Consignment Sales Done!

I recently finished participating in my local Just Between Friends Consignment sale.  There is one up north from me in Farmington, Utah that fills two large out buildings at the state fair park.  I hate driving all the way up there but I love getting the check from that one, it's usually pretty decent. 

This year I did a little over $500.

Then the same franchise owner holds another one in the Salt Lake Valley and it has been bouncing around location wise the past three times.  What a bust, I only made $200 which I'm not sure is worth the effort to list, tag, haul and volunteer.  But money is money I guess.

Consignment sales just aren't that big of a deal around here.

Sales have been slow but then again, I haven't been listing a ton.  But with over 400 listings you would think it might be a *little* better, right?  Here are two recent sales....

 

 Anthropologie Maple Polka Dot Dress

Bought for $7 sold for $44.99

I love this Ralph Lauren dress, I bought this for $9.40 and it sold for $39.99

Prices for sourcing are going up and I feel like my profits are just going down.  I am not making nearly what I used to a few years ago doing this which is frustrating!

Just got back from a fall break vacation to the Oregon coast with the family, maybe it's time to step it up with ebay again and see if I can pay for Christmas!

Did I Miss the Memo?

Did the summer slump start early this year?  I've hit a new record - 470 items in my store, one return on the way and ZERO sales in FOUR days!

Dear Sales,



Please come back.  
I have sno cones and sandals to buy.
This is so depressing.  

Back From London!

It's difficult to keep your chin up and keep going with this job when sales get so slow.  As far as I've heard this is a common theme among sellers right now although I personally don't recall May being such a bad month usually?  I am dreading what July will be like. 

I've been gone a little while!  I had the chance 20 something years ago to do a study abroad in England with Brigham Young University.  It was honestly one of the best four months of my life!  I recently got back in touch with two friends from that time and we went back to London the first week of May.  

Our home sweet home back in the day - 27 Palace Court!

It was a DREAM trip!  I couldn't believe I was there again.  

I am in love with England and London never disappoints.  It was everything I remembered it being!  

We had an amazing week full of plays and musicals each night, touring Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, seeing things we missed before and a few new treats like the London Eye.  We were there when Princess Charlotte was born and everything was lit up pink for her.  I really think London is the best big city in the world and it was fun to pretend to be rich for the week, shopping in Harrods and having afternoon tea at Fortnum & Masons.  Sigh.

My husband and parents were so great at taking care of the kids so I could go for a week and now I am back to the grind.  List list list so I can save my pennies up to take my whole family back! 

Just Between Friends Spring Sale

I just finished a local Just Between Friends children's consignment sale this weekend and I am pretty excited about the results!

I know the Utah one isn't nearly as big as some of the other ones I have heard of, but either way, it's a great way for me to make a good paycheck and fast.  

This time around I brought 353 items. I sold 132 items and ended up making about $530!  

Some of these items were my kids clothes but the majority were items that I purchased at yard sales for .25-.50 cents a piece. 

I think that is a pretty good flip!

Taxes - No Bueno

Have you done your business taxes yet?

I always put it off until March, too much going on in February around our house. 

 

It's never as bad as I make it out to be in my mind but STILL...this year the results made me MAD.

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

 Extra cash flow?  Yes. 

Do I love doing it?  Mostly.

Do I think I am decent at it? Yes. 

Does it enable me to stay at home? Yes.

Do I HATE the inventory in my basement?  YES!

I've read that for a small business it's a good goal to have your profit be at least 20-25% of your totals.  

Mine is at 34%, so I guess I'm not failing completely.  

Have you done your taxes?  How are you faring with your totals?  Does it make you want to work harder or just give up?

I just gave up for 24 hours. 

Now I am back at it.

Ebay, I just can't quit you.

;)

Perspective

It had been a very sad week for our family, neighborhood and church family that came to an end yesterday morning when we learned of the passing of our sweet neighbor and friend. 

She was 27 and had been fighting lung cancer for almost two years.  

I hate cancer.  

Christina was just a light to everyone she came in contact with.  She was always so positive, so upbeat, she had a great laugh and you felt like you were her best friend when you were with her.  

She also loved music and was my daughters' piano teacher over the past year and a half.  I am so grateful that she shared that gift! 

Lauren is determined to have me find another teacher quickly for her because "Miss Christina wants me to keep playing and I know she will be able to hear me." 

She leaves behind her husband and darling five year old son.  It's just heartbreaking. 
You can read more about her story here. 
I hope I have a good week - everything I make this week I plan on donating to their family. 
Please help by donating and sharing this link if you feel it is something you can do.   
Linking up to Ivy and Elephants 
Coastal Charm

Call Me Nordstrom

FOUR returns in the last two weeks.

FOUR!!!

Whhhhaaaaaattttt is going on? 

Do they think my store with 430 items is Nordstrom?  

 Seriously.  

If it didn't fit, maybe you didn't read or check the measurements that I waste my time putting on each listing? 

 

We just had to pay $800 for car repairs yesterday and I've got a bill coming any day now for x-rays from Lauren fracturing her foot on New Years Day.  

Poor little thing had to wear a boot that weighed more than she did!

I'm still going through inventory and listing items that had fallen off.  

There were A LOT.  

???? 

A sale or two would be great right about now.  I keep reminding myself that we are only half way through the month.  It will be fine.  Right?  

Evil thoughts of getting a real J.O.B. have been going through my mind. 

How is January for everyone else so far?  

New Year Inventory Clean Out

I have let my inventory go all willy nilly on me.  

It's everywhere!  

I usually am super organized - mostly to avoid that dreaded "it just sold, now let me spend 2 hours tearing everything apart looking for it!" headache. (We've all been there, right?!)

J. Crew 00 Floral Mini Skirt 

I just did all my denim jackets (six were not even listed!) and now I am moving on to two bins of skirts.  

TWENTY TWO of which are not listed.  

What?  

Who runs this place?

They are just wasting space and not making me any money!  Somehow these items fell off my listings, I didn't re-list...who knows.  

I do know that I am not shopping this week or the next, I am just going through bin by bin.  Getting my inventory organized and EVERYTHING listed!!