Dani’s Duds

Dani’s Duds was the first consignment sale I ever sold at and the second I ever attended. I love hand-me-downs and used items, but had previously written off consignment sales as too much work and too pricey. So this year I sold at Dani’s Duds as much for the experience of selling via consignment as for the money - another momentous mommy experience to add to the memoirs I may never have time to write.

As a seller… Consigning is a lot of work, but if you figure out an efficient system and have the space to save your baby and kid clothes, toys and accessories you can recoup some of your money via consignment sales. There are very specific prep instructions, and it took me a good deal of time to tag all my goods. I felt like a consignment sale addict holed up in my office after the kids went to bed every night the week of the sale. I felt like super mom as I sailed around the Dulles Expo with two kids in tow, a huge wheeled duffel and my sit and stand stroller loaded down with four years of clothes and books putting all my properly tagged items in their places. Then there was a moment when I went back to collect my unsold goods (non of which sold at our garage sale the following week!) while I stepped back and looked at all the parents scurrying around thought “we must all be mad!”

As a buyer… I was blown away by the quantity of items for sale. Things are pretty picked over by the last 2 hours of the sale, but there are still plenty of deals to be had. This is definitely someplace I would shop again.

Tips for success:

• Games are great sellers.
• Smart sellers either decorate their hangers so their unsold goods will be easy to collect or leave their leftovers to be donated to charity.
• Smart buyers sign up for a volunteer shift so they can shop before everyone else.

Overall I am glad I tried the consignment sale thing, and if I forget how much work it was I will definitely try again in the future. Their next sale is scheduled for 5/1-4/2008.