Understanding Clothing Consignment
By Kathryn Mills

Getting A’s in Economics

You have already heard the rumbling of school buses in the mornings and your kids are living a new reality. Summer vacation was fun but it is SO over and now you are moving on to backpacks, science projects, and learning new things! One of the first things you may have learned is that the things your kids loved two months ago now suddenly don’t fit. How do these things happen?
     Here’s an idea that has been around for a long time but has new relevance to families whose checkbooks and credit cards are doing a lot of heavy lifting in order to cross every item off their students’ back-to-school “gotta have/wanna have” lists. For nearly 25 years, Spanky’s has been the locally-owned solution to the overwhelming task of outfitting the entire family. With departments for kids, teens, ladies, men, maternity and children’s furniture and gear, there really is something for everyone. And the best part? All of the brands your kids are longing for are on their racks at a fraction of their original cost. Bingo! There’s your easy A in economics!

So, what’s consignment?

Consignment is a long word that means “you clean your closets, bring the still-current-great condition” items to either of Spanky’s convenient locations, and they do the work. Easy! It’s the smart way to reclaim some of those dollars you’ve already invested in your family’s clothing and make them continue to work for you. As your items sell, your account balance grows and those dollars are available to spend on great buys you find that others have consigned OR you can claim a check once each month. Details are available at www.shopspankys.com .

How do you start?

Take a deep breath. Think to yourself “I am going to reclaim these closets and find real MONEY while I’m at it!” Your mission is to sort your things into two piles. Those with stains, wear, older than two to three years so their style is somewhat dated, or other flaws can go in one pile for repair and eventual donation. The things that remain are likely candidates for Spanky’s racks! Wrong color? Consign it! Doesn’t really fit well? Consign it! Your closet should be full of great things that you love wearing. Weed it out and you’ll find that getting dressed in the morning isn’t such a chore.

Clothing is taken on a seasonal basis and in manageable lots of 40 items per visit. They travel best if they are removed from their hangers and stacked fl at. This will also save processing time. Clean closets and consignment checks are both very very good things! Spanky’s slogan for 25 years has been “We are your Family’s Partner in Savings!” and that’s what it is all about. Details are available on the website or a quick call can answer any questions you might have.

Special Program for Teens

Your teenager is going to love this! Spanky’s has a program that has “genius” written all over it and promises to help with the never-ending problem of having nothing to wear while their closets are bulging. Teens who open an account and successfully consign their fi rst ten items will receive an “I Consigned Ten” card that is good for $5 in credit at either store. This encourages students to learn that there is value in taking good care of their clothes and that they can receive monetary rewards for their small investment of time. Both Spanky’s locations have special junior departments for young men and women that are full of must-have brands and styles at a fraction of the cost. Now, that’s just plain smart!

Better than finding money in your couch cushions!

Spanky’s hears lots of inspiring stories about how their loyal consignors have used the extra money they found disguised as “stuff in their closets.” Some examples?

• One young mom takes half of her consignment check and puts it into the grocery budget. The other half is earmarked for their family travel account and they take vacations. And they aren’t just camping, either! How many families can say that their closets have been their ticket to Disneyworld?

• One father with a great eye for labels and value has earned over $5000 in consignment monies over the years and has not only started a pretty nice college fund for his daughter, they have made lots of great memories with the “fun money” they have had to spend together.

• How about the customers who have lost significant amounts of weight and kept their closets lean and mean as well as they consign those garments that are too large and purchase other things for their wonderful “scaling back?”

• Looking for a way to put extra dollars into your retirement account so your financial future can be better just by prudent investment of these extra dollars? It can happen!

• How many kids are looking for ways to buy and fuel a car? It’s tough for families to provide these extras. Consigning at Spanky’s can be a very creative way to finance these dreams and teach real lessons about planning and saving.

So, the question is “What would YOU like to do with some extra money?”

Both stores have had a MAKEOVER!

If you haven’t been into a Spanky’s location recently, you will have missed the new look. Both stores have just undergone redecoration projects and you are invited to stop by and check it out. Spanky’s offers a fun shopping environment that is well-organized and family-friendly. Whether you are purchasing or consigning, their staff is knowledgeable and welcoming. And, you are going to like the feeling of still having some of your money in your pocket as you walk out with a full bag of things you’ve purchased from their racks. A’s in economics are easy and you’ll be in the running for “best dressed” as well!

To learn more about Spanky’s and consignment visit www.shopspankys.com .

A few tips:

1. Sort your items carefully. Spanky’s is looking for things that are still current and in good condition. Be sure to call or go online to see what season’s items are being accepted and the maximum number of items to bring in.

2. Bring these items in an unfolded stack to either of Spanky’s two locations:

812 Main Street 13503 SE Mill Plain Blvd Downtown Vancouver (by Craft Warehouse) (360)693-5115 East Vancouver Monday-Saturday 9:30-5:30 (360)260-0791 Mon-Fri 9-7.

Click to close window