News

Actions

Consignment shops slashing prices on designer items

Many items were originally purchased online
Posted at 6:35 PM, Nov 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-11-30 20:32:09-05

25 years ago Mindy Socher opened Baby Boomerang on Kennedy Boulevard. A consignment shop for kids. She's felt the ups and downs of retail.

The explosion of online shopping in recent years really hurt her business. But just within this year she had a 360 degree turnaround.

"People order things online and they can't return them or they are charged to return so they give up and bring it in," said Socher.

It's a win win. Consignors don't lose all the money they spent online and owners like Socher can retag them to sell.

"You can save a lot of money, I would say at least half," said Socher.

And on many high cost items.

"For example this lady ordered two ski suits they came in the package brand new with tags I don't know if they canceled their plans or what. But the suits are $50.00, I sell them at about half that," said Socher. 

There are countless new with tag items in her store from boots, shoes, clothes, including fancy holiday outfits, even toys.

It's not just stricter online return policies bringing in new merchandise.

"You can return them at the store but you may not have the time," Sara Quintero owner of Sara's Karma Chic Boutique said that's what she hears from customers all the time.

Quintero also said half the items brought in her store are brand new. She just got some brand new UGG boots with a Nordstrom tag. The retailer priced them at $179.55. She has not priced the boots yet, but said at her store..."You get items at a fraction of the cost."

Her savings are as high as 80 percent! She's said she can price it so low because of the volume she gets in.

"What surprises me is the designer labels that I get. I would think they would return them because they are such high ticket items," said Quintero.

Quintero gave the example of a Diane von Fürstenberg dress tagged at $348.00 she's selling for around $64.00.

Clothes coming from main stream department stores like an INC dress is about $28.00. The full retail price was $80.00 at Macy's.

Quintero adds, consignment shopping is also fun.

"You never know what you are going to get! I get new items every day," said Quintero.