How to consign

Why should you consign?

Here are some reasons we have heard over the years:

I only wore it once.
I need room in my closet.
I have other similar items.
I was tired and hungry when I bought it.

How does consignment work at J. Colleen?

It's simple. Come in or place a call to the store or email the Store Director at jcolleenboutique@yahoo.com and we'll discuss the type and amount of items you have to offer. First-time consignors need to bring in at least 5 items to open an account with us.

J. Colleen takes clothes 5 days a week during business hours. One of the hallmarks of our success is that the store is highly edited; therefore, we may only take 20% of what you bring in. Please ensure the items are clean, are in new or next-to-new condition, and on hangers.

What if I don't live in the United States?

Many of our consignors do not live in the U.S. Clients who live abroad can package up their prospective items for consignment and ship them to us for review. After we have edited your pieces, we will return any items to you that we do not feel are a good fit for our store. Please call or email to schedule. jcolleenboutique@yahoo.com

Do you make house calls?

As long as the labels are right for us and there are over 100 items for us to review, we will make a house call. There is an additional fee for house calls for new clients.

What types of items are you looking for?

Think of us as a mini-Barneys with a wider selection of brands. Our clients tend to like fashion forward, hip and modern labels - so Chanel, not Target. We do very well with handbags, dresses, and shoes. Of course, we are always looking for stand-out pieces from any particular collection such as Ann Demeulemeester's triple lace-up boots or Balenciaga's navy structured blazer with baroque button closures.

How long do you keep the items?

Usually about 2 months; however, we may hang onto limited-edition and/or collectable items for a longer period of time. After that, you will have the option to pick up your items or have them donated. (See consignor agreement.)

How do you set pricing?

If a garment has tags, we will price it at 60% to 80% off the original price. If it is an in-demand handbag, is in stores now, or is a hot label like Chanel or Hermès, the item will be discounted to a lesser percentage. We usually sell at 1/3 of the original price. We will have your items in the store for 60 days; after the first 30 days of the contract, items will be marked down 25%.

Do you ever reduce prices?

Yes, after 30 days we mark the item down by 25% and/or we are having a special event. We also ask our consignors to give us 10-15% leeway when making a sale.

How does payment work?

We split the proceeds 50/50. Checks go out on the 15th of each month for the prior month's sales.

Can I use my credit for purchase?

You may use your credit in the period before consignment checks are sent out. Please note that once checks are cut, your available credit reverts to zero.

Do you offer trades?

We do not.

Will you sell my items on any online arenas in addition to your website?

We also have a strong presence on eBay.

Do you disclose who your consignors are?

Never. We have a very strict non-disclosure policy.

What is Re- Chic? Consigning, easy as 1, 2, 3

Step 1

Come into the store!
No appointment necessary!
Bring in clothing and or accessories that you would like to consign.*
*We accept consignment according to current season.

Step 2

J. Colleen will happily go through your items, and select the items we believe will sell best in the store. In addition, research is done to set competitive prices, but we will be happy to talk through the pricing with you if there are items you are price sensitive about.

You will receive 50% of the selling price and that amount will automatically go into an account as each item sells.

We will have your items in the store for 60 days; after the first 30 days of the contract, items will be marked down 25%.

At the end of your consignment term you have the option to decide whether you would like to have the non-selling items returned to you or donated to the store we than usually donate the item to a local charity.

Step 3

After 60 days, your contract is over, you can use the credit that you have accrued in your account as store credit, or take the amount as a check payment. However, there is no wait time to pick up earned funds, and if you choose to let it build in your account for future purchases you can continually accrue credit up to one year.

Consignment Tips

Most shoppers are hunting for trend-oriented, fashion-forward styles. Upscale boutique brands and designer labels are the most successful consignment items. We are also always happy to consider wardrobe basics from better brands, which are in great condition and in all sizes! (Sorry, no lingerie or bathing suits.)

Although your profit is tied to the selling price, if prices on your consignment items seem inflated, you may end up with items that don't sell. Rule of thumb is to price consignment at 1/3 of the original retail price. Demand for particular styles is also considered when we price your items.

We have years of consignment buying/selling history and are familiar with a large number of label names, pricing, and pricing resources. If you are price sensitive about any item(s) please let us know.

J. Colleen requires items to be clean and in good condition. Clean your items before you consign them. Check for signs of wear, spots, undone seams, holes, and missing buttons.

This small investment may make the difference between an item being selected or rejected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I keep track of items sold?

A: Call us at the end of the consignment. We're happy to let you know the status of your sold items.

Please only inquire at the end of your consignment term.

We will make funds available at the end of your consignment after your item has been sold and will mail your payment.

Q: What happens to my unsold items at the end of my contract?

A: You choose! You can elect to have your items returned back to you and/or we will usually donate to a local charity.

If you have any other questions or concerns please email us at jcolleenboutique@yahoo.com.

Contract for Consignment

We are very happy to have you consign J. Colleen, thank you! We will do our best to provide you a Savvy Shopping Boutique in which you shop and consign.

Item defects are sometimes found at a later date (i.e. after they have been selected). These items will be returned back to you upon notification or may be donated if you choose. You will have 7 days to pick up the items before they are donated.

Before consigning your items, be sure that if any item is expensive and/or you require a minimum amount from it that you let us know. We keep our prices very reasonable so be sure that you want to part with the item before consigning it! Designer handbags will be considered with the integrity of our clients to be authentic unless otherwise stated. However, J. Colleen and its employees have the right to identify or deny items we feel to be faux. Only designer handbags with authenticity cards or original price tags will be consider 100% authentic and priced to sell as such.

All items are subject to a 25% markdown after 30 days. Please contact us in advance, so that we may pull the items for you upon your arrival. Any unsold items after the two-month contract will be returned to you unless otherwise indicated to have the items donated. Please keep record of your consignment contract ending date. You will need to pick up your item.

It is the consignor's responsibility to remember the ending term date. Upon the courtesy email being sent, clients have 7 days to pick up unsold items before they are donated to charity. After 60 days, your contract is over, you can use the credit that you have accrued in your account as store credit, or we will mail you a check payment.

J. Colleen will not be held responsible for fire, theft, or damage to any consignment items. Although our store is equipped with alarm and surveillance cameras, J. Colleen reserves the right to not compensate or reimburse for any lost/stolen items.

We're looking forward to having the opportunity to begin a fun and successful style sharing relationship with you!