REDUCE
your clutter!
RECYCLE your
things!
We're helping the world AND your wallet!
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ORGANIZE Your Supplies GET READY
ORGANIZE Your Stuff WHAT TO SELL & HOW TO PREP 1. CLOTHING – We are accepting Fall and Winter styles of clothes for babies and children that are in good condition. Bring BOYS or GIRLS clothing from preemie through preteen sizes (12). We will also accept MATERNITY and nursing clothes also in season. This is the only adult clothing at the sale, but we include it because it is related to having children. Please mark Nursing clothes clearly on the tags. Don’t forget Halloween Costumes! We always have a special rack for those. Bring on those Christmas outfits, heavy coats and boots, ballet and dance outfits, dress-up costumes, Girl Scout, Boy Scout, or even school uniforms. Wedding and formal attire is needed year round. Please inspect your items carefully before you tag them. We will also inspect everything at drop off. We will not allow any clothes that have stains, holes, or missing parts to be placed on our sales floor. We will reject those items and you can pick them up at the end of the sale along with anything that does not sell. Wash all of your clothes so they smell fresh (and not like they’ve been in a box in your garage). Try to remove obvious stains when you launder. All year long as your kids outgrow clothes, you can wash, hang, and even tag and be ready for our next sale! Sew loose hems, loose buttons, and loose pockets if you sew. Make sure zippers and snaps work. Spending a little extra time getting your things ready means more money in your pocket!
I know this image shows pants pinned on a hanger, but they look so much better on the hangers with clips, the kind designed for pants. Check the free places listed in the right column. If you have to use a normal hanger, just don't pin pants on the bottom bar, pin at the top so they won't slide. Clothes need to hang on appropriately sized hangers with the hook pointing to the left like a question mark (?) and the tag pinned on the right. Use child sized hangers for children’s clothes size 4T and under. You may use adult hangers for clothing size 4T and up. Yes, 4T is your option. If you are using wire hangers, you can get all sizes on those with a little bending. Stock up before you sit down to tag items. See tips in right column to find hangers. Pin clothing sets securely together with pants hung on the back side of the shirt for easy viewing. Pants on a separate hanger could become separated from their top. Another alternative is to tag each item but that’s more work (and an extra hanger!) and sets always sell better. You can clip pants underneath a shirt if you have that type of hanger, just make sure the shirt hangs on top. Most people will inspect what they are buying, so make it easy for them to see the item(s). Small loose items like bibs, diapers, socks, bows, etc. should be placed in a clear ziplock bag with the tag taped to the outside. Use clear packing tape to seal the bag shut. This prevents little hands from reaching in and items from being lost or separated. Just tape or pin your tag to the outside of the bag, don't put tags inside because we keep the tags and that's how you'll get paid the proper amount. 2. SHOES – Bring children’s shoes from baby to preteen, sizes 0 to 6 adult (only kid styles please, no adult shoes). All shoes must be in excellent condition. Be picky on shoes because the shoppers will be. You can place shoes in their box, but shoes can easily become separated from the box. Tie shoes together by the laces or with ribbon, zip ties, or loop hooks, and attach the tag there with a hole punched on the card. Baby shoes, slippers, or small shoes can be placed in ziplock bags with the tag taped or pinned to the outside. Consider putting several pairs of baby shoes or booties together in a bag under one price tag. We always have an abundance of these. 3. TOYS – All toys must be in working order and clean. The better it looks, the faster it will sell. Any toy that needs batteries must include batteries so shoppers can be assured it works and will also know how it works. Small accessory parts should be placed in a clear ziplock bag and taped very well to the biggest piece. You can tag each piece with tags that say 1 of 3, 2 of 3, etc, but only put the bar code on the first tag. Toys with missing parts will not sell. Games and puzzles should have all pieces and be tied, taped, or rubber banded together. Feel free to combine several small items (such as books, rattles, teethers, dolls, or small toys) in a ziplock bag. Use clear packing tape to seal the bag shut. This prevents little hands from reaching in and items from being lost. The best way to secure a tag on a stuffed animal or doll is to punch a hole in your tag and tie it around the neck of the animal or pin to its clothes. We will only accept stuffed animals of popular characters (ie: Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Elmo, Dora, etc.). Ty beanie babies are also acceptable. 4. BOOKS, MOVIES, PUZZLES, VIDEO GAMES, COMPUTER SOFTWARE - When tagging these items, please use clear scotch tape to tape your tags to the cover as packing tape is hard to remove and tends to rip covers. You could also bag them or rubber band several together (go both directions) or tie it like a package with the tag through the string. Books should be in good shape, no ripped or missing pages. Feel free to put several books in a bag at one price. Seal bags with tape at the top to keep sets together. Put puzzles in a bag or use plastic wrap. While it seems like a good idea to tape the pieces of wooden puzzles to the base, removing the tape can remove the pictures and ruin the puzzle! Please be careful. 5. INFANT EQUIPMENT – We welcome all infant carriers, backpacks, slings, strollers, Boppy pillows, play gyms, high chairs, bouncers, swings, bathtubs, potty chairs, play centers, walkers, and saucers. Bring whatever you have, just make sure it is in good condition. Feel free to package smaller items together in sets, like bottles, spoons, bibs, hats, rattles, etc. If your equipment requires batteries, they must be included. Please note: We are no longer accepting car seats because of safety concerns due to us not knowing the full history of each car seat. Please just purchase a new car seat. Your child is worth the cost. 6. FURNITURE – There is always a market for children’s furniture. We will accept bassinets, cradles, play yards, changing tables, dressers, armoires, bookshelves, toy chests, desks, table and chair sets, rocking chairs, and gliders with or without ottomans. We will also accept cribs, toddler beds, twin beds, and bunk beds. It’s best if you bring your item in and assemble it on our sales floor so people can see what it looks like and how to use it. Built things have a better chance of being sold, but you can also leave it unassembled (must include all the pieces). 7. LARGE OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT – Large toys and outdoor play equipment must be clean and free of dirt and water. Bring in those old slides, swings, sand boxes, play houses, ride-on toys, tables, wagons, etc. from Little Tikes or Step 2. These are hot sellers! You must include all pieces. Clean them as best you can. Magic erasers work wonders on these! For all large toys, furniture or other equipment, please put your consignor # and price on a piece of masking tape in a secure place on the item. If the tag becomes lost, at least we can still sell the item. Also added security in case anyone tries to switch tags on similar items. NOTE ABOUT MULTIPLE PIECES: For multiple pieces being sold as a set, please put a tag on each piece in the set. Only put the price on the largest piece and write “#1 of X” (where X is the total number of pieces) on the bottom right of the tag. You could also tag the biggest piece, list how many pieces there are, and put masking tape on the other pieces with your consignor number and #2 of X. WHAT WE WILL NOT ACCEPT:
ORGANIZE Yourself ENTER ITEMS INTO INVENTORY This will go well if you have your clothes hanging or stacked. Leave them in the same order until you print the tags. Tags will be numbered by item with 1 being the first item you entered and so on. So once you print your tags and cut them, just put them in numerical order and pin them on! If you delete an item, that number will be missing. (Double check item descriptions in case of errors, of course, but it should be pretty easy.) The system is pretty self explanitory, but here are some suggestions. Choose a Category. Infant Shoes should be sizes 0-4. For size 5 and up, choose Shoes-Boys or Shoes-Girls. For unisex style shoes, please choose Boys. (Moms with Girls will also look at boys shoes, but moms with just boys do not look at girls shoes!) Toys are broken into sub categories by age. If your toy is meant for a wide range of ages, please choose the most appropriate age group or consider when your child used it or enjoyed it the most. Choose the right Size. For items with European sizing, please reference the chart to the right and choose the appropriate American size. Europeans size clothes by height (in cm) and we know that not all kids who are 4 wear size 4. We all need to be on the same page. There may be a reason you might choose a different size than what is listed on your tag. If so, please make a note in the description or hand write why on the tag after you print it. If a tag is missing, use your best guess. Enter a Description. Baby Gap NWT GAP jeans You might also say things like never worn, paid $89 retail, or whatever else you want a potential buyer to know. If there is not enough room in the 2 lines for the description you feel your item needs, feel free to write more by hand or staple another tag to the bottom if you want. Do what you can to sell it! A good description will also help in case an item gets separated from a tag; we may be able to pair them back together. Please don’t just write “pants” or “shirt,” these are impossible to match. At least describe the color, brand, or any features it has. Set your price. Clothing tends to sell for 20-35% of retail, while equipment can sometimes fetch 50% of retail, depending on brand and demand. (Bumbo seats, bike trailers, ergo carriers, and certain hot toys we've seen go for half of their retail value.) All prices must be in $1.00 or $.50 increments only, with a $1 minimum. No $.99 or other odd prices allowed, the system won't allow it. There
is a line for Quantity. Decide
if you want to Discount. Discounting gives you a chance to sell a few more things on Sunday when most items will be discounted and many shoppers return to suppliment their stash and see what they can get for less. Let it go! Discounting may not be for you. You may not want to discount furniture or large equipment (price to sell in the first place), or you may be willing to take home certain items if they don't sell. Perhaps you have a friend you'd be willing to give things to or you may keep a few things in case you ever have more kids. Whatever your reason, you get to decide! Decide
if you want to Donate. If you are willing to Donate, you must also be willing to include it in the 50% off sale, so please check both boxes. It does not make sense to donate an item without first discounting it to give it one more chance to sell. Money in your pocket is better than a tax donation you may forget to take. Remember to get a donation slip during drop off check in if you think you might end up donating anything. Do not check this box if you plan to pick it up if it does not sell. After you enter an item, click Submit. Print, Cut, and Attach your tags. When taping a tag to a toy or ziplock bag, use a strip of packing tape across the area at the top of the tag (above line), but do not tape over the bar code at the bottom. It is a nightmare at checkout to remove tags covered with tape! We do remove and keep all tags. If you find you need to use a lot of tape to secure a tag, consider punching a hole and using string or a zip tie. Look at your item and choose the best method. Check your printed bar codes. Contact
me if you have any questions.
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Sample of our new Tags
Entering
your items into our online inventory system will generate tags like
this one. Click
above link to get started (you must be registered to access the
program). TIPS: Where to find FREE hangers... These stores throw away tons of hangers every day (I've gotten bags at each of these places!) because all new clothes come in on hangers. Such a waste! It doesn't hurt to ask at any store though! Tons of retailers just throw them away. Get a whole big garbage bag and share with friends.
Where to find CHEAP hangers... Dollar Stores carry the children's hangers in 10 or 12 packs and adult hangers in 8 packs. BiMart carries children's and adult hangers, when on sale they have 10 for $.79, but regular is just $.99. Target had 25 hangers for $2, that might have been a sale, not sure. When we have our booth at the Hillsboro Tuesday Market, we will sell hangers, safety pins, and loops (all very cheap), so come visit us!
Other tips... Some Dollar Stores sell safety pins in packs of 200. Please only use 1 inch pins on clothes. Larger ones leave holes in clothes and smaller ones pop open and are harder to use. Dollar Stores carry cheap batteries. Better than having your non-working item refused! Target carries a generic Magic Eraser in their laundry section. Handy chart for converting European sizes. Please use American sizes when entering your inventory online.
HELP US ADVERTISE: We have beautiful full color 4x6 postcards to help you help us spread the word. Help us get more consignors and shoppers and it could increase your sales! Pick up postcards at my house or various locations around town. We will try to post a list here later. Other materials you can print to help you promote the sale are available in the Downloads section of this site (currently disabled until we get them ready for this sale). TAGGING GUNS We've secured an inexpensive supplier for tagging guns. Using a tagging gun is the best way to tag clothing and other items with fabric because the tags don't fall off. These typically sell for $25-35 retail. Through this source, you can get a tagging gun as seen below, one needle and 1000 1.5" barbs for only $6.50 (including shipping).
You can check out right on the site by using PayPal. Mention that you were referred by Kim at the Pass It On Sale in Oregon! It does take 5-10 days to receive it from China, so make sure you allow plenty of time to receive your order. This is totally optional. You do not have to use this type of tagging gun. Safety pins work nicely too. We have found these very easy to use and tags stay attached better. Please use caution when attaching tags with a tagging gun, especially if you do not have retail clothing experience. Watch the video on the web site above. (Link on bottom of the page, watch the 2nd video.) Always place the needle through a seam in the armpit or somewhere unnoticeable so you don't damage the garment. The tag at the back of the neck works nicely too. Practice before ruining your clothes. LOOP PINS They also sell a product called Loop Pins which are similar to zip ties as they fasten in a loop, but unlike zip ties they snap into place end to end and cannot be tightened. You can get 500 5" loop pins for $4.00 including shipping. You do not need a tagging gun to use these. These are perfect for attaching tags to shoes, toys, and some baby gear. You might want to laminate the top of your tag with a layer of tape first. They also work on clothes (like through the tag at neck, a button hole, or the belt loop of pants), but a tagging gun is cheaper!
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