Tips to Turn Kid Clutter to Cash When You Consign with #JBFPhilly

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Just Between Friends- Reading and Western Main Line.  All opinions as always are 100% my own.

#JBFPhilly

As much as I love being a Mom, one of my biggest frustrations is the never ending wave of “Kid Clutter”.  From toys, games and books to sports gear and crafts, outgrown clothes, outgrown shoes – it seems to be never ending!  When I decided to stay home with my kids, I quickly found myself frequently overwhelmed by the same thing over and over again, so I decided to make it a mission to do my best to keep that “Kid clutter” under control.  Thanks to my local Moms Club, I was soon introduced to the world of kid consignment sales.  At first, I began by attending a few of the sales to see what they were all about.  I was absolutely amazed at the wonderful brand name clothing and accessories I was able to come home with for a fraction of the cost of what I would pay at the store.  Shoes, soccer cleats, an extra booster seat for the car, toys, books, boots, winter coats and spring jackets, holiday dress clothes – I began to make it a mission to find all of these items at kid consignment sales rather than paying full price.  Guess what?  It’s almost 8 years later and I am still loving these sales as much as I did when my children were babies.

After shopping the sales for about a year, I started to sell at some of the local sales.  I did really well – often selling so much stuff that I often ended up with a check at the end of the sale for $200 – $300 or more!  Best of all, consigning at the sale also came along with a bonus to shop the presale.  It was all around a win-win situation.  It became almost addictive.  The more I consigned the easier it would get – and now with all of the technology most of the sales are linked to – it is even easier than ever!

This year I am consigning with the Just Between Friends Western Mainline sale at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks PA for the first time.  This particular sale is one of the largest in the country and not only consists of hundreds and hundreds of consignors, but you can also be guaranteed that the shopping event will be exceptionally well attended, making the opportunity for your items to sell even that much greater!  I am so excited to be a part of this year’s sale and I must add – the sale’s owner and operator Tracy Panase is super sweet, incredibly helpful and incredibly passionate about making this a pleasant event for both shoppers and consignors alike.

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I have found the JBF sales’ sites to be exceptionally user friendly.  To register for the sale, perspective consignors can head over to the Just Between Friends Western Mainline website and click on the link to register.  After registering, you will be assigned a consignor ID number that will then be linked to your items you will be consigning.  You will also have the option to volunteer at the sale to increase your consignor percentage.  Volunteering is optional, but encouraged in order to make the most money from your sale!  It also helps keep the sale running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.  You will also enter your items online where they will be saved for you to print tags to attach to your items for sale and also where you can keep track of which items sold during the sale.

I found from experience the best way to prepare for a consignment sale is to be prepared.  If you are able to do any or all of the following leading up to the consignment, it will save you a ton of time in the long run.

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1. Save plastic and wire hangers, including pants hangers, recruit family and friends to save them for you and keep an eye out on Facebook groups and other sites such as Delaware County We Freecycle for people giving them away.  You may also get lucky and find some at Goodwill or yard sales for a fraction of the cost!  I do my best to get as many hangers as possible for free so that I don’t have to put extra money out of pocket.

Clothes bin

2. Have large plastic bins with lids on hand to fill with kid stuff as they outgrow it.  (I do this all year long – making it a point to sort through their closets and drawers every 1-2 months) I usually do spring/summer and a fall/winner bins for clothing, a small bin for outgrown shoes and one for kid gear and toys.  If you are able to slowly sort these items as your kids are outgrowing them, it will save you a ton of time when consignment sale season comes around.  If you are able to put them on hangers before placing in the bin, that saves time as well. And – if you are feeling super organized, start a notebook list with each item including a description and size which will help making entering the items online a breeze later.  Wipe toys and gear with disinfectant wipes to clean before putting away. Remember to be sure that all items are washed and stain free and that any items have not been recalled.  A clothes rack or extra closet in the house to hang outgrown items also works just as well if you have the space in your home!  Button and snap clothing – and iron items that are wrinkled if possible for best presentation.  And – if you do not have time to tag items yourself, check out JBF’s awesome valet tagging service option where they will tag the items for you!

supplies

3. Gather supplies such as white cardstock, rubber bands, Various sized zip top plastic bags, packing tape, batteries (for toys if needed) and safety pins.  Watch for sales and 40-50% off coupons at Michaels, AC Moore and JoAnn Fabrics and purchase while the price is super low!  You may also have some luck finding some of these supplies at the Dollar Store if you are lucky!  As you gather these supplies, put them into a clear bin marked supplies so they are easy to find and access when needed.

tagging gun

4. Invest in a tagging gun and plastic barbs.  They are so incredibly reasonable to purchase through Ebay or Amazon (usually under $10).  You can often purchase directly from the sale owner as well.  Tagging guns make tagging large number of clothing items much faster and easier overall.  Keep the tagging gun and barbs in your supply bin as well.

5. When pricing your items, price those items to sell.  The rule of thumb I use for most items is to sell it for approximately 1/3 of what I paid for it. I always ask myself before tagging an item, what price would I be willing to purchase the item for if I was the one shopping for it?  Keep in mind – most people that are shopping will be looking for the best deals!  The better your prices, the more likely the items will sell quickly!

6. Whenever possible, tag your items when kids are not home or when they are asleep.  Not only will you be more productive without interruptions, it will be safer keeping them away from pins, tagging guns and hangers and they will not be available to cry or pout when they see some of “their clothes and toys” going away.  If you must purge items when they are present, try enlisting their help and maybe promising a new item or two for every 5 or 6 they are willing to part with.

6. Information and  links to videos to help make the process as easy and simple as possible area also available right on the JBF Western Mainline website HERE.  Watch them for tips that will make the experience a pleasant, freustration-free one.

As we speak I am in the final stages of entering my items and starting to tag.  Once they are tagged, I’ll sort them by gender and size and rubber band like items together for easier set up.  I’ll have separate boxes for toys and accessories.  I’ll be dropping my goods off at the sale next Tuesday – I’ll be sure to come back to let you know how drop off and pick up works out for me as well.  And of course – I’ll be filling you in on my shopping experience (which I expect to be nothing less than fabuluous).  Hope some of you will also head on out to check out the sale for yourselves and come back to let me know all about your best finds!  If you plan to go, be sure to check out my shopping tips for visiting kid consignment sales!

By the way – it’s not too late!  There is still time to consign!  Go ahead- give it a try! Cut the clutter AND get paid!  It doesn’t get any better than that!



Comments

  1. I have never done this before with my little one toys, thank you for the idea i will try it also..

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