What is Consignment, and How Can it Benefit You

           April Leggett

We all seem to accumulate “stuff” as time goes by and sooner or later we realize we no longer need or want some it.

There are, of course, various ways of clearing out the clutter.  Ebay and Craigslist are two online options. You could also donate everything to various churches, or to thrift stores like the Salvation Army stores in Oneonta or Binghamton. There is also the garage/lawn sale which does involve a lot of work including set-up, pricing, advertising, displaying, haggling over prices and the possibility of a wet weekend.

More and more people are turning to consignment shops as an easier alternative. Consignment allows you to turn your clutter into cash without all the work of eBay or garage sales.

The HOW-TO

Most consignment stores focus on clothing but others offer such things as home goods, CDs and DVDs, toys, décor, books, electronics and small appliances or furniture. All items you bring should be in good to excellent condition.

Begin by calling or stopping in the various consignment stores in the area to discuss their guidelines and policies. Ask if you need an appointment to bring in items and if there is a limit to how many things you can bring each time. Ask how long they will display your items and what percentage you receive when your items sell.

When you bring in your items your work is done. The experienced staff will price and attractively display the goods and will be available to help sell them for you. Periodic discounts and special sales will help generate more buyers.

There are two more benefits that consignment offers. The first is that the recycling of resources and goods indirectly helps us all, and the second is the benefit to others in our communities when unsold items are donated to various local charities.

Happy consigning!

(This article from pages 11-12, Winter 2013 issue, The Afton Vision)