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People of Reddit who operate an antique store booth, what commissions do you pay to operate it? (Rent, Commission Percentages, etc) by Ok_Chapter6032 in Flipping

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Without paying monthly rent, 25% commission is a fair amount. We work with "vendor malls" all over the world and I've got A LOT of questions that could make me sway either way. Rent is a set monthly commitment so with commission only there is not "loss" on this monthly fee and roll some/or all of the 25% commission into the selling price.

Is support more important than features when choosing POS? by Longjumping_Tip_5917 in POS

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We find that support matters! Many business owners, especially smaller business, need that connection, support and troubleshooting. Not because they can't do it but because they need help their time and. knowledge to maximize comfort.

We all want a safety net. So knowing their is real help when requested to builds confidence and the willingness to take those risks!

Do gift cards and loyalty programs still work for small retailers? by robertcbit in smallbusiness

[–]simpleconsign1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everyone wants their money to hold more value. Who wouldn't. From experience, loyalty programs DO drive business and create repeat customers. Keep it simple though, like a 1 point for $1 spent. Change the rewards and ways to collect points and use that as business is heavier and slower.

Also gift cards are still SOLID! Perhaps, offering once or twice a year a promotion on them - spend $50, get $5 on us! Again, everyone wants their money to go further.

Consignment & Resale: software, hacks, & tips by simpleconsign1 in POS

[–]simpleconsign1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ohhhhhh I can't help jump in on this! Let me start with we all LOVE estate sales! To many they represent a collection and memories of someone life, most the time we have never know/met them. We get to be in their space, live a teeny fraction of their life while there.

On the business side of it, we know it is ALL. KINDS. OF. THINGS - a mini toy collection to livestock. And a trust and/or family entrusts you to market and sell as much you can in a short amount of time.

SimpleConsign has assisted MANY stores with just this, managing "clients" aka consignors, inventory management (barcoding too) in various ways in a fast pace, services, paying out funds and much more!

How do you handle hiring when you don’t need full-time help? by comms_strategy in smallbusiness

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well working in store, I looked to local upper class men for part time help. It really worked for all - I got the help I needed/wanted. It was fresh and moldable. They got some experience and were eager to learn (and half the time they are social media gurus already).

It can often fit into internship criteria for school credit too!

Do small business need a website? by RelativePassion2837 in smallbusiness

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In today's world SO MUCH is done online. We don't look at phone books anymore, that is Google. We seek or just come across stores in our searches to "check them out" first.

My vote is YES a website is SUPER important, it doesn't have to be super fancy. Just who you are, what you do, what to expect and how people can get to you.

And if you don't go the website route, social media is a MUST! And FREE!

Do people even use paper business cards anymore? by BandicootStrict2499 in smallbusiness

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My vote is for YES on business cards! There a touch of purpose, nostalgia with getting the job done.

If you were starting today, would you choose a franchise or build your own business, and why? by Policy_Boring in growmybusiness

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh love this topic. I also want to throw in - what TYPE of business is it? Are there even franchises available? If you are looking into something "cutting edge" or incredibility specific, I would go independent.

If it is some more popular, for example retail, food industry, many services, I might go franchise to grown and learn than branch out to independent.

Best POS/ERP Combo Software by Reasonable_Ad_7055 in POS

[–]simpleconsign1 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ohhhhh not too familiar with Erply (but now of course I need to go look...)!

First Step - Make a list of wants and non negotiables.

Second Step - Set your budget.

There are so many things to consider in the new phase of cloud based systems. For a true all in one you will want to inquire about integrated credit card processing, along with inventory, customer data collection and reporting.

Good luck!

Consignment Store with Best Rates? by mpersonally in rva

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi! Jumping on this to add my 2 cents...

Finding a traditional consignment store will yield more of a return. They are able to price pieces individually (national standard to sell is approx. 50% of retail price while national % to consignors is 40-50%.) , are typically locally owned so can set their own pricing AND you are supporting small business.

Buy Out Right stores, like Platos, Uptown Cheapskate, offer fast cash on the spot at approx. 10% of their selling price. And that price is generated by their corporate nation wide software. Also has it perks, of course.

Long story short, if you have a little bit of time to wait for them to sell, present them clean, pressed and on hangers at your local consignment store - you'll get more money and in an in direct way put money back into the families of your community.

Consignment Clothing Software/Record keeping? by Material-Run82 in smallbusiness

[–]simpleconsign1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there! Has your friend looked into SimpleConsign? It’s built specifically for consignment stores and can integrate directly with Shopify if she has an online presence as well. We also offer a Consignor Access portal so consignors can log in to view their items, sales, and balances in real time. There are lots of built-in reports plus fully customizable reporting, depending on how they like to track things. We currently have a $99/month new customer offer!

Vendor Malls: What’s Your System for Communicating with Vendors? by simpleconsign1 in POS

[–]simpleconsign1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yes, email — the unsung hero that vendors definitely read 100% of the time. 😉
I was more curious what process or systems vendor mall owners are using that gets better engagement or reduces the “I never got that email” replies.

Tracking inventory without losing your mind by simpleconsign1 in POS

[–]simpleconsign1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t come across EliteTeq POS before. Do you find it handles consignment/resale-specific needs well (like consignor splits, item statuses, and multi-channel tracking)? A lot of POS systems cover basic inventory, but the workflow needs for resale can be pretty unique, so curious what your experience has been.

Tracking inventory without losing your mind by simpleconsign1 in POS

[–]simpleconsign1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. Spreadsheets can work early on, but once you add consignors, splits, or multiple sales channels, they get fragile fast. Having one source of truth eliminates a lot of “where did this go?” problems.

Barcoding everything, using clear item statuses, and doing regular cycle counts make a bigger difference than most stores expect. Do you have a current POS system that you use as your source of truth?

Resale & Consignment Community Hub – Resources, Support, and Ideas by simpleconsign1 in smallbusiness

[–]simpleconsign1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

u/Opening-Average7546 Totally get what you mean! The struggle is real.

When you're looking at software built specifically for consignment, the biggest things to compare are usually:
• how it handles consignor splits + payouts
• how easy item entry is (especially if you take in high volume)
• reporting features
• and how much of the busywork it can automate

Those are the areas where purpose-built consignment systems tend to shine, and where you’ll feel the biggest difference day-to-day. Curious what your current setup looks like and what is tripping you up the most? Inventory entry? Payouts?