Taking a Gamble

After a busy weekend of canning salsa, spaghetti and pizza sauce (over 50 jars!) I took off Monday to see if I could find some new things for my store.

I mentioned how prices are going up for me and where I would spend $1 (ONE!!!!) I now have to settle for 50% off.  Which means pants are $4, shirts and other items are closer to $5 and a pant suit would be $10.  Not terrible.  But I feel like I have to shop so careful now.  I'd hate to spend that money and get home to find pants had already been hemmed, or a stain somewhere.  Missing buttons I can handle - but not fixable stuff?  Nope!

I spent close to $100 on my experiment.  Here what I found (that I have listed so far - still working on that) and I'll keep you updated with what I made from each item. 

 Coldwater Creek Size 20 Red Jacket 

 Gap Jean Jacket Medium

 Ann Taylor Size 6 Red Plaid Silk Blouse (I love the French cuffs on this!)

 Tiara International Fall Harvest Vest - Small  

(Now don't laugh - this brand sells well and I would totally wear this if I taught Kindergarten.  Ok, maybe not - but I would love the woman who did wear it for my kids!) 

 Ann Taylor Black Velvet Stitched Jacket Size 4 Petite

 Ann Taylor Black Velvet Jacket Size Small

   Chico's Travelers Size 3 (XL) Jacket

 SCORE!!  I love it when I find this!

 J. Crew Kathryn Slim Fit Medium Shirt

 Gap Size 8 Brown Corduroy Jacket

 Lauren by Ralph Lauren Black Wool Coat Large  

SOLD for $30.00

CAbi Brown "Cinch It" Vest Jacket Large

I'll have to post the rest of what I found later on when I get it listed.  I'm hoping that I will break even or make some profit on this sooner than later!  I felt a little sick spending that much money but then I did buy things I can list at higher prices - so maybe that is the trade off - right?

Garage Sale Stories - Saturday 8/25

FINALLY!  

A beautiful chorus of angels that sound somewhat like a cash register have been singing!  Sales have thankfully picked up and I am listing like a crazy girl to brace myself for when I can no longer pick things up for cheap.

This meant heading out Saturday morning with my sidekick, Greg.  As always, he found more Legos and Nerf guns.  He never tires of them.

I found:

 Disney Store Sleeping Beauty Aurora dress Size 2/3T

 NWT Eddie Bauer Plaid Pleated Skirt Size 10

 Gap Kids XL (12) Red Satin Circle Skirt (Is this adorable or what!!)

 Venezia Jean Jacket Size 22/24

 Old Navy Maternity Jean Jacket Large

 Eddie Bauer Red Plaid Shirt Large Tall

 Banana Republic Black Velvet Jacket Size 00 Petite

How did you do?  Pick up anything fun?

Linking up to 

Apron Thrift Girl

Something's Wrong

I don't know WHAT is going on but it's been dead dead dead all week long.  All summer long really.  

I've had maybe 3 sales this week.  It's crazy and I just can't figure it out since I'm not really doing anything differently.  I'm not making nearly the money I did last year and it's very frustrating trying to figure out why not when I feel like I have better inventory.

I cleaned out some of the kids closets this week and listed a few items that way.  Looking forward hitting the yard sales tomorrow morning and hopefully finding a few new things to list!

 Jona Michelle Blue Circle Dress 4T

 Jona Michelle Pink Scallop Dress 5T

 Gymboree Cowgirls at Heart Shirt and Hoodie 3T

Unisex Bib Overalls Snow Pants 5T

Garage Sale Stories - Uh Oh

I received some very upsetting news yesterday that my main source for clothing is now changing price policies.  

 I don't have a lot of choices where I live of places to go and get inventory.

So it's either I start paying more or I REALLY need to hit some yard sales hard in the next few weeks before the cold weather kicks in.  

Grrrr.....

I didn't go at all this past weekend because we took these three sillies to St. George for the weekend.

 We mostly swam and checked out some ghost towns and dinosaur museums.  And swam some more.  It was great to get out of town, even if it was only for two nights.

 I came back to a few good sales which at least paid for one of the nights away!

Trying to list some of the random things from my pile.  I will go shopping and get excited about a few select items and get those online.  Then the rif raf sits in a bag until a non-shopping week.  Because khaki pants are just not fun to list.  Unlike something like this, which IS fun to list....especially with a good profit margin!

 J. Crew Heidi Dress - sold out online size 10

Lauren by Ralph Lauren striped shirt with logo size 6 

 

 Micheal Kors Skirt size 14

American Girl Snowflake pajama set, Medium.  

Also sold out online

 J. Crew Red Plaid Skirt - size 4 NWT

 Lane Bryant Wrap Skirt size 16

I would love to hear, if you sell clothing, how much you pay per item.  I'm wondering if maybe I just became spoiled and the prices I paid were not the norm?

Quick Sale!

I just purchased this Ann Taylor Loft Skirt on Monday and sold it today for $25.00 plus shipping.  

I love it when a quick sale can pay for an entire shopping trip!  

All the other 20 something items from that trip will now be pure profit!

(Which is good - I have to start paying Lauren's world most expensive preschool tuition next month!)

Researching Your Items

 It's always worth a few minutes of researching your items online to find out more about different or unusual items you pick up.  Most often the name rings a bell or you can just tell an item is special from the way it's made.  

I would hate to rush into listing something, put a price tag of $15 on it when it might be worth 10 times that!

Not that I've ever done that (cough cough)

Some recent finds:

 Dereon Cropped Angel Wing Jacket - Size Small

This is from the line Beyonce's mom, Tina Knowles, has.  Actually, I believe they have three lines right now.  House of Dereon, Dereon and now Sasha Fierce where they sell hoochy mama clothes for tween girls.  Because every 13 year old needs oversized sunglasses, studded heeled shoes and large metal chain necklaces.  

(Lauren is never growing up....I forbid it)

This is sort of a random brand I had never heard of until last year, that I now always buy - TravelSmith.

 

TravelSmith Indispensable Long Dress - XL

TravelSmith packs really well and are made for those international jet setters.  Which used to be me until I had kids.  Maybe again someday?

Let's go ahead and answer that with:

"Sure!  Of course!  Those kids can pay their own way through college so you can retire and travel the world!"

One of my favorite finds lately has been this garage sale $1.00 gem....

 RYU Khaki Ruffled Collar Coat - Large

How could I leave that ruffled neck and puffer sleeves behind?  I think this coat is darling but I had no clue about the brand until I came home and did a little hunting online.  

 Hoping this might fund at least the one way ticket somewhere?

Have you ever picked up an item "just because" only to find it was a hidden gem?

Garage Sale Stories - Saturday 8/4 - COATS!

Greg did it again - he came and woke me up at 7 a.m., dressed and ready to go.  I was SO tired - but pulled myself out of bed for my yard sale date. He rarely lets me hold his hand in public anymore so I'll take all the time I can get with this boy while he still lets me!

Found these Ed Hardy by Christian Audigier jeans at the "formerly employed by Hooters" yard sale.  

Not kidding, if you've ever wanted anything Hooter-wear, it was available.  

 Gap 1969 Limited Edition denim jean jacket - Medium

 YMI Corduroy tie waist jacket - there are pleats in the back that make this look slightly steampunk to me but I wasn't sure if it was enough to list it as such?  It's a Juniors Small and brand new!

 Chico's Black Paisley Coat - Size 2 (12/14)

 Boys XL 14 Wool Zip Front Coat from Old Navy in excellent condition!

  

Eddie Bauer Brown Corduroy Coat - Large

 Anthroplogie Halogen Brown Corduroy Jacket  - Size Large

Sundance Catalog Peach Corduroy Jacket - Size 6

And this American Girl gem I picked up a loooong time ago.  Missed the Christmas season to sell this but decided it was time to start listing winter items now.  Might as well while I have the time. It sold within 2 days for $40 + shipping!

Have you started listing winter items yet?  Or do you list them all year long?