Is consigning right for you?

Need to clear out some closet space to make room for all the new goodies Santa left at your house? Consider consigning gently used clothes, toys and household items. As a bonus, you can use the money you earn to pay off some post-holiday bills.

Three second-run retailers share the secrets of the trade to help you get the biggest bang out of your consignment merchandise.

__Women's clothes and accessories__

"What I look for in a consigner is somebody who has high-quality clothing, accessories and purses and who changes up their wardrobe frequently," Cathy Davis, owner of Reruns in Cape Girardeau says. "If you've had this item for more than two to three years, I'm probably not interested."

Davis also offers this advice:

-- As you gather items for potential consignment, ask yourself these questions: Would I loan or give this item to my mother or friend to wear? Is it in great condition? ("I'm asking a premium price for used clothing, so it needs to be in really good condition," she says.) Is it in style at the moment?

-- All items must be clean, pressed and on hangers. Check the wear and stains on collars, cuffs, underarms, hems and knees. Make sure all zippers and buttons work.

-- If you smoke or store your clothes in a basement, air your items out thoroughly before you bring them in. "I can't have stinky clothes coming in here," Davis says. "That's not acceptable."

-- Shoes must be clean inside and out. Shoes with worn-down heels won't be taken. "If there's anything in this store that people are super picky about, it's shoes," she says. "I look for shoes that have basically never been worn."

-- Purses and wallets need to be wiped down. Check closely for that $50 bill you might have hidden in there.

-- Clean earrings with alcohol. Make sure clasps on necklaces and bracelets also work.

-- Don't take offense if the consignment store refuses to take some of your items. Retailers base their decisions on past experience and current customer purchases. "I have a small amount of space, and I can't put things in here that aren't sellable," Davis says. "I'm not doing you or my customers a service."

-- Understand the consignment store's game plan. Each store has different policies. How much will they sell your items for? Will they mark down merchandise that hasn't sold? How often can you collect your earnings? Get the answers to these questions upfront.

__Children's clothes and toys__

"The nicer the item looks, the more money you will make," says Crissy Mayberry, owner of Kids Bazaar in Cape Girardeau which carries clothing for infants through teenagers, toys, and baby equipment and furniture.

Mayberry also offers these tips:

-- Make sure you're consigning the right items at the right time. Drop off spring and summer clothes when the store is accepting them -- not necessarily when you think it's the right time. "We put out our fall and winter clothes starting in June, and we start taking spring and summer clothes in January," she says. "The earlier you bring it in, the more money you can make."

-- Don't hang onto things. Many parents keep their children's clothes in case they have another baby. But it's a risk not worth taking in the children's consignment world. "The resale value goes down the longer you wait," Mayberry says. "And, what's the likelihood that your next baby will be the same size, same gender and born in the same season anyway?" The same rules apply to baby equipment and furniture, which become outdated quickly or recalled due to the ever-evolving market.

-- Name-brand clothes typically sell for more.

-- If the outfit is part of a set, keep it together. The same goes for toys. Put pieces in a plastic bag so they don't get lost. Nobody wants a toy with missing parts.

-- Here's an easy way to stay organized when consigning your kids' clothes: Keep two tubs in your laundry room -- one marked for winter, the other for summer. As you do laundry and come across clothes that no longer fit, put the clean outfits into the appropriate tub. "Then you can just grab the tub you need and bring it in at the right time," Mayberry says.

__Athletic apparel and accessories__

"My name says upscale, so I'm really trying to carry the gently used apparel. Some of our stuff is still new with tags," says Terri Baker, owner of Top of the Line Athletics. The Cape Girardeau consignment store specializes in athletic apparel, accessories and small equipment for running, biking and hiking.

Here's what else Baker looks for in a consigner:

-- Cotton T-shirts don't sell in athletic consignment stores. Customers are looking for clothing made from materials like Nike's Dri-FIT.

-- Customers shopping for previously owned athletic wear want quality name-brand clothing. They can already get a good deal on the less expensive brands at stores like Walmart and Target.

-- When it comes to consigning athletic wear, the season isn't as important. Baker says she'll accept clothing any time of the year. Running shorts, for instance, can be used during the winter at a gym.

This story originally appeared in the November issue of Flourish. To receive Flourish at home, call 335-6611 or 800-879-1210.