Consignment Sale Love

I love consignment sales! One of the factors I used in scheduling our trip to KY last August was the local sale schedule and we literally got off the plane, rented the car, and headed to a sale. I just love an opportunity to get most of my kid's clothes shopping done in one fell swoop.

Sort of a cross between a flea market and a consignment store, consignment sales are a seasonal event sale with many sellers under one roof. The sale is staffed by volunteers who in return are able to shop early. Sellers bring their goods priced and ready to sell and also get to shop early. The sale owner provides the location and equipment and runs the sale in exchange for a percentage of the selling price. Prices usually run about 50-75% off retail. These sales are very popular in the South and usually devoted to all things for kids.

Here in the Upper Valley, we have one sale: Nearly New. Run by the Norwich Women's Club, Nearly New offers designer and high-quality clothing in a discount boutique atmosphere. The bulk of their stock is women's clothing and purses but they have a respectable children's selection and men's clothing as well. The Norwich Women's club uses all of the proceeds to fund their scholarship program.

This fall's sale is Friday - Sunday, October 16-18th at Tracy Hall in Norwich, VT. The sale opens on Friday from 7 pm-9 pm. Saturday from 9-4. Items are half price on Sunday from 10-1 and their Bag Sale is from 1:30-3 pm.

It's not to late to consign. Consigning at this sale is easy because all you have to do is bring 50 of your best items, cleaned and in excellent condition. Everything will be inspected and the sale staff will help you price and tag your items. No need to hang anything as Nearly New provides hangers, although if your clothing wrinkles easily then bring it on a hanger to keep it looking fresh. Consignment times are Thursday from 9 am - 8 pm and Friday from 9 am - 2 pm. Consigners receive 50% of the sale price. Checks are mailed out within 4-6 weeks. The mailing fee is $1 or you can bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your clothing. Be sure to allow plenty of time if you have more than 10 items. I haven't consigned at this sale yet but I've heard the lines can be long so I'd definitely use a plastic tote to carry your items if you have one.

The best selection at a consignment sale is at the presale open only to sellers and volunteers. Sales never have enough volunteers and I'll write more about volunteering and shopping tips in a later post.