Money is inside your closet right now, possibly lots of it. It’s just hanging out, not doing anything. Never going anywhere. Taking up valuable space.
Hidden in plain sight, are clothes that never make the regular rotation. You can make money by sending them to consignment and there are two easy ways to go about it.
Consignment stores have upped their game over the years. If you do your research, you can find one that is full service and doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable when you bring in a haul. One I like is in my own backyard: ReChic. Maureen, the store owner, likes to think of herself as a consultant; she helps people determine what’s best to sell with ReChic versus another consignment option. She’ll even work with photographs if you are pressed for time and want to be sure it’s worth the trip. Whatever doesn’t sell, can be donated. You can get a tax receipt through the store’s customer portal.
Her biggest piece of advice when doing a closet clean-out is, “Get rid of it sooner than later. The longer you wait, the less valuable it will be to a consignment store.”
ThredUp is the second way to purge your closet fast. A closet clean-out kit offers large bags with prepaid postage that you can stuff with clothes in good, clean condition. You can pick up a kit online or in-store. After registering your bag online with your email, drop it off at the post office. You’ll receive payment in 4 to 6 weeks depending on backlogs. Anything that can’t be resold, is donated or recycled.
Another plus for ThredUp, they partnered up with The Gap and offer payment in gift cards to The Gap, Banana Republic or Athleta. I like Athleta as I’m a fan of their Brooklyn pants, perfect for travel or looking stylish and being comfortable running errands. Per the website, the payout is 15% higher through an affiliate and to me, that’s the only way to go with this service.
For the greatest payback, do both. Use your local consignment store for newer and in-season items, hung and pressed. The rest can go to ThredUp. In fact, bring a Thredup bag to the sorting process at the consignment store. Any unsellable items can go straight into the clean-out bag and dropped off at the post office on the way home.
What are you waiting for?
What great ideas! I didn’t know consignment had evolved like this; I need to do the same!
Rechic is the Nordstrom of consignment boutiques!
I did not know about ThredUp. Love this. I tried Poshmark awhile back and had zero luck. I usually end up donating everything to Goodwill but might give ThredUp a try. I purge frequently!
ThredUp is so easy! ReChic is pretty cool. I love Maureen! I need to purge more often; I need some Virgo power.