As some of you know, I'm opening up my very own resale shop in Humble. "The Little Blue Cottage" will sell antique and vintage furniture with some chic modern furniture, jewelry, and unique glassware.

What are you guys looking or not looking for in a resale store?

As a mom of five, I'm staying away from children items to sell in my store. My house is filled with kids stuff, I don't want my store to look the same. I'll list those items on eBay and Amazon.

I'll also be accepting consignments and anyone who wants to sell their unique crafty items. I have two huge store front windows in which to display your items.

I used to be a jeweler, so I have all the equipment to test diamonds, gold, silver, and platinum.

TIA for all your input!! 

Where's the location? When do you open? Best of luck to you! 

quality products in good shape-I wish you the best, honey!!! you've seen some tough times, and you deserve the best!! 

Oh- one more thing- women love designer bags! if you can get some in good shape, you can get a good price for them! also shoes- 

NO SHOES ever. Gross.

Your store will smell like Plato's Closet...stinky feet. 

Congrats on the new place! Awesome endeavor! 

Frequent change of inventory, decent prices.

Sounds like a great place to shop already. Keep us posted on your opening. 

Display is important. If you are not good at it, get help. I tend to spend more time in a store where the merchandise to arranged tastefully. Price is also important. I don't expect it to be free, but I can't stand to go into a resale shop and see things priced higher than I can go and buy it new on sale. I love to go to resale shops and I hope you are super successful. 

Yes, on the designer handbags and purses.

I, personally, dislike walking into a resale shop and see the same items that were there a month or so ago. So I plan on having a "sidewalk" sale every month to purge some of those items that are not consignment pieces. I get new items every week.

Pricing is always gonna be tricky, but since its my store, I'll be open to offers.

Thank you guys!! This has been my dream for years. So blessed to finally be able to do it. 

I used to be a jeweler, so I have all the equipment to test diamonds, gold, silver, and platinum.

Can you do insurance appraisals? 

let us know where and when! 

Zapper, I'm not G.I.A certified.

I take all my jewelry to Dixons for written appraisals. 

are you taking things on consignment or buying them outright? 

I love vintage estate jewelry and antiques, but I have to say when I see crafts in store windows I walk on by. When the crafts appear in the shop I know it's closing soon and the inventory is crap.

Nothing wrong with crafts but there is a place for them and in my opinion, they belong in a craft store or craft show. 

never mind, your answer is in the beginning of the thread- I think it depends on the crafts-to dis them across the board is silly- many crafts do well commercially- 

Ooooohhhh and you have good taste! Lol :) I would love to see new "chic" restored furniture made out of old scrap pieces and/or other furniture. Cool, unique home decor made out of stuff that usually isn't used for decor. Really fun stuff! Yay! Can't wAit to come shopping!! 

I'm looking forward to it, too!! 

good luck with it. 

Moretolife, as far as "crafts" go.... I have a lady that makes beautiful stained glass crosses that I'll be selling in my store. She even makes some with actual gemstones. They're gorgeous. Those are the kinds of "crafts" I mean. Unique, handmade kind of items. Items that are not in every store. 

Lillabeth good luck, sounds awesome. I wouldn't make it so cluttered and confusing. Many resales do that and it just feels like the stuff isn't worth as much when it's cluttered and messy. Maybe a few personal items like high end bags but I would mostly stick to home decor and furniture. I have some accessory pieces I want to get rid of. Let me know when you open. 

Used shoes? Bleck no way. 

some nice beautiful glass that no one knows exactly what it is worth, the i can pick up for a song and ......well........you know 

Guns. 

Homemade fudge! 

I don't like clutter either. I have 3 rooms that I'll be using. One for furniture, one jewelry & accessories, and one that for glasswares.

My store is actually an old house that's now a commercial business. So I have a full bath and kitchen on top of 3 rooms. It looks like a blue cottage. Hence the name ;)

It's almost right across from the artisan well in Humble.

Sighfi, fudge is a possibility. With or without nuts? 

That sounds great. I like stores where the merchandise is sort of "staged". Like an antique bed for sale dressed out in nice vintage linens that are also for sale that looks like the pictures in magazines. Then maybe a cute rocker, and nice pictures on the wall..all that creates a visual that I can imagine in my home and tempts me more than anything.

I really think that your shop could be very successful. Keep us posted, I can't wait to shop there. 

I've sold in various 'antique-y' shops for about twenty years. Here are some ideas to add to your already great ideas. Popular furniture pieces have been 1.small lamp tables 2. ottomans 3. benches (for porch or foyer) 4. shelves. Large pieces of furniture take up too much room for what you get out of them. Don't dismiss the children's items - they can be a mainstay (especially changing tables and chest of drawers.) Riding toys sell well - and infant jungle gyms. DVDs are a good small item to sell as well as CDs. I do books and other media online. Looking forward to visiting your shop. 

Fragrances people got as gifts but don't wear or want. 

I need throw pillows and can't find any I like in stores. 

Sighfi, fudge is a possibility. With or without nuts?






I make both! Something for everyone! 

Love this! Where will be be again? didn't see that said. I love resale shopping, always find some of the most interesting pieces.

Honestly too wash everything before you sell it. Some resales just unload bags of donations and put for sale. And saw about the shoes, i love shoes! Just deodorize them first (lysol) 

also will you take donations? 

AngieKaye --- 10 hours ago - quote - hide comments
also will you take donations?

It will be hard with HAMM that is catty corner to my store. But, I would love to work with "Family Time" in the future.

Such great input KU!! Thank you! I'll post the address once I'm ready to open. I have my DBA and EIN number so I can actually do business I just can't charge sales tax. So I'm waiting on my Sales tax permit. 

Vintage 60's and 70's home decor. .. 

I love resale shopping. I hate it when I walk in and the place smells like musty old stuff. There has got to be a way to get rid of that smell. There is a clothing consignment shop on 494. It smells bad, but the consignment shop behind Steinmart does not have that smell. 

Congratulations! I hope you are a great success! I would love to see more cute shops and business go into that area. I think Humble is missing out on a real opportunity to promote itself as a quaint little town with antique shops and tea rooms. 

I like the idea of fragrances. I know I have things that are expensive but my taste or body chemistry has changed. I would like to try new things without spending a fortune. 

I like to see a mixture of timeless resale items sold along with homemade soaps, lotions, balms, bath oils, etc. Agree, displayed nicely, as if they were new items, anything will sell. 

Candles and home decor! My faves!


Lilla (or anyone else interested)....I have an old Bassett china hutch that I want to get rid of (VERY similar to this pic). Maybe you could use it as a display in your store or I'd sell it consignment if you are interested in that. I don't even know what it's worth but if anyone is interested, make me an offer. :D

 

I look for unusual items - for example, I found a small Siamese cat momma & kitten) music box figurine and the price was under 3 bucks.