How Consigning Works at Julia’s

With a consignment shop the process is as follows:

We have a section of the shop for selling clothing and handcrafted items on behalf of other people .

You select your items in good to excellent shape and bring them in. The first time you visit the shop, we will talk about pricing items and bringing them in in “Ready to Sell” condition. You set the prices and get them ready for the racks. In follow up visits, you can use “drop and run” procedures and we will hang them, price them and get them ready for you. As a consignment shop owner, I then take your items, display them attractively in the shop, post photos on the shop’s webpage, Instagram and facebook pages.

We strive to give our customers a great deal on a gently loved item that would otherwise cost much more in retail stores and our seller a convenient way to clear out clothing and toys to generate a little cash. Many stores have different policies and ways of doing things so make sure to ask as many questions as possible when you are consigning with anyone. I do a 40/60 consignment split on clothing items and a 30/70 split on handcrafted/boutique items, which simply means whatever the final price of the item sells for we split it with 60% (or 70% for craft items) of the selling price going to you. We keep most items for a 90 day period. The items must be in good to excellent condition, no rips, tears, stains, pulls of any kind. The items are all washed, dry cleaned, pressed and ready to go.

Now as a customer walking into a consignment shop some might feel that prices are too high in general, while others are brand conscious and see the great deals they are getting. As a seller, you can be assured that we market all of your items consistently and we strive to take the stress out of the selling process for you. Any items that are unsold and in turn donated after the allotted time period then go out to local places or people with the need for them. Most consignment shops are very friendly and their goal and purpose is to help you dress your family for less.

You can always find some great deals if you are a bargain hunter like myself! In most cases all sales are final and there is a no return policy in effect. Never be afraid to ask any and all questions. I feel there are never any stupid questions. You don't have to spend a lot of money to look like a million dollars!

Summer Clean Out Challenge

Summer Closet Cleanout Challenge

Most of us have more junk/stuff/clothing/knick-knacks than we need or use.  This week I am proposing a simple challenge for each day of the week to clean out those items we don't use/need.  The weekend is a holiday, so let's get this done before the big celebration and then we can celebrate our cleaning efforts too.  Each day I will tackle a room or area of the home with you.  At the end of the week, you should have 5 boxes or bags of stuff that was great once but not loved now.  Collect all of those gently used items and recycle them into vacation cash at the shop.  We can help find another home for those items and you can use the cash to have a great time with the family this summer.

Here we go:

Day 1 challenge:  The Master bedroom and closet

Find these items and put them in a box or hang them near the back door:

1.  The fancy dress you needed for a color coordinated wedding/anniversary party/ball that you will never wear again.

2.  Those great shoes that were a great buy but have a spot that rubs your foot the wrong way.

3.   That wool sweater with the great buttons that is too warm to wear to the office or around the house.

4.  The wonderful candle set that you hid in the closet but will never use.

5.  The books on the nightstand that were a great read once but you probably won't read them again.

6. The shirts that were on sale and a great color but just didn't get worn last season.

7.  The slippers your auntie gave you for Christmas that just aren't your style and are too nice to throw out.

8. The necklaces and earrings you wore with a work wardrobe that is long gone.

9.  The colorful scarves that went with that same wardrobe.

10.  Any other item that was a great buy at the time, but just didn't get out much.

Something Special

One of the nicest things about a consignment shop is "The Thrill of the Hunt". We have great items in everyday and the stock changes quickly.  Today there is a great emerald formal in a larger women's size.  Yesterday there was a gorgeous party dress for a young lady.  Tomorrow, maybe someone with bring in a fabulous vintage wedding dress or a brand new leather tote.  You just never know.  We have special, one of a kind, items in all of the time but they just don't stay long.  If you want it, get it, because tomorrow it will be gone.

Why consign or shop consignment?

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1. It's good for you and it's good for the environment.

It's good for you because it keeps your closets and cupboards filled with only the things you actually love and use. It turns your cluttered closets into cash. It keeps usable items out of the landfill.

2. Consigning adds space to your home and money to your wallet.

Your home is  freed from items that you don't love or that don't add usefulness to  your life.  The money in your wallet allows you to participate in other activities that add joy to your life.

3.  The thrill of the treasure hunt

That cute dress that costs $40 in the department store is $8 at the consignment shop.  It's a thrill to find, not a guilt trip.  

Consignment shops are full of treasures that will bless your home and not dent the wallet.  Selling your own items there blesses everyone.

Bigger, Better, Beautimous!

The new shop is coming together and we are enjoying all of the extra space to fill with new yarn and more colors.  Come by and visit us soon.

New things...

We are all moved in and unpacked.  This is a peek at the new department.  There are lots of unique items on the racks just waiting for our new customers.  The new shop has two big rooms.  One is filled with yarny goodness and one is filled with clothing items that will make everyone smile.  Several of the regulars who have helped move us have already walked out with great finds.  

We accept gently used women's, children and infant clothing on consignment.  One of our most popular sections is the maternity section.  If you are interested in consigning items, bring them in clean, pressed and ready to sell.  We list most items for 3 months. Payment is sent out via Paypal when the item sells.  If you would like more information, email or call the shop.

StitchBox!

Every month you can have a box of yummy yarn and notions delivered right to your door.  We look for the most wonderful, yummy yarns and send them right to our most special shoppers.  Order yours on our facebook page or through the website.

Moving Day Preps

Preparing to move a shop requires a lot of planning and a fair amount of time.
We don't have any of that.
The landlord wants us in the new unit by May 3.
 A process that I thought we could ease into over two or three months just got compressed into two weeks and change.

I began with a scaled drawing of the new space and put everything in it's place in the new space.  That will help all of our helpers to quickly move things into place.  Thank goodness we have a lot of helpers.  Today the new racks arrived for the consignment part of the shop and there is no room in the old shop for them to sit.  A neighboring business offered to keep them sheltered for a week until we get going in the new space.  A crew of about 8 women will be loading up the yarn and moving it all 2 doors down to it's new spot.

Tonight I make the list of all the vendors who need our new contact information, the utilities that need to be notified and the government agencies that will also need to know.  I hope to send out a form letter with everything essential on it.

I surely hope we get some consignors interested in the new venture quickly so that this new space fills up.  Otherwise we will have lots of pretty yarn in a big echo chamber filled with happy knitters.  We need more stuff to fill this space.

Moving Day Approaches...

It looks very likely that we will be moving the shop the first week of May.  Please watch the facebook page for dates that we will be closed and then the opening date in the new shop.  The new space is only 2 doors south of the existing shop so we are very easy to find.  Please come visit us soon.

It's about to happen.  We are moving sooner than expected and it might be the most stressful thing ever.  I haven't moved my house in over 30 years and now I have to move the inventory of this lovely shop 2 doors down to the south.  Fortunately, there are lots of lovely people who have offered ideas and support and the muscle to pull this job off.  We will be able to offer lots more yarn, more classes and more services in this new area.  It is almost twice as big as the current spot and it will have decent restrooms too.  Renovating anything takes time and patience, so this will be done in phases.  Please bear with us as we create a lovely space for creative people.

StitchBox!

Surprises that come in the mail are great!  Some people even send themselves surprises in the mail just to get that little thrill that comes from the mystery box that suddenly appears.  I am talking about those subscription boxes that are all the rage right now.  You can find subscription boxes for snack foods, doggy toys, wine, cheese, and yarn too.  Yarny surprises delivered right to your door with patterns and needles and sometimes even a goody or two.  It's the best fun.

We have a subscription box at the shop now that is getting rave reviews from the regulars.  It is top secret until they are mailed out and then everyone is excited to share what they got.  They leave comments on the facebook page or email the shop to share how exciting the box was.  The secret to each box is that it has items that are not in the shop yet.  It is filled with new colors of yarn or new lines of yarn,  needles, notions and who knows what else.  The items in the box are a lot less than you would generally pay for those same items in a store.  That is another plus for subscription boxes.  You can count on getting deal with most of these boxes.

Try out a surprise for yourself this month.  Pinterest has loads of subscription box posts.  Find a box that interests you and try out something new this month.

Here's a link to our offering this month : http://www.juliayarnshoppe.com/

Snowy Weather and the Shop

Today was a blustery day.  The skies couldn't decide whether to snow, rain or hail.  It was the perfect kind of day to settle into your favorite chair with squishy yarn and a warm drink.  We had a few people into the shop, but not many ventured out.  I sat at the work table with my sweater for quite a while and watched the trees across the street.  They are beginning to look like they are budding out, but still mostly grey and dead looking.  It was lonely and would have been improved by some chatty knitters.

The shop feels better on a sunny day.  People are just more cheery on a nice day.  I think I want spring to hurry up and get here.  I'm hoping for sun, warmth and the return of my friendly knitters.  If not... well then a vacation sounds good too.

Why would you "do" this????

I've been asked quite a number of times why I would start a business "now".  Now is as good a time as we are likely see and there are quite a number of people in this area who feel as passionately about good fiber products as I do.  That said, business is slow to find us but the people who do find us, really enjoy the products and the store.  I found this piece in another yarn shop's blog and it is so important that I am reposting it here.  The author gave permission for other yarn shops to use it with personalizations and it references the 3/50 project which The Painted Sheep supports.

Only $40 a month. . .

It’s happening all over the country. Every day our hearts break as we see another

“OUT OF BUSINESS” sign on the door of our favorite businesses. A great restaurant,

delightful bread store, or especially our favorite yarn shop; here one day and gone

the next. The fiber community is still reeling from the closing of Vintage Yarns and

Fiberworks, and the question asked of me every day is, “So, how is your business. . .

really? You won’t be closing too will you?”

To honestly answer your questions,

it all depends on sales.

below what was expected and what is needed

exists today. The last thing I want to do is break your heart. . . and mine, and I’ll do

anything to try to keep that from happening. Which is why I have information to

share with you.

I am not PLANNING on going out of business, butPlain and simple. And, quite honestly, sales are significantlyfor long-term survival of the shop as it

Why Shops Don’t Survive

1.

 Profit margins fall below what is needed to re-stock. Example: a skein of yarnThe first $5.00 is needed to pay rent, taxes, salaries, utilities and

the remaining $5.00

If the yarn goes on sale,

now there is not enough money left to re-buy yarn because it still costs $5.00

Suddenly there is less to sell, customers get bored or already have it, and stop

buying. (not all “sales” create this condition, but most do, unless the item was

greatly discounted to the LYS at the time the shop purchased it)

The above is a very simplistic explanation, and there

can do to increase the profit margins somewhat, but the two items listed here are the

major components to success or failure for retailers.

is left to re-buy another skein of the same yarn to restock.the first $5.00 still has to pay rent/salaries/taxes, and.are things a small shop owner

You Can Save Your Favorite Small Business!

A Minneapolis-based retail consultant explains that if even half of the employed population

spent a mere

$50 a month each, at 3 independently-owned establishments

(instead of big box/chain stores), this economy would turn around in the blink of an

eye! And those 3 businesses would be saved from closing. That is about $12.00 a

week at each of your 3 favorite independently-owned retailers. Think about what you

spend weekly on gourmet coffee, texting charges, or bottled water (ooooh, I just

found some money for MORE YARN !).

At The Painted Sheep, if every person on our Preferred Shopper list spends even just $40and be!

a month (or $10 a week), we will not only survive, we will prosper

able to offer you more new exciting yarn, great classes, and a wonderful place to

come and play and forget the outside world exists for a while

I hope you will continue to see The Painted Sheep as your “favorite” shop of choice, and that you will continue to support us by: referring your friends, by NOT using photocopied patterns from a friend, and by taking a class or two now and then. It all adds up. Only $10 a week keeps your favorite yarn shop in business.

 

2.

is sold at $10.

Customers stop buying. No explanation needed.