Your How-to Guide for Successfully Consigning Clothing (Plus a list of consignment stores in the Lower Mainland BC)

In the summer I had my first experience with consigning clothing and that got me thinking about how there is so much talk about where to buy our secondhand clothing, but not as much about how those shops get filled up! This is why I wanted to share about how to consign your clothing, what is consignment, and a list of options for consignment stores in the Lower Mainland, BC.

What is Consignment?

Before we get into how to consign your clothing, you might be wondering what it means to consign clothing.

Consignment refers to an arrangement where you (the consignor) delivers items to a store (the consignee) for the purpose of selling them. The consignor retains ownership of the items until they are sold. Once the items are sold, the consignee usually takes a commission or fee, and the remaining money earned from the sale goes to the consignor.

What I am talking about today is consigning clothing. For this, it means you would take your clothes and accessories to a consignment shop. The shop sells the items on behalf of you, the owner of the clothing, and only when the items are sold does the shop take a percentage of the sale proceeds and gives the rest to you.

Steps to take when consigning clothing

There are a number of steps to take when deciding to consign your clothing. Going through these steps below will help increase your chance of not only having your clothing accepted by the consignment store, but also for having them purchased by the store’s customers.

1. Choose your clean, laundered clothing and accessories.

2. Inspect your items for stains, rips, loose stitches, or other defects. Make sure to check armpits, hems, zippers, and necklines, as well as any other areas that have a lot of wear.

3. Visit the store, if possible, to get a feel for what they sell. This will help you narrow down your items and give you more success by bringing items for the store’s target audience.

4. Find out the store’s requirements–what type of items are they looking for and what are they not? Some stores focus on luxury items and some on vintage, so you want to ensure you are taking in the right type of items. Some stores do not accept shoes or certain types of accessories while others love accessories.

5. Check what season the store is accepting items for. Even if it is a Summer month, the store might already be stocking for the Fall season.

6. Write a list or take photos of the items you are taking in for consignment so that you have a record. Don’t forget to update the list after the store has sorted through your items to have an accurate record of what the store has kept.

7. Note in your calendar the contract end date so you can follow up with the store if you do not hear from them and so that you can be ready to pick up your unsold items.

8. Decide if you want to pick up your items or if you want to have them donated (if this is an option).

Things to look for and consider when deciding to consign

In addition to the steps to take above, these are a few more thoughts to consider when starting to consign clothing.

1. The type of items the store accepts. You need to make sure your items are in line with what is being asked for.

2. The number of items the store will consign at a time. If it is a small number, make sure to take your best options, but also take more than that number so the store has enough items to choose from.

3. How the store wants their items. Consignment store websites often have a detailed description of how to consign with them. Some stores hate hangers and some have bag size restrictions. It’s important to be respectful of what the store is asking for.

4. How the store arranges to view your items. Most stores will be by appointment or will have a dedicated time for you to bring items by.

5. Get familiar with the consignment contract and the way you will be paid. You need to be comfortable with the terms of the agreement you are committing to. There will be a percentage split between you and the store of the final sale price of your items. This may be done as a 60% to the store and a 40% to you split, but this could differ based on a number of factors.

6. There will also be a length of time that your items will be held for sale and possibly options for the store to reduce the price of your item. Make sure you are comfortable with the price amounts your items will be sold for.

7. Keep in mind that you will not get your full retail price for your items. And yes, you may make more if you tried to sell your items online yourself, but consignment stores are a great, stress free way for you to sell your clothing and accessories. They have a regular audience for your items and the benefit of change rooms for potential customers.

Advice from the experts

My first experience consigning clothing was this summer at Revival on Main Street. It was such a great experience and was the inspiration for this blog post. Because of that, I reached out to Christina at the shop to see if she wanted to share any tips and advice for consignors and she was so generous to share her thoughts!

A friend of mine actually worked in consignment store before and I picked her brain for some tips as well. Here are a few tips from some consignment store experts.

Christina at Revival on Main Street shares:

Once you’re ready to consign, it’s helpful to know a good list of shops that are willing to take your items depending on the type of clothing you’re consigning, REVIVAL likes to take in vintage pieces and Hunter & Hare and Turnabout take more contemporary pieces. Be prepared to visit more than one store to maximize your trip!

The best return on your item is to take the store credit option– this is typically 10-20% more than what you will normally receive from the consignment payout.

For a quick sale, there are great shops that do straight buyouts. Keep in mind, the buyout fee will be significantly less than consigning for the full duration of time. Some of those stores are Mine and Yours, Rewind, and REVIVAL. It’s best to call the store first to better understand what they’re willing to buy out and when is the best time to go.

Thoughts from a consignment purchaser:

Review the website thoroughly for what they are looking for. They collect items seasonally and often will not have room to store your out of season items.

Read the contract online and ask questions about it during your appointment. Understand the timeline of your pieces and how they will be sold. For example, if your item doesn’t sell in the first calendar month, it may be marked down–even if that means your item arriving on September 27th is getting marked down on October 1st. If an item is discovered to have a defect after it is accepted, your contract might specify this item can be discarded without notice to you. It’s your responsibility to understand the terms.

The biggest thing is to consider why you are consigning your items. Are they too old, too worn, too out of style? If you don’t want them for these reasons, others probably don’t either.

Consignment Stores in the Lower Mainland BC

There are a number of consignment stores in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland in BC. Below is a list sorted by area to get you started on your consigning journey.

With it currently being Secondhand September, this list of consignment stores is a great way to discover new shops to check out for some secondhand gems too!

Vancouver Consignment Stores

Revival on Main Street
Location: 2408 Main Street, Vancouver
Notes: Revival accepts “unique vintage items, one of a kind pieces and contemporary pieces.” You can consign up to five items at a time. Accessories and handbags are accepted, but not shoes.
Website: https://www.mainrevival.com/
Consignment info:
https://calendly.com/mainrevival/

Hunter & Hare Consignment and Quality Goods
Locations: 4366 Main Street, Vancouver and 227 Union Street, Vancouver
Notes: Hunter and Hare accepts “items that are contemporary or vintage, within current style trends.” Handbags, hats, and shoes are accepted, but not jewelry.
Website: https://www.hunterandhare.com/
Consignment info:
https://www.hunterandhare.com/pages/faq

Front and Company
Location: 3772 Main St, Vancouver
Notes: This shop accepts “clothing, shoes and accessories for all gender expressions and sizes.” This shop is “style focused and look[s] for contemporary and vintage pieces which are in season and on trend.”
Website: https://frontandcompany.com/
Consignment info:
https://frontandcompany.com/pages/faq

The Main Exchange
Location: 3728 Main Street, Vancouver
Notes: The Main Exchange accepts “current women’s styles from mid-range contemporary and popular brands such as; Anthropologie, Aritzia, Agolde, Doen, Everlane, Free People.” Shoes and accessories are accepted as well.
Website: https://www.themainexchange.ca/
Consignment info:
https://www.themainexchange.ca/pages/sell-with-us

Rewind Resale
Locations: 2331 Main St, Vancouver and 1204 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Notes: The Vancouver locations for Rewind Resale “source streetwear, skatewear, workwear, 90s/y2k vintage and styles.”
Website: https://shoprewindresale.com/
Consignment info:
https://shoprewindresale.com/pages/selling-vancouver

C’est La Vie Boutique
Location: 3247 Main Street, Vancouver
Notes: This shop accepts “Vintage prior to the 1990’s” and “Contemporary Women’s and Men’s clothing (on-trend, designer brands – exclusive of “Fast Fashion” Brands).”
Website: https://cestlavieboutique.com/
Consignment info:
https://cestlavieboutique.com/contact

The Only Vintage
Location: 1616 Commercial Drive, Vancouver and 1283 Davie Street, Vancouver
Notes: As the name suggests, this shop focuses on vintage items that are in “clean, good condition and in season.” This shop will not give you cash for your consignment, but instead “40% of the retail price before tax will be applied to your account for in store credit. Credit may not be moved between locations.”
Website: https://theonlyvintage.com/
Consignment info:
https://theonlyvintage.com/collections/consignment

Dragon and Phoenix Designer Consignment
Location: 3510 W 41ST Avenue, Vancouver
Notes: This shop accepts “designer mainstream and luxury designer merchandise and refrain[s] from carrying items that retail below the price point of Banana Republic.”
Website: https://dragonandphoenix.ca/
Consignment info:
https://dragonandphoenix.ca/consign/

Turnabout
Locations: https://turnabout.com/pages/locations
Notes: This chain has a number of consignment shops in the Lower Mainland including luxury consignment shops.
Website: https://turnabout.com/
Consignment info:
https://turnabout.com/pages/sellwithus

Luxury Consignment Stores in Vancouver

Style Reissue
Location: 6031 West Blvd, Vancouver
Notes: This shop is “committed to offering genuine designer products. [They] use third-party authentication to ensure the authenticity of the items.”
Website: https://stylereissue.com/
Consignment info:
https://stylereissue.com/pages/how-it-works

Modaselle
Location: 943 Seymour Street, Vancouver
Notes: This shop will buy your authentic designer handbag, accessory or jewellery. Not technically a consignment store, but an option if you have their desired items.
Website: https://modaselle.com/
Consignment info:
https://modaselle.com/pages/sell-to-us

Once More Luxury Boutique
Location: 1095 Howe St, Vancouver
Notes: This shop has a list of high end brands that they accept and you can read that here.
Website: https://oncemoreluxury.com/
Consignment info:
https://oncemoreluxury.com/pages/sell-with-us

Mine and Yours Luxury Resale
Location: 2061 W 4th Street, Vancouver and 418 Davie Street, Vancouver
Notes: This shop accepts “authentic designer, luxury and contemporary pieces in good condition.”
Website: https://www.mineandyours.com/
Consignment info:
https://www.mineandyours.com/pages/new-sell-to-us

North Vancouver Consignment Stores

Hunter & Hare Consignment and Quality Goods
Location: 225 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver
Notes: Hunter and Hare accepts “items that are contemporary or vintage, within current style trends.” Handbags, hats, and shoes are accepted, but not jewelry.
Website: https://www.hunterandhare.com/
Consignment info:
https://www.hunterandhare.com/pages/faq

Coast Consignment
Location: 171 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver
Notes: This shop focuses on furniture, not clothing, but a great option to look at if you or a family member are downsizing.
Website: https://coastconsignment.com/
Consignment info:
https://coastconsignment.com/how-to-consign/

New Westminster Consignment Stores

Grand Central Consignment
Location: 719 & 721 Carnavon Street, New Westminster
Notes: Women’s consignment shop.
Website: https://facebook.com/grandcentralconsignment/

Champagne Taste Home
Location: 1101 Royal Avenue, New Westminster
Notes: Just for something a little different, this shop is a furniture consignment store.
Website: https://www.champagnetaste.ca/
Consignment info:
https://www.champagnetaste.ca/pages/consignment-frequently-asked-questions

The Tri Cities Consignment Stores (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody)

Once Upon a Child
Location: 1300 Woolridge St, Unit 10/11, Coquitlam
Notes: This shop focuses on children’s clothing consignment.
Website: https://onceuponachild.com/
Consignment info:
https://onceuponachild.com/sell-to-us/

Maple Ridge Consignment Stores

Buttons and Bows
Location: 22785 Dewdney Trunk road , Maple Ridge
Notes: Women’s consignment shop.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/buttonsandbowsltd/

Surrey Consignment Stores

Rewind Resale
Location: 129 152nd Street, Surrey
Notes: The Surrey location of Rewind Resale accepts “contemporary, and luxury designer items.
Website: https://shoprewindresale.com/
Consignment info:
https://shoprewindresale.com/pages/selling-white-rock

Once Upon a Child
Location: 3238 King George Blvd., Suite 4, Surrey
Notes: This shop focuses on children’s clothing consignment.
Website: https://onceuponachild.com/
Consignment info:
https://onceuponachild.com/sell-to-us/

South Surrey and White Rock Consignment Stores

Turnabout
Location: 610 – 15355 24th Avenue, Surrey (Peninsula Village Mall)
Notes: This chain accepts “contemporary and sought-after brands ranging from Lululemon and Aritzia to Chanel and Hermes. Our extensive collection caters to all genders, featuring clothing, footwear, handbags, jewelry, and accessories.”
Website: https://turnabout.com/
Consignment info:
https://turnabout.com/pages/sellwithus

South Rock Resale
Location: 12871 16 Avenue, South Surrey
Notes: This shop looks for “contemporary, on trend and luxury pieces.” Items should be two years or newer.
Website: https://southrockresale.com/
Consignment info:
https://southrockresale.com/pages/consign-with-us

Secondhand Shopping at Consignment Stores

Consignment stores are a great way to shop for quality secondhand items and also a great way to pass on your own clothing items to others. Consignment stores give you a chance to keep your clothing out of landfills while also making a few extra dollars.

My experiencing consigning clothes this summer was such a stress free way to sell my clothing. I didn’t have to worry about arranging time for people to stop by from Marketplace and I didn’t have to worry about people wanting to somehow try on the clothes that I was selling. I just got to drop them off and the shop did all the rest.

Have you ever shopped at consignment stores? Or sold your own clothing this way?

Read more about our clothing and the environmental impacts in these great posts:

How Your Clothing Helps the Planet: 5 Easy Changes

Plastic Free July: Plastic In Our Clothing

How to Host a Clothing Swap

Submitting your email address gives permission for A Sustainably Simple Life to send you email updates.