Consignment Chic: Elevating Your Style Sustainably
In today’s fashion landscape, embracing consignment shopping offers image-conscious individuals a multitude of benefits. By exploring consignment stores, clients can access high-quality, designer pieces at a fraction of their original cost, allowing for the cultivation of a distinctive and stylish wardrobe without overspending. Additionally, consigning gently used clothing promotes sustainable fashion practices by extending the lifecycle of garments and reducing environmental waste.
I interviewed Jasmine Reeves-Garcia, owner of What Goes Around Consignment stores in Albuquerque to explain the benefits of consigning.
Behind The Business: The History
When did you start, “What Goes Around?
I opened the first WGA location in April of 2004. It was a cute little shop in the corner of a plaza, about 1200 sq ft. Word got out pretty quickly! We were able to determine what type of clothing and accessories we would be able to sell.
How and why did you get started with Consignment stores?
My love for consignment started early! I have always enjoyed getting “a deal”! You will often find me at thrift stores, yard sales, antique malls, or online stores like eBay or FB Marketplace. My initial vision was getting quality items at a bargain, all while enjoying a pleasant shopping experience and environment.
Inventory Selection and Quality
How do you curate and select items for your store’s inventory?
The mantra for inventory at the stores is “Name Brand, Current Style, Excellent Condition”. Consignors may drop off up to 20 items anytime we are open and we will go through them immediately.
What quality standards do you maintain for consigned items?
We ask consignors to bring in clean items, pressed and on hangers. This ensures items are “ready to sell”. In our experience, items will sell faster and command a better price the better they look. We are quite particular about the condition of items. Our customers hold us to a high standard that we are very proud of!
Are there specific brands or styles that are more popular among your customers?
Yes! We love mid-to-high end brands. Names such as Michael Kors, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, White House Black Market, Chico’s, Lucky Brand, Lululemon, Coach, Brahmin, Kate Spade, to name a few. We do NOT accept brands from discount retailers such as Walmart or Target, for example. With out inventory, there really is a broad range of treasured pieces to add to a closet. It’s what makes elevating your style sustainably so fun!
Pricing and Value
How are prices determined for consigned items?
The general rule of pricing is to start around a third of the retail price. If an item or brand is very desirable, Chanel, for example, pricing will be higher.
What strategies can shoppers use to find the best value in consignment stores?
Shop often! We receive around 2000 items in the store a week. We put out the merchandise hourly! The items go fast and are one-of-a-kind. Even though our pricing is amazing, we also always have items on sale! We only keep items in the store for up to 90 days, discounting after 30 and 60 days. Also check out our online store or FB Live Events, many items are seen there first!
Wardrobe Building Advice
What tips do you have when elevating your style sustainably while building a versatile wardrobe?
This is the very best way to do just that! Start with your timeless or capsule pieces. Then add in layers and accessories using the colors that Marla recommends for you. Cardigans, jackets, scarves, jewelry, shoes. Bring your base pieces and we will help you find coordinating items. We absolutely love to help you look and feel your best!
Do you offer any services, such as personal styling or wardrobe consultations, to assist shoppers?
Yes! We love to help in any way we can. Bring in items you would like to match or leave them with us, and we will pull items for you to try. We can coordinate entire outfits for you from head to toe, including shoes, purses, and accessories. We also have relationships with stylists, (like Marla!), that we can connect to help.
Sustainability and Fashion
Do you have recommendations for incorporating current fashion trends through consignment finds?
Try it! By shopping consignment, you are only spending a fraction of the cost to try a new trend or experiment in elevating your style sustainably. Our team members will be honest and let you know if we love the look on you, or if perhaps there is another trend that may be a better fit. We offer “Love It!” Guarantee. If it turns out you don’t love it after all, you may exchange it or take store credit for a future purchase.
In what ways does consignment shopping contribute to sustainable fashion practices?
We are such a “green” way to shop! Our inventory is all locally sourced from our over 10,000 consignors here in ABQ. There is no trucking in of merchandise or new manufacturing. At our prices you can purchase quality items meant to last instead of a “fast-fashion” purchase that can only be only a few times and then sent to the landfill.
Can you share any stories of unique or high-value items that have been consigned to your store?
Consignment stores are known for having unique and high-value items. Some we have sold over the years include: Louis Vuitton handbags and luggage, Chanel, diamond jewelry, designer shoes. We have also found items of high value that the consignor was not aware of! Once, we found a $10,000 gold and diamond Roberto Coin bracelet, $500 in cash in a purse, sterling silver concho belts. We are always delighted to let the consignor know of their treasure and let them decide if they still want to consign or keep their items.
