Ever wondered how consignment works? We asked some local experts how to successfully sell your clothes
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We all know that feeling—you’re cleaning out your wardrobe and wondering what to keep, what to donate, and more importantly, what to sell.
But anyone who has tried it knows that there’s a special art to selling second-hand clothing, especially if you choose to consign your much-loved items. But how does it work? And how do you ACTUALLY get someone to buy your clothes through consignment? We asked some local experts for their top tips and tricks.
Claudia Tétreault-Percy, Store Manager at Goodbyes Braddon
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What do you love about consignment? What are the benefits?
Consigning pre-loved items is all about giving them a second, third, and fourth life—it benefits the seller and the customer in many ways! Giving items more longevity in the circular fashion economy is something we work on tirelessly at Goodbyes, and it’s a great way to make back some value on pieces you’ve purchased, maybe worn, and decided weren’t quite right. Regardless of the reason for consigning, it’s been really important for us at Braddon to educate our customers and members on the value of clothes—in the grand scheme of things, it’s a commodity that retains value over time if it is well cared for and made of quality materials.
Personally, consignment is a great way to continue growing and refining your wardrobe; saying goodbye to pieces that might not be very ‘you’ anymore, and being able to purchase quality pieces second-hand that are more fitting to your current style.
How should people decide what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate?
Selling your items can be such a personal experience. My three-step process is to make a sell, donate, and maybe pile. For items to keep, I try to keep in mind how often I wear that item if it goes with the rest of my wardrobe, and if it has that certain “spark” that makes me want to get dressed. That can be down to style, comfort, or silhouette—if something makes you feel good, and it feels right, it’s usually worth keeping and wearing! Trust your gut when it comes to the ‘yes’ pile.
If the ‘maybe’ pile is quite big, I suggest asking someone for a second opinion. I might bring it into Goodbyes and ask if it’s an item that is currently selling well, that might help me make a final decision. I also ask my housemate and get her opinion—if she hasn’t seen me wear it in a while, I usually know it’s time to let go.
If a piece holds particular personal value, I sometimes give it to a friend I know will wear it. For your items to donate, consider the wear of the item—if it’s too worn to be resold, or has missing buttons, broken clasps, or zips, they tend to be hard to resell.
What do you look for when people come in to consign their clothes?
We first and foremost look for quality, longevity, seasonality, and styles that sell well in-store. This can be influenced by trends, but not entirely. We base our selection on pieces that have unique, unusual details, we look at the care labels of the garment—cotton, linens, silk, wools, and cashmere sell well because they last.
These are items you can have in your wardrobe for years to come—and even if you don’t, they hold a resale value which means you have the option of reselling them after some time. We look for items that have minimal, noticeable wear. This usually means we can yield a higher price point for these items too, and consignors can get better value from the service.
What common mistakes do people make when trying to consign their clothes?
The trickiest part that keeps people from selling items is usually bringing unwashed items or items that are out of season. Most of the time, we find the pieces that are turned away are either not in the right season, are too worn or stained for resale or they might be styles that we have tried previously that just don’t sell for our demographic of customers. We find items sell best when they match the current season, or they are pieces that can be easily layered, especially in Canberra’s cool winters.
What are your top tips for increasing the chances of items actually selling?
We encourage all people who are looking to consign to read our Selling Guide on our website—it’s the best place to get all the relevant information about selling with us. When new consignors come in with freshly washed items that match the current season, their chances of selling are much higher. When we select items, we keep in mind that our wide range of customers expects a certain level of quality and condition from Goodbyes. We also encourage members to bring in a variety of sizes and styles to cater to our growing community of shoppers. We’re so grateful to the Canberra community for supporting local second-hand resale!
Taylor Pitsilos, co-owner of Designer Op Shop Emporium and Mesaío
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What do you love about consignment? What are the benefits?
We love offering someone the opportunity to have a luxury product they have always desired, mostly with hundreds—if not thousands—off the retail price. The consignment process is foremost recycling, benefiting our precious environment, the seller gets money back for their unwanted item and the new buyer scores a luxury bargain.
How should people decide what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate?
Deciding what to sell or keep is very personal and will vary depending on the client’s needs. Generally speaking, if you’re not using the item and you are no longer benefiting from it, it could be time to move on. Keep what you absolutely love and use. Donate what is no longer worth consigning but not faulty.
What do you look for when people come in to consign their clothes?
At Mesaío we are Canberra’s leading luxury consignment specialist, focusing on luxury accessories, fine jewellery, and a selection of high-end clothing. We look for items in excellent condition, with the exception of vintage having a little wear and tear. We love to consign unique items as well as luxury favourites such as the Louis Vuitton Neverfall or Gucci Marmont.
What common mistakes do people make when trying to consign their clothes?
I always tell my clients, that they will make more money selling their items themselves than selling with us. This of course takes more time and effort on their behalf. It’s wise for someone wanting to consign their items to be realistic about what they will make in return and ensure they are in excellent condition. We provide a service of selling the items for them. A question to ask yourself before consigning your items is are you emotionally ready to part with it?
What are your top tips for increasing the chances of items actually selling?
Keep everything that comes with the item when you purchase it! We call this a ‘full set’ if the item comes with all the packaging and authenticity. This is a great incentive for someone to purchase your item. Trust the price advice of your consignor, we do a lot of research and have been in the market for long enough to know what a good price is to get the sale done. We buy items for the current climate and of great quality.
