Comments on: The Consignment Trap

By: Lynnette

Lynnette — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:22:44 +0000

I have been a consignment store owner. Most difficult was obtaining those designer pieces. I would have loved to sell those types of items and it would have increased the individuality of my inventory. Unfortunately, what most customers think is that their junk is gold. I had to turn away more than I could accept. So indeed, getting those designer garments would have been wonderful.

I have thought about production. I would love to team with someone to do just that.

By: Consignment policies

Consignment policies — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:13:04 +0000

[...] interested in selling on consignment, please do yourself the favor of reading Miracle’s post The Consignment Trap. She knows why “struggling designers might think that putting their merchandise into [...]

By: Tahja

Tahja — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:22:45 +0000

I have had one good experience with a consignment store which I am still stocking and one bad one which I am still trying to get my money out of. He seems to have mastered the art of avoiding bill payments. This has left me with a very bad feeling, and I do feel taken advantage of.

I guess it is about finding agreeable stores to work with.

By: Designer08

Designer08 — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 05:21:01 +0000

I send some things to a consignment store out in LA. Big mistake. Never again. I never got monthly reports, communication was horrible and now, after a year of arguing with the owner, I’m waiting on getting my things back. I’m sure not all consignment boutiques are like this, but I will never do this again.

By: Jeff Martin

Jeff Martin — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 21:07:07 +0000

There is also another variant of consignment that I have found works well, which is to sell to a regular local retail boutique through consignment. This allows me some flexibility so far as the apparel I send to be sold there, which I use to experiment with new styles and designs. Then I can get feedback from the employees and customers on what they think. If we were to only sell outright, we would not have the ability to test different new designs in the actual marketplace.

Even as we make new deals selling outright to other boutiques across the nation, I plan on keeping my relationship with our local boutique consignment to enjoy such an informal stage to test out new stuff in the actual marketplace.

By: Christy Fisher

Christy Fisher — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 04:34:06 +0000

I have done a number of trade shows that are “D/E friendly”..some shows, such as “the Buyers Market of American Crafts, and the American Crafts Council are perfect for smaller, unique lines. The BMAC shows are wholesale only..and the ACC shows have a day of wholesale and usually 2 days of retail. There are also other markets such as the Roy Helm’s shows (the Contemporary Crafts Market in Santa Monica- also one in San Francisco)..
I have also done temp areas in the Atlanta merchandise Mart, and the Dallas Gift Show. Other shows that are wonderful are Atelier Designer (www.atelierdesigners.com) and Nouveau Collective, as well as Fashion Coterie.
Cruise the various websites and see what other exhibitors have to offer, and see if you “fit in”.

I rarely do consignment..unless I already have a longstanding relationship with the boutique/gallery and I want them to try one of my more outrageous pieces and not have them take a risk on it.

By: Madona Cole-Lacy

Madona Cole-Lacy — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 13:08:24 +0000

I am a Artist/Designer who does one-of-a-kind wearable art fashions and accessories. I am in the process of exploring ways of SELLING my products without having to GIVE them away to consignment store owners. It appears as though even gallery owners who sell highend pieces are looking for the lion’s share of your labor. What do you think of trade shows? Has anyone come up with innovative ways of marketing and selling your goods?

There is also the challenge of getting good sewers to work for you when Mass production is not an option. Any thoughts on this?

By: Carol

Carol — Thu, 08 Sep 2005 21:58:31 +0000

Consignment store owners tend to sell something and then pay a few debts, their own overhead items first. A good plan is friendly regular visits by whoever is representing your line.

“Hi, this is ___, I’m going to be in your area a week from Tuesday and will stop by to replace anything that’s shopworn, and show you a couple new items. I’ll pick up my check for what’s been sold.”

They owe you for whatever’s on your inventory list that isn’t in stock. So they have to write you another check? No problem. You stand there pleasantly breathing down their neck until the ink is dry.

Years ago (I am not Miracle’s C) I had items consigned in a number of outlets. Visiting at a festival with other artists/craftspeople, I found that many of them weren’t getting paid by outlets I was getting prompt checks from (even when I hadn’t been in).

NOT recommended is getting friends in the area to be police for you, as that ensures a negative spin on interactions with everyone involved, and denies you the chance to develop a good relationship with the business.

As soon as a market for your goods is demonstrated, you phase out the consignment shops. After you fill paid wholesale orders, they get what’s left. If they’re dismayed to lose you, they can start writing front-end checks.