hunt of the the thrill

story by | glenda haugen

It’s a given…women love to shop! They also like a bargain! And if that bargain shopping is good for the environment…bonus! Consignment allows an owner to sell items, the store keeps a percentage of the sale and shoppers can find current fashions at a discounted price. In recent years the popularity of consignment shopping has soared. Whether it is the need to make some money, save some money or the fun of finding deals, consignment shopping is a win-win situation… if you know what you’re doing!

Tips Of The Trade

About 6,330,000 tons of clothing and footwear are thrown away every year in the US. That’s a lot of landfill space! And think of how many pieces of clothing you currently have in your closet that you have worn only a handful of times. Selling and buying items through upscale consignment stores offers a great opportunity to make some extra cash, save some landfill space and get some new duds. Here are some tips to get the best of buying and selling: tips to get sweet deals on your back

• find the store Find the consignment store that carries the styles and brands you like to wear.

• find the time Remember you are the hunter and that great sweater, jacket or pair of jeans is the prey. To find that perfect item, you need to give yourself plenty of time to stalk and pounce! Your new wardrobe won’t know what hit it!

• find great items The look of amazement you can get by telling someone you bought a hot looking item secondhand can be a real badge of honor. Pay careful attention to items you are interested in by looking for tears, stains or missing buttons.

• find the deals Because consignment stores typically display items based on the season and follow a series of dated markdowns, shopping toward the end of the season can produce great bargain finds. tips to get cash in your pocket

• know the store Evaluate the consignment store before selling your items. How are items displayed? How does the store look? How does their staff work with customers? What is the store’s reputation? Do they carry similar items and brands you are looking to consign? Not all consignment stores are created equally, so do your homework.

• know the details Make sure you understand the terms of your consignment. Consigners can receive from 25% to 50% of the items selling price. Items will usually follow a series of markdowns. At My Best Friend’s Closet in Moorhead, consigners receive 50% of what their items sells for and items go through a series of three markdowns [After 40 days the item is marked down 20%, after 60 days 50% and after 90 days 70%]. You will also want to know the details of what happens to your items if they do not sell. At My Best Friend’s closet items that haven’t sold within four months are donated to area organizations that benefit women. Know the details and keep the information regarding your consigned items in a safe place while they are being displayed.

• know your items Consignment stores will usually display clothing items based on the current season, so you will want to bring in items that are currently being bought. Give your items the best chance to make a great first impression by making sure they are clean and wrinkle free. This could be the difference between an item being selected or rejected.

Consignment shopping and selling is an easy and painless way to make some extra cash, recreate a look seen in a fashion magazine while paying far less than retail or to do both! The next time you need a wardrobe makeover, visit your local consignment store.

My Best Friend’s Closet was established seven years ago by Glenda Haugen and carries upscale clothing and accessories. At any one time,