By Guest Blogger Tonya Nealon, owner of The Fashion Exchange
I love to shop. Clothes shopping, furniture shopping, grocery shopping…heck, I even enjoyed shopping for plumbing fixtures while building my house! However, after having twins in 2003 and becoming a stay-at-home mom, I discovered a new passion: saving money. Thus begins my love/hate relationship with consignment.
Before moving to NC, I belonged to an organization that used seasonal consignment sales for its main fundraiser. There were very few limitations on what could be sold and because I volunteered, I received 75% of the profits of the sale of my items. My husband used to joke that if he weren’t so useful, I’d sell him too but he had to admit this supplemental income was a big help to our family. I loved consigning with them and always looked forward to the next sale. I never had to use consignment shops.
Now fast forward to 2012. I had just moved from out of state to Winston Salem. The only seasonal sales I could find were for children, so I turned to local consignment shops. There are many consignment shops in the area and most of the workers were fairly nice but… truth is, I was disappointed. They didn’t accept many of my name brand or boutique clothes, I didn’t think the pricing was reflective of the quality of the items and the money I made was minimal. I only got 40% of the profit of the sale of MY clothes. I thought, “There has to be another way.” Garage sales and resale stores were not an option. Then the light bulb went off. I didn’t need to reinvent the wheel, I just needed to make it better and The Fashion Exchange was born.
The Fashion Exchange is a consignment business with a unique twist. We want to empower the consignor to make more money, set their own prices, generate more money and receive that money faster. The Fashion Exchange uses software specially designed for consignment sales, allowing the consignors to price their own items, including if and when to apply discounts. With us, you make more money, up to 60-75% of the profit, receiving your payout check within 7-10 days following a quick, 2 day sale. You do not have to work the sale unless you choose to volunteer.
Many wonder how this is possible. Well, The Fashion Exchange can give you more because we are not a traditional brick-and-mortar store with high overhead because of rent, utilities and other bills. We are a semi-annual women’s consignment sale with one sale in the fall and one sale in the spring. We provide everything to help you successfully sell your items including a location, advertising, computerized checkout, clothing and shoe racks. You need only bring your neatly hung and priced clothes – your feminine yet powerful business suits, your casual chic clothes, your fashion forward trends, your designer denim, and your glamorous cocktail/evening/party wear. Don’t forget, we need sassy shoes and handbags, too! .
To learn more about this unique business or sign up to sell, visit www.TheFashionExchangeNC.com. Also check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheFashionExchangeNC . There will be FREE registration for the fall sale to any TMoM reader who likes our Facebook page and volunteers at least 4 hours.
Registration begins August 1st. Location will be at Clemmons Civic Club, 2870 Middlebrook Dr. Consignors and volunteers can shop Friday, September 26, 2014 from 7pm to 9pm. Sale is open to the public on September 27 from 7am to 12pm.
*Today’s blog is sponsored by The Fashion Exchange
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