Participating in a big consignment sale like GREEN JEAN’S can be overwhelming, and we all want to know how to get the most sales out of our consignments. To help ease all of your fears we have gathered up 4 veteran sellers from Green Jeans Consigment Sale for their thoughts and advice on participating in any of their three upcoming Fall 2015 sales. To see more info & to register as a consignor, please visit the GJ website.
1. What are the top items you are going to sell?
Andrea: Boots, Handbags & Sweaters
Bonnie: Tall boots, Jewelry & Jeans
2. How do you decide pricing for your items?
Sherry: I start with the pricing “Cheat Sheet” from Green Jeans…a great tool on their website. They know what usually sells the best and at what price. Also, consider if you are going to offer it as “discounted” during the special half price days. Keep in mind the least amount you would want to take, then go from there.
Andrea: I decide pricing based upon the 10% rule (10% of the original price of the item) OR if I cannot remember the original price then I think about how much I would want to pay for it at the sale and price it accordingly.
3. How long before the sale (consignment drop off dates) do you start prepping?
Sherry: Since Green Jeans has become an established thing, I keep a “Green Jeans bag” in my closet year round. If it doesn’t fit or I’m just tired of looking at it…into the bag it goes. Also when I change out my clothes by season, if items no longer fit….into the bag! I always wind up pulling a few items in the last days before the sales deadlines. I start tagging about a week out from deadline. I write everything down in a notebook (description, size, price), then enter all at once to the Green Jeans program for tags. I generally make notes one night after work, enter all the info into computer the next night, print & cut-out tags the next, and attach tags the following evening. That breaks it up for me and I can do it while catching my favorite programs!
Bonnie: I learned my lesson early on not to procrastinate! I eneded up having flashbacks from college of sitting on the floor cramming for exams – except I was cramming for GJ’s! The BEST advice I can pass along is to start a week (or 2) out, especially if you are consigning quite a bit of stuff! However, take it from a professional procrastinator – it can be done! If you keep a running note of items as you clean out it will make entering the info & creating tags online much easier.
4. What is your overall best advice for new sellers?
Sherry: Prep your clothes & other items. Dust off your iron, do up the buttons & zips. Make sure shoes and purses show at their best. They just sell better that way. Get yourself a tagging gun…..saves a lot of time. And please…..attach the tag where it can be seen easily!
Andrea: Start early getting everything organized – it takes some time to enter and print the tags…also use good cardstock and make sure your printer has ink! If the tag doesn’t print correctly it cannot be scanned at checkout and you run the risk of losing the sale. Invest in a tagging gun too – if the item loses it’s tag then it also cannot be sold.
5. What do you do with all the extra money you make from the GJ sale?
Sherry: Honestly, I usually end up spending it at the Green Jeans sale. I get rid of older items that no longer interest me, and get a new wardrobe….for free. Nothing wrong there!
Andrea: I usually take what I make at the sale and buy more clothes OR I buy things at the sale and just keep the check when it comes in.
Bonnie: I use the GJ sale to turn over that seasons wardrobe. I take the money and invest in new trends, shoes or anything else I have my eye on for that season!
Here are two videos from Andrea about her fall consignments with Green Jeans:
Another seller Betsy has this to say about the Green Jeans Sale:
“Working with the ladies at Green Jeans has been the best consignment experience I’ve ever had! They are so nice, so helpful, and so good! I use the Express Tagging system, where they really handle everything. I drop off my items with my Green Jeans liaison, Benae Koontz. From that point, she handles everything! My items are tagged, entered into their system, sold at both sales, and I get a check! I could not imagine a better consignment experience!â€
We hope we have provided you with great advice and eased any fears you may have had as a new consignor! We know one thing, you won’t regret the amazing experience you will have {and extra loot you make} from participating & shopping at Green Jeans!
A big THANK YOU to all of the Green Jean’s Sellers for participating in our post & giving their advice and feedback!
