By Judy Rhodes, Jeri Watson, and Trey Rhodes,
Owners A SECOND LOOK

Q. What is consignment? (And what is a consignment superstore?)
A. Consignment stores resell merchandise on your behalf and share the profits after the item is purchased. Consignment is one of the easiest ways to resell. We tell our new consignors to think of it like selling with eBay or Etsy but without all the hassle of researching, listing, pricing, packing and shipping, dealing with buyers, etc. That’s why it’s important to look for a consignment store that is large enough to attract plenty of customers. A SECOND LOOK is over 25,000 square feet and the high volume and foot traffic make all the difference for the seller.

Q. Why should I consign my things?
A. Consignment works! It can be a very easy and fun way to make extra money. A SECOND LOOK consignors made over a million dollars last year. And, of course, it’s very good for the environment. You can be proud that you’re not buying into today’s disposable mindset. Our store was founded on the belief that there had to be a viable alternative to the throwaway culture of commerce. We have been a green business for 36 years, long before being a green business was even a thing!

Q. What should I consider when selling on consignment?
A. As with selling anywhere, there are definite factors that make great sales. In the end, that’s what it is all about – conveying your item successfully to a buyer. When deciding whether or not to consign a given item, consider if it will be worth your while first. A simple test is to ask yourself, “Would I buy this?” And we like to tell people to make absolutely sure of the condition, season, and style of anything brought in.

Q. Can you go into detail about these sales criteria?
A. Condition is an easy one to understand. If your item is wrinkled, dirty, or damaged, it will not sell…simple as that. This applies to clothing as well as housewares. A SECOND LOOK carries only merchandise in new or very good condition.

Season refers to clothing primarily — and has to do with what people are wearing (or using) at the moment. You should not expect to sell your long, wool winter coat when it is 100+ degrees outside! Also, Christmas décor is not popular in February, for example. On the flip side, selling your coats and Christmas merchandise at the right time of year can be extremely profitable.

Style is a little trickier but is the most important factor. Things go in and out of fashion all the time, naturally. While it is tempting to liquidate your things that seem dated (or in poor condition or out-of-season) it is not a good sales tactic. You need to create desire in the mind of the buyer. Shoppers today are keenly aware of what is “in” and they have many ways to get the goods that are hot this year. They choose our store because of the vast selection and the amazing prices. Unlike thrift stores, A SECOND LOOK offers items that are on trend.

Q. What happens if my items don’t sell?
A. There are two ways that an item might not be sold. First, it might be dropped off by a consignor but does not meet the sales criteria. It may be in poor condition, too inexpensive, the wrong season, etc. or it might reach its expiration date after being on the sales floor for too long. Some consignment stores simply keep your items if they don’t sell. We don’t do that because we believe these things should be donated to the needy.

At A SECOND LOOK, all items not sold (for whatever reason) are donated immediately to one of several bona fide 501(c)(3) charities. These nonprofits must demonstrably help the needy. The organizations we’ve partnered with are those that are charitable, educational, scientific, literary, religious, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.

Consignment is a labor-intensive process for us and donation is without question the most labor-intensive part of it all. But we’ve found a way of giving back to the community. A SECOND LOOK and its consignors donate thousands of items each week to charity.

Q. Sign me up! How do I get started?
A. Easy! Visit our website: asecondlook.com
Consignment intake hours are:
Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.

You can drop off any time and you get paid as soon as the items sell. Simple as that!