Consigning to Sustainability

We’ve shared with you some hard facts on fashion sustainability and given you some tips on how you can create a more sustainable wardrobe and closet. Now let’s dive into consignment best practices so you can start giving your wardrobe a second life. Here’s our list of all the key do’s and don’ts when it comes to consigning so you can get the best bang for your buck and feel confident when selling. 

Who said sustainability isn’t FUN?! 

Step 1: Find The Perfect Match

We will go so far as to say that consigning is like dating. You need to find your specialty shop. 

If you’re looking to sell high-end brands, clothing, or designer bags you need to find a luxury consignment shop (just like us). 

If you’re looking to get rid of vintage pieces or brands that aren’t luxury names, but on the higher end of retail, you’ll want to find a shop that carries mid-range brands and does direct buying or offers a decent consignment commission. These types of shops will be very excited to consign brands such as Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs, or Rebecca Minkoff. 

Step 2: The Background Check

Research your pieces and make sure you know what other shops are selling them for. When you begin pricing discussions, you should have all the information gathered: when you bought it, any authentication documents, quality of the piece, etc. The more info the better! 

Step 3: Know Your Worth 

Again, just like dating you need to be straight-forward with who you are consigning with. You have to understand that consignment stores are businesses and they put a ton of work into marketing and selling your item, so they need to make a profit for their services. However, you should be upfront from the get-go and tell them how much cash money you’re wanting to make. 

Step 4: The Honeymoon Phase  

Now that you have found your perfect consignment suitor and you’ve agreed on your terms, it’s time for the fun part! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the process. Patience is key, we promise that your consignment staff are working their hardest to sell your pieces. If you notice in 5-6 months nothing has sold... well, then it may be time for a breakup. There are a lot of reasons why a piece may not sell quickly — season, size, demand, etc. But it doesn’t hurt to try a new location somewhere else. A different consignor will have different clients and your piece might be just what they are looking for. Remember that if you’re confident your item should sell, so should your consignors.

For more tips on consigning your items, follow us on Instagram and join our newsletter below to receive a free guide to sustainable fashion. 

Cover image by Eden Carter