11 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Consignment Stores

Our goal at Current Boutique is to provide a fun, inviting environment for customers to fall in love with the consignment process. So today I’m here to give you the inside scoop about what consignment stores are - and the incredible benefits for consignment buyers and sellers. Here are 11 things you probably don’t know about consignment stores.

What are consignment stores?

The term “consignment stores” used to refer to neighborhood businesses who bought and sold local goods. They would usually offer a percentage of profits after the item sold or they’d give you the merchandise back.

Now, the digital era has transformed the consignment shop model dramatically. It’s no longer like a local pawn shop. Online consignment stores mean you can buy and sell goods from anywhere across the nation (or even across the globe). The goods are high quality, and these shops are run like any other major fashion organization.

Check out the top 7 websites to shop secondhand here.

There are also more specialty consignment shops now, like stores specifically for furniture, electronics, or purses. Current Boutique specializes in selling pre-loved designer fashion items - both timeless and trendy!

So what are some cool aspects about consignment stores? What do you need to know if you’re going to get involved in the fashion consignment lifestyle? (P.S. Welcome to the lifestyle! Trust us, you’ll love living the pre-loved life.)

1. Consignment stores aren’t the same as thrift stores

Thrift stores are the cousin to consignment stores, but they’re not the same thing. Thrift stores usually accept any and all items, even if they’re damaged or worn. They don’t typically authenticate merchandise, and they may not clean the items. Consignment stores tend to do a little more digging into the items they procure, and they’ll always clean and market the products.

Plus, thrift shops often operate on donated merchandise. Consignors, on the other hand, purchase outright from or split the profits with the seller. This means you can actually make some cash on the goods you’re getting rid of.

(Note: Some people use the terms “consignment stores” and “thrift stores” interchangeably. We sometimes use them as synonyms too! Just do your due diligence and research the organization or store individually to make sure you’re getting the best products at the right price.)

2. The inventory is always changing

One of the coolest parts about consignment stores is that the lineup of merchandise changes daily (sometimes even hourly!). What we stock is dependent upon what we buy from sellers. So you could browse our website or window shop our stores every single day and see new items displayed! If you’re obsessed with shopping like we are, consignment stores let you always discover new pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Check out our newest arrivals with our Just In tab.

3. You can find super unique pieces

At Current Boutique, we only resell pieces from designers that we know and trust. Still, you never know what kinds of styles or looks will come through the door. You might see a Chanel dress from the ‘80s or a limited edition Oscar de la Renta. We love that you never know what’s going to end up in the store - and you can find some truly special gems.

What I love about running a consignment shop is watching the different trends and eras walk through the door. You realize just how cyclical trends are - what was hot in the ‘70s is back in 2020, and the jewelry from the ‘40s is worth a fortune now. Fashion styles are always trending, but there are some timeless and recurrent pieces too.

4. We have buyers

Just like any other fashion store, we have “buyers” that select the clothing that will go on our shelves. We curate our store to fit the season and the trends, while also offering some one-of-a-kind finds.

When you look through quality consignment stores, you should find that the pieces are designed to meet their specific audience’s needs. It definitely shouldn’t be a hodge podge of anything and everything they can get their hands on.

5. Consignment stores don’t accept everything

We care about the clothes we put in our store. Although we’re in the business of making money, we’re first and foremost in the business of making our customers happy. We’re not going to sell items that are super worn, broken, or tarnished. Our buyers are trained to triple check everything to make sure we only purchase the highest quality goods for our customers.

We believe that pre-loved items should feel just like new when you put them on!

6. We check authenticity

At Current Boutique, we carefully inspect everything that comes through the doors to guarantee authenticity. We especially check leather goods, gemstones, and gold and sterling silver.

Our buyers also look specifically for natural fabrics like cotton, linen, silk, cashmere, and wool. We love that consignment stores are a sustainable model, so we look to further that sustainable impact by buying primarily high-quality, eco-friendly materials.

7. We clean everything

Everything that comes through the boutique gets a thorough cleaning. It has to be up to our high standards before it gets put on a hanger. Most high-end consignment stores have their own cleaning process to ensure you’re getting fresh clothes without stains, stinks, or marks.

8. The environment loves consignment stores

When you purchase from us or resell your items with us, you radically minimize your impact on the environment. We’re reducing the amount of goods going into landfills by giving merchandise a new home. Consignment stores radically increase the lifespan of clothing. Click to learn how consignment stores are reducing waste and enhancing the sustainability of the fashion industry.

Plus, at Current Boutique, we emphasize sustainability. We love designers that promote socially and environmentally friendly practices, and we’ll sometimes even pay more for sellers with sustainable designers.

9. We’re the best way to get paid for your items

Selling with Current Boutique is insanely easy. You’ll love turning your pre-loved gems into cash. We pay for all of your merchandise up front, so you know exactly how much you’ll be getting in your pocket. Plus, consignment stores typically offer the most competitive pricing for your goods compared to other methods of selling.

Plus, it’s a lot less work. The store buyers tell you which of your goods we’re going to buy, we pay you, and you give us or send us the goods. You don’t have to try to list and market the products yourself, like you would on Poshmark or Facebook Marketplace.

(Some consignment stores have the split-profit model. This means you get a portion of the profits they make after your item is sold. Current Boutique don’t do this because it’s too uncertain—we want our sellers to get paid!)

Check out the top brands you can make money reselling.

10. We’re the cheapest way to buy designer goods

Do you love fashion as much as we do? But don’t want to break the bank by indulging? Consignment stores have to be your go-to option, then. You get the highest quality luxury goods at a fraction of their retail price. Seriously, sometimes you can snag a deal for hundreds of dollars off.

Getting luxury goods for cheap is just one of the reasons why preloved fashion is the hottest craze right now.

11. Some consignment stores are online and in-store

Consignment stores can be all online, all in-store, or a mixture of both. Current Boutique offers it all! Want to browse from the comfort of your home? You got it. Want to shop the store and touch the goods firsthand? Check out our store locations.

We’ve had some of our online shoppers go out of their way to visit our Virginia stores just because they love us so much!

We know you’ll love us too. Start browsing Current Boutique to find the hottest items your closet is dying to have—or start selling with us to transform your pre-loved gems into cash!