Selling Tips for Just Kids Resale
Clothing
· Due to the many items being sold we recommend that you price competitively. A good basic guide is to price 1/2 to 1/4 of the original price, depending on the name brand and condition of item. Keep in mind the quality, name brand, and condition of your items. Think carefully before you price your items and price reasonably.
· Use the price tag to note a higher end brand or special feature (glow in the dark, adjustable waistband, reversible etc.). Also, note size fluctuations, for example if the shirt is marked as a 4, but wears more like a 3 note that on the price tag.
· Spending a little "extra" time getting your items ready will mean more money for you.Press wrinkles, iron collars, cuffs and don’t forget about those appliqués & ribbons.
· Clean and fresh smelling clothing sell better than those that are wrinkled or reek of cigarette smoke.
· Close buttons, snap snaps and zip zippers. (It makes the clothing look better and shoppers are able to see that all buttons, snaps, zippers are in working order.
· Make sure there are not any stains, rips, missing buttons etc. on any of your clothing. If you cannot repair the item, go ahead and donate it.
· Pick your best, in season clothes. Clothing is only accepted for current seasons and must be in good condition.
Shoes
· Shoes need to be in new to next to new condition to sell. Shoppers are very picky when it comes to footwear. Only bring your best.
· Shoes need to be attached. You will do better if you us a zip tie or other type of clasp versus tying shoe laces together (don't use shoe boxes, they make it too difficult to effectively display the shoes).
· Tie the laces neatly, buckle the buckles and clean out the Velcro to make the shoes look nice.
· Smaller shoes may be placed in Ziploc style bags with the price tags taped to the bag. Larger shoes can be attached to one another and the price tag pinned around a buckle or through a lace.
Toys
· Clean, wash or wipe down every toy you bring. That alone, can make the difference between accepting and rejecting at check in.
· All toys that require batteries MUST have working ones loaded inside. A good bet is to buy batteries at the dollar store or swap out older batteries from your current toys and use them, the almost dead but still working ones, in the toys you are selling. Don’t go out and buy brand name batteries as you will never get your money’s worth out of the toy if you spend that much in batteries.
· Check puzzles, games and anything with accessories to guarantee they are complete.
· Package accessories into a clear plastic bag and TAPE the bag shut to prevent anyone (especially small children) from opening and scattering pieces.
· Puzzles are easily packaged by wrapping in saran wrap and then sealing with packing tape on the back. This keeps all the pieces together and lets the shopper see what he/she is buying.
Books/Videos
· Books sell well when they are sold as sets. Consider putting 3-4 Dr. Seuss or Little Bear books together in a bag and pricing accordingly.
· All videos/DVDs should be in packaging. If you don't have a case, use a blank case and then print off a picture of the character or movie title and tape it to the blank case. Price accordingly to reflect the missing case.
· Use masking tape instead of packing tape to attach tags. Packing tape is hard to remove at check-out and will leave a sticky residue on items
Infant Equipment/Furniture
· Crib Safety information and requirements can be found at http://www.narts.org/safety/guide.htm
· Both equipment and furniture are very popular items and do well at consignment sales if they are well presented.
· It goes without saying that they should be wiped down clean and free of any dirt or debris.
· If you are selling an item that requires set up, BE SURE to set it up at home right before packaging for the sale. Make sure it functions correctly before bringing it to a sale.
· If it requires batteries, make sure it has some. A 3-speed swing with no batteries will never sell because the shopper has no way to know if itworks.
· If your item is a higher end brand or has special features, note that on the price tag.
· Did you pay $500 for the Bellini crib that you are letting go for $250? Let the shopper know that you paid $500 for that piece (note that on the price tag). Better yet, if you can find a brochure or picture from a website stating the price, attach it to the piece.
· Attaching the original instruction booklet and/or warranty information is helpful but make sure that all paperwork is securely attached to the item.
· It is best not leave an item in its box. Items left in the box will be less likely to sell because a person cannot see and touch it. The one exception to this rule is if something has never been opened, then it should be left in its original packaging.
· If you want to provide an items original packaging, it should be attached to the item, otherwise it is likely the box will be discarded or used elsewhere.
· You may be asked to assemble anything that requires set-up. Examples include cribs, bassinets, port-a-cribs, changing tables, swings, slides etc. Leave the hardware loose so the buyer can easily disassemble it.
“Bag It”
· If you are unsure what to do with a lot of your little things, consider putting together a bag. Here are some ideas
· Bags of like items – fill a Ziploc with many of the same thing: Outlet plugs, rattles, socks, hats, bottles, receiving blankets, Little People accessories…
· Themed bags
o Safety items (a few outlet plugs, a few cabinet locks, etc)
o Small games/puzzles/books
o Action toys from a favorite character
o Bath toys, wash clothes
o Video collection from same artist/character
o Learn to read books
o Dress up clothing
o Dance/Karate/Soccer wear
· By Manufacturer
o Sassy Infant Toys
o Fisher Price Toys
o Safety First items
· Bedding items should be in original packaging or in a large clear bag.
Tagging
· If you are printing tags, make sure you use card stock and have plenty of ink.
· Just because you can read the tag with your eyes doesn’t mean the scanner/laser will read it at check out so even if you just changed your ink cartridge 2 days ago, start with a brand new one (you can reload the old one when you’re done printing tags).
· Use a good weight card stock for durable tags. Stay away from dark and neon colors, as these may not be readable by the scanner/laser at check-out.
· Pin your clothes to the hanger with safety pins so they won't fall off and get lost.
· Secure tags to clothing with a safety pin. Most Dollar Tree's have containers of 200 safety pins for $1.00.
· Do NOT use tiny gold pins, straight pins, or staples!
· Your tags need to be secured well enough to withstand vigorous shopping! If your tag becomes separated from your item, we cannot sell it for you.
· Pin tag to the top left of clothing (or right side if you are facing the item). Your hanger should look like a question mark if it’s in front of you.
· If using a tagging gun be sure to place the needle through one of the seams (armpit or waistline) or through the manufacture tag.
Cleaning Products:
· My all time favorite is Greased Lightening (sold with household cleaners) It has worked wonders! Just spray on your stain (DON’T be alarmed when clothing changes color, it will return to original color during wash), let it sit for a while and then wash as usual. Most stains will come out in the wash. Difficult stains may require spraying a couple of times.
· Biz -Must soak clothing with large amount Biz. Great for stained shoelaces.
· HOT soapy water -Good for water-based stains (punch, kool-aid, Jell-O).
· Clorox Bleach Pen – Be careful, it will bleach out colored fabrics.
· Alcohol and cotton swab- can clean fuses and switches on motorized Power Wheels and such. Will also remove adhesive stickers off of some items.
· Oxyclean- It works great on ALL stains, even some which have been set in with the dryer. Use it as a soak (anywhere from 1-6 hours depending on stain) or as a booster for a batch of laundry.
· Mr. Clean Magic Eraser-Great for cleaning Toys!
· Goo Gone will remove adhesive tags and stickers. It will also help with scuffs on plastic toys.
· WD-40 will remove crayon marks.