I have constantly sold 80-90% of my items every year. Paired with the way I shop I actually turn a profit even after my kids have worn the clothes for a year or two. Why is this: Because I price VERY competitively. I sell in a consignment sale that has 300-500 sellers, depending on location. That means 300-500 OTHER people are ‘competing’ with me for the shopper’s money. This is a general guide to help you price your items. Please understand you may want to take into account your location and the type of consignment sale you're selling with. Also this guide does not apply to boutique items.
- Birth – 12 mo: This is some of the hardest sizes to sale. Personally I try to donate or give away most of my baby clothes and not use up my selling space. About the only thing I will sell in this size is a real nice outfit. Most of this size should sale for $1 per complete outfit (that’s a one piece outfit or a top and bottom). Add $1 if it’s name brand, maybe add $1 if it’s in really nice condition, new with out tag (See below for new WITH tag), a very dressy outfit, or has accessories. Sleepers should sale for about $0.50 each. That means you should pair two together or make sure to mark them half off or discounted on the final day. Swim suits should be $1. Light jackets should be $1 and Coats should be $2.
- 18mo – 2T: This size is a little easier to sale, but not much. Most of this size should sale for $2 per complete outfit (that’s a one piece outfit or a top and bottom). Add $1 if it’s name brand or a popular character (Disney Princess, Spiderman, etc.), add $1 if it’s in really nice condition, new with out tag (See below for new WITH tag), a very dressy outfit, or has accessories. Swimsuits should be $2. Light jackets should be $2 and Coats should be $3.
- 3T – 10: These are the easiest sizes to sale. A good rule of thumbs is a complete outfit (Top and bottom, or a dress) should be priced the same as the size. IE a complete 3T outfit should be priced $3. A Complete size 6 outfit should be priced at $6. Therefore half an outfit (Just the shirt or just the pants) should be half the price. IE a 4T shirt should be $2, a 6x pair of pants should be $3. If you’re selling odd sizes (3T, 5, 7,9) then you have to round down or up. I decide which way to round depending on the style and brand: ie. Gap 3T shirt would be $2 (Rounded UP), Fancy Cherokee 7 pants would be $4 (Rounded UP), Plain Cherokee 7 pants would be $3 (Rounded DOWN). Once you have your base price you can then adjust it: Add $1 if it’s name brand or a popular character (Disney Princess, Spiderman, etc.), add $1 if it’s in really nice condition, new with out tag (See below for new WITH tag), a very dressy outfit, or has accessories, Subtract $1 for PJs or swim suit, Add $1 for a heavy coat.
- Examples:
- Dressy Gap shirt size 6 = $5 ($3 base price + $1 for name brand + $1 for dressy = $5)
- Gap tee shirt size 6 = $4 ($3 base price + $1 for name brand = $4)
- Cherokee tee shirt size 6 = $3 (It’s not name brand, dressy, or exceptionally nice so it’s just the base price of $3)
- Cherokee tee shirt with matching hat size 6= $4 ($3 base price + $1 for accessory= $4)
- Dressy Gap shirt size 5 = $4 ($2.50 base price + $0.50 rounded UP since it’s gap + $1 for dressy = $4)
- 1 piece or 2 piece swim suit size 4 = $3 ($4 base price - $1 swim suit = $3)
- Size 3T PJs = $2 ($3 base price - $1 PJs = $2)
- Size 3T Heavy Coat = $4 ($3 base price + $1 coat = $4)
- Gap Tee and Old Navy pants size 6 = $7 ($6 base price + $1 for name brand = $7)
- Gap tee size 6 = $4 ($3 base price + $1 for name brand = $4)
- Old Navy Pants size 6 = $4 ($3 base price + $1 for name brand = $4)
- Note the last 3 examples: Putting the pants and shirt together they only sold for $7, but separated they sold for a total of $8. Please don’t separate an actual outfit just because you think you’ll make more money. This is just an example of why “MAKING OUTFITS” doesn’t help. Check out Knowing Which Clothes to Pair for more information on this.
- 12 – 20 and Junior: These sizes are harder to sale than 3T-10, but a little easier than infant. Use the same rules as 3T-10, but all Sizes start with a base price of $10 for a complete outfit and $5 for pieces. Add $1 if it’s in really nice condition, new with out tag (See below for new WITH tag), a very dressy outfit, or has accessories, Subtract $1 for PJs or swim suit, Add $1 for a heavy coat. If a sale requires all Jr. be name brand then do NOT add $1 for name brand.
- Examples:
- Dressy Gap shirt size 14 = $6 ($5 base price + $1 for dressy = $6)
- Gap tee shirt size 16 = $5 ($5 base price)
- Cherokee tee shirt size Jr. 0 = $5 (It’s not dressy, or exceptionally nice so it’s just the base price of $5)
- Cherokee tee shirt with matching hat size 12= $6 ($5 base price + $1 for accessory= $6)
- 1 piece or 2 piece swim suit size Jr. 3/4 = $4 ($5 base price - $1 swim suit = $4)
- Maternity: Maternity is pretty much the same no matter the size. Here are my suggested prices based on several years of selling and shopping:
- Tee shirt $1-2
- Casual Top $3-4
- Dress Top $5
- Jeans $5
- Jean Shorts $2-5
- Shorts $1-4
- Pants $1-4
- Dress pants $3-6
- Casual Dress $3-5
- Dress $5-8
- Suit $10-$15
- Swim Suit $5-10
- New WITH tag: New items that still have the tag attached kind of have their own pricing guidelines. (If the tag is not attached then you would fallow normal guidelines) First make sure to remove any sales/clearance stickers. No one needs to know what you really spent on it. If the original retail price is on the tag then you should price the item at 60-75% of that price. If the original retail price is NOT on the tag (This happens a lot if you received the item as a gift) then estimate or find out the original price. Price your item for 30-50% of the original retail price and list the original retail price on the CCS tag.
- Underwear: Underwear should be about $0.25 each. This means package them in packs of 4-6.
- Socks: Socks should run $.25 per pair for infant size and $.50 per pair for youth.