Consignment Sales Increase Customers and Profits

June 5, 2009 · Filed Under Consignment Sales, Retail Store Ideas · Comment 

consignment selling adds to your profitsGift stores and floral shops with a loyal customer base are prime candidates to approach for selling your gifts and baskets on consignment.

This type of selling is an arrangement that works for designers who don’t have a retail store, have no desire to open one, and are willing to part with a percentage of each basket sale in exchange for exposure to a broad audience.

See the consignment article on GiftBasketArticles.com for more details.

Years ago, I partnered with a gift shop in my town for consignment sales. The shop was popular, but I was new to this type of selling and skeptical about the results. Still, I had nothing to lose (except my baskets’ value had I not written a contract) by trying.

The 12 baskets I created sold quickly, I was paid, and our partnership lasted for years.

Consider these three tips before selling on consignment.

1. Research the store’s traffic. Your baskets won’t sell if the shop has few customers.

2. Write a simple contract detailing the consignment agreement. At a minimum, document the start and end dates, liabilities, and payment terms.

3. Offer the store a small percentage. The agreed amount will vary according to your geographic location.

Consignment selling is a great alternative for designers working in cities or states with home-based restrictions. You’ll find two solutions for this in Home-Based Zoning Restrictions at GiftBasketArticles.com.