from that person. The owner doesn’t have to worry about paying a commission and if they’re having any kind of money crunch, they’ll want to turn inventory. Cash is often king, because a lot of places don’t take credit cards, so you’ll get a better deal if you’re willing to pay cash.

DON’T LEAD ON TO BEING THE NEXT MILLIONAIRE ON THE BLOCK: How you dress is also important when shopping for collectibles. That means dressing in inconspicuous clothing, leaving expensive jewelry and shoes at home and parking your car a block away. If you drive up in a Lexus in front of a garage sale I’m holding, I’ll probably be hard-pressed to give you a good deal. Also, build a rapport before you start negotiating. Don’t immediately rush in with, “How low can you go?” Start a conversation about the weather an find common ground somewhere… cozy up to the seller, to the point you both agree it’s a good deal for both parties.

MIND YOUR MANNERS: Don’t be that guy… If an item is $100 and you offer $15, that’s an insult. You’ll turn that person off right away and they’ll never want to do business with you. I would start just under 50% on an item, sometimes even less, depending on how badly I want that piece. Don’t ever try to crush the other person during negotiations. The deal is never a good one if it doesn’t get done.

GETTING RIPPED OFF SUCKS, SO USE COMMON SENSE: Know that 50% to 60% of all signatures on memorabilia and documents are fake. Autopens allow people to copy signatures and unless you’re a foremost expert, you’d never know the difference. When you buy an autographed collectible, you don’t want to pay cash. Use a credit card or PayPal to protect yourself, and let them know you’ll insist on a refund if it’s not real. There are third-party authenticators that will verify whether or not an autograph is real. Sometimes making a “non-refundable” deposit to show the seller you’re interested before committing to paying asking price can save your A$$.

USE TECHNOLOGY TO YOUR ADVANTAGE: I have an online tip for buying offline – I use the website Tag Sell It and I also have their app on my smart-phone.

MOST IMPORTANT: Read My Book

FIRM BELIEF: Not only can garage sale treasure seekers make some money reselling various items, but they can make very substantial residual profits over time.

As the owner of two art galleries in Denver and former host of a local PBS show calledCollect This!, LaPedis knows how to track down hidden treasures and turn them into a profit. His recent book, The Garage Sale Millionaire (Wiley), offers advice on how to make money by digging around garage sales, storage units and everything in between. Aaron became an owner and partner with Tag Sell It Inc. in 2013.

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Sweet Treat for Business

“Chocolate-Dipped Tag Cookies”

Customers love anything that’s free, who dosen’t? Here’s a brilliant idea we found on Pinterest that your new customers will love! Bake a simple sugar cookie in the shape of a tag, slip a string through the top hole with your business logo, name or website on it and dip in chocolate. Let them cool and display them on the counter for your customers — they’ll love it and they’ll love you!

This is a fun and easy business development idea for any new business, consignment shop or even served as refreshments at your tag sale!

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Consumer Product Safety Commission Recalls on Second-Hand Finds

Shopping for second-hand treasures at garage sales? Be sure you check the item before purchasing it. Here are some tips to help your buying decision process:

Whether you’re the tag sale seller or buyer, you should look out for toy hazards such as small parts, loud sounds, soft plastics and lead contamination, consumer advocates warned this week.

These dangers were highlighted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group in its 24th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, the first since sweeping consumer safety legislation went into effect earlier this year.

“This is definitely a time when people are going to be thinking about making purchases for the holidays, so we want people to be aware of these hazards,” said Elizabeth Hitchcock, public health advocate for U.S. PIRG.

The organization focused on four hazards: small parts that can choke children younger than 3-years-old, loud toys that can cause hearing damage, lead-tainted toys and soft plastic toys that contain chemicals called phthalates.

If you’re shopping a garage sale and have a smart phone, check out ToySafety.mobi, specially designed for use with mobile phones, to look up toy hazards while shopping.

Recently there have been massive recalls on select cribs and stollers, most notably the “Drop-side” baby cribs, in some cases causing death, and Maclaren Strollers that have posed a serious safety threat to young children’s hands and fingers where they could get pinched. It’s always best to be aware of children’s items and recalls prior to shopping, but be especially cautious when shopping for second-hand items at garage sales. It’s not worth the risk to your child to save some extra money.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission along with the US Government ruled in a law that it would be illegal to sell recalled items at any consignment, thrift store or garage sale.

Remember “buyer beware” and when it comes to your kids’ safety, don’t jeopardize it by trying to save money on a product in question sold secondhand.

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Attention, Interest, Desire, Action

Have you ever posted an item for sale online and felt it took forever to sell… if it even sold at all? Chances are it wasn’t the item that wasn’t selling, it was the description, or lack thereof. If you’re a sales professional or have a sales background, you’re probably familiar with the phrase “telling isn’t selling.” A customer needs to be sold, not told. In this post we’ll share a great tip for advertising your items or sale events in online marketplaces and classifieds.

The secret to sales success lies in an easy-to-remember acronym…

A.I.D.A or “Attention, Interest, Desire, Action”

Capture their ATTENTION: You need to craft a title that captures people’s attention. Putting in text symbols and unrelated content in the title of an item is not just useless, it’s wastes valuable space you could otherwise use for keywords in naming the item you have for sale.

Keep their INTEREST: Capturing a prospective buyer’s interest can be difficult, especially when there’s competition in the marketplace. Creativity, accuracy, details and quality photographs make a big difference in keeping your prospect’s interest in what you have to sell.

Fancy their DESIRE: Your goal is to get your prospective buyers to crave what you have to sell them. Make them want what you have and your sales will increase. You need to offer what your prospect hasn’t found anywhere else. Are you selling them an experience? A one-of-a-kind? A hard-to-find? What makes your item special so prospective customers will buy from you?

Get them to take ACTION: If they’ve emailed you or phoned you to speak with you about the item that’s for sale, job well done and goal accomplished – you have a potential buyer on the line! Be polite, be honest and be real. Don’t just look at this opportunity as a one-time sale, consider the future investment opportunity, repeat sales, referral sales and most importantly, word of mouth sales.

Some websites like eBay for example, have even streamlined the process of listing items based on keywords. The site can instantly and fairly accurately categorize an item you have to sell based on the keywords you enter, thus making it easier for shoppers to locate exactly what you’re selling.

One lucky seller on Tagsellit.com gets their item featured here as an example since they did a great job describing their item…

Title: Antique Hand Painted Desk

The seller describes the desk as an antique, distressed and includes the measurements.

Here’s a picture of the item they’re selling

Asking $100.00

Posted under Virtual Sales / Category = Furniture:

http://www.tagsellit.com/items-for-sale-online/2661903

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Earth Day 2013

“Climate change can seem like a remote problem for our leaders, but the fact is that it’s already impacting real people, animals, and beloved places. These Faces of Climate Change are multiplying every day. Fortunately, other Faces of Climate Change are multiplying too: those stepping up to do something about it. Help us personalize the massive challenge climate change presents by taking a photo and telling your story.” – earthday.org/2013/

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

- Margaret Mead

Earth Day has become an international celebration of all things environmental. All around the world, individuals and communities are gearing up for the Earth Day 2013 celebration on April 22 — and often, the weekend before and after.

For people who take a more hands-on approach to environmental issues, Earth Day is the ideal chance to get involved in green living and sustainability issues. Write your congressman, volunteer to clean-up a park or river, or start a protest: It’s the most patriotic way to celebrate Earth Day!

How has climate change impacted you?

What are you doing to be part of the solution?

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Shop, Sell, Save…Smart!

Here are some basic life facts I have learned from being a Mother…

1) If I do not carry a change of clothing, one of my children will have an accident.

2) If we are in a hurry to leave the house, at least one family member will not be able to find their shoes.

3) At some point, at least once every six months, something electronic is going into my toilet.

4) My kiddies are going to grow and change daily and I need to enjoy every minute!

These are the facts at my house. Along with the growing and changing in fact #4 comes the inevitable and ever-increasing cost associated with raising children. Their clothing, toys, educational items, baby gear and more are so expensive! I read an estimate the other day that said most people spend an average of $10,000 in their baby’s first year of life on everything from insurance co-pays to diapers. That is a ton of money and it is figures like those that made me seek something better Something better than $200 strollers, $60 slings and $30 jeans that my children would grow out of in 3-4 months. My family needed a break and I found one!

A friend handed me a colorful postcard advertising Just Between Friends, a children’s consignment sale in the community where I lived at the time. What I experienced on my first visit to a Just Between Friends sale turned my stressed about growing kids, worried about expenses, world, upside down! All I could think while I was shopping this huge, organized, bargain hunters dream was how much this type of sale was needed in Central Iowa. Fast forward a couple years and here we are preparing for our third event in Des Moines with the goal of helping families save money on everything they need from newborn to teen!

JBF is a children’s and maternity consignment event happening once in the spring and once in the fall. There are 140 sales all around the country run by moms just like us who have a desire to get great bargains, bring money back into their homes, recycle their children’s items and help their community. And, the bonus, its sooooo easy!

Learn more about how this works!

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A Momma’s Secret Weapon

Just Between Friends – A Momma’s Secret Weapon

Dirt, holes, stains, wear and tear! This is the story for the poor clothing that comes into my home. I have 2 little boys and, seriously, jean knees don’t stand a chance. T-shirts . . . give up! The battle has been lost! This used to drive me crazy! I would come into a room and find one child had covered the other in organic peanut butter and honey and my day would be ruined. Hello! Can a momma get a shower around here!

My whole perspective was changed in an instant when a friend handed me a colorful postcard advertising Just Between Friends, a children’s consignment sale in the community where I lived at the time. What I experienced on my first visit to a Just Between Friends sale put my “stressed about stains” world into a whirlwind of excitement. Here in front of me was a huge, very organized, bargain hunters dream! You mean I can buy cute clothing that won’t break the bank and make me cry when the boys ruin them! Yeah . . . I was hooked! Life moved us around quite a bit and we have had the opportunity to shop larger, well-established Just Between Friends sales and smaller ones that were just getting started. As we’ve wandered, my husband and I have consistently wondered why no one had started an event like this in our hometown. We just knew this type of sale was needed in Central Iowa. Fast forward a couple years and here we are preparing for our third event in Des Moines with the goal of helping families save money on everything they need from newborn to teen! JBF is a children’s and maternity consignment event happening once in the spring and once in the fall. There are over a hundred sales all around the country run by families just like yours and mine who have a desire to get great bargains, bring money back into their homes, recycle their children’s items and help their community.

Here’s how it works:

You tag your items using our easy, online tagging system. You even set your own prices and write your own descriptions. JBF gives a listing of recommended price points, but you can price your items and describe them however you like.
You drop your items at the event and we take it from there. We inspect for recalls, stains, missing parts and anything else that would keep items from being a great find for our shoppers.
You shop! Really, this is the fun part! You will save 50-90% on clothing, shoes, toys, educational games, bikes, outdoor toys, books and more!
At the end of the sale, you can pick-up your unsold items or we can donate them for you and give you a tax deduction slip from the charity we have partnered with for the sale.
You get paid!

We are run by volunteers, mostly moms and dads, just like you. Our volunteers earn a higher percentage on their items and they get to shop first! We always partner with a charity who will receive any donated items after the sale.

We invite you to join us April 5-7 at Events Center West in West Des Moines. We are accepting consignors for this event and online signup is simple and fast. For all the details on how to sign up, what we accept and more, check us out at jbfsale.com/desmoines and see how consigning can help you shop, sell and save! Now that’s smart! Stains . . .You can’t run my day!

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Antiques as Souvenirs

The summer travel season will be here before we know it and with the cabin fever that most of America has experienced this winter, I’m sure it will be a busy one. Tourists have collected travel kitsch since the Crusaders plundered their way through the Holy Land. Postcards, pennants, shot glasses, spoons, as well as, a plethora of other items have topped the list of must haves from exotic and pastoral locales. These items are readily available at estate sales as they lose their meaning once their purchaser has passed. I have a different take on souvenir purchases; I try to find an antique or vintage piece that I can use and enjoy in my home decor. For example, two summers ago we did an old-fashioned road trip, packed our mini van and headed to Maine and all points of interest along the way. One of our favorite stops was in the Hudson Valley of New York where we did some antiquing. We picked up this unique sign made of cast iron for a jewelry shop. Originally it would have hung on flange outside the store. This purchase carried special meaning for us because we also visited the American Clock and Watch Museum in Connecticut. This wonderful souvenir now hangs in our living room and is a daily reminder of our special trip out East. So forget those shot glasses and t-shirts and purchase an antique as your souvenir of your next trip. It definitely won’t wind up in your estate sale.

“The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page.”—Augustine of Hippo

Antique Sign from Jewelry Store

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Savvy Shopping Guide

We recently discovered this cool site called savvyshoppingguide.com. It’s a resource dedicated to helping shoppers save thousands of dollars on clothing, accessories and much more. The site’s founder, Carolyn Schneider, is also the author of The Ultimate Consignment & Thrift Store and an internationally recognized global bargain shopper. Ms. Schneider began secondhand shopping over nineteen years ago.

We really liked this so we wanted to share!

“Bargain Shopping Expert and Author of The Ultimate Consignment and Thrift Store Guide Discusses Bargain Shopping Secrets to Finding the Best Bargains Around the Globe”

The Worlds Best-Kept Shopping Secrets

A Ralph Lauren blazer for $15? A Donna Karan suit for $40? A Chanel silk lined jacket for only $5.00? These are normally priced at thousands of dollars each and you will never find them for that price at a department store. “You can get great deals if you know where to shop” says Carolyn Schneider expert bargain shopper, author of The Ultimate Consignment & Thrift Store Guide, newly published fifth edition & and savvyshoppingguide.com, the internet’s first and only international guide to the world’s best consignment, thrift, vintage & secondhand stores featuring over 10,000 plus stores. From New York City, to Paris, France to Sydney, Australia these bargains are waiting to be found.

Ms. Schneider offers the following tips for shoppers that are guaranteed to save thousands of dollars on designer clothing and accessories.

Shop at the end of the season and put away the items for next season. April is a good time to shop for winter, September is a good time to shop for summer. Consignment stores are try to clear their inventory at that time. If you are fortunate enough to find a store that offers a bag sale, you can fill a grocery bag of merchandise for $10.00. Ms. Schneider bought a denim silk lined Chanel jacket this way and only paid $5.00. The retail value on the Chanel jacket is over $1500.00, see enclosed photos.

Get a frequent shopper card. Many stores encourage repeat customers by offering a card the salesperson will punch with every purchase which will earn 10% off.
Don’t be afraid to bargain. If you are buying several items and find an item you like for more than you want to pay, make an offer. Most store owners are happy to see the items sell, and will accept your offer.
Wait it out. If you see something you can use but are not desperate to buy, try waiting. Consignment stores mark items down 20% if they don’t sell within the first 30 days, in another 30 days the price is marked down another 20%. That is an additional savings of 40% off the ticketed price.

(Reprint) Source

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Tagsellit.com New Website Coming Soon

Coming soon to your screens… A new and improved Tagsellit.com!

Our team is excited to be launching a new and improved website. In addition, we’ll also have a new iPhone and Android App available for mobile users. The new site will feature a fun new user interface, graphic design and layout.

Navigating the second-hand marketplace can be challenging. This is why our new site will be also dedicated to assisting second-hand retailers (such as Consignment Shops, Estate Sale Events and Pawn Shops) generate better visibility and offer more solutions to drive interest to their places of business.

As our mission says, our goal is to provide a big-picture roadmap for navigating the second-hand industry. Tagsellit.com’s platform helps sellers liquidate second-hand items through both our online virtual garage sale listings and with the ability for users to advertise their weekend sale events (for free). Tagsellit.com brings second-hand buyers and sellers together.

Did you know the yard sale market alone is an annual billion-dollar industry? There’s a lot of value hidden in closets, garages, basements and attics across the country. Generations of “crap” have accumulated and what’s “old” may be “new” …and worth lots of money!

Bottom line: Expect to be dazzled soon! We’ve revolutionized the garage sale industry by creating the “virtual garage sale” marketplace and we’re continuing to revolutionize the entire second-hand industry!