Hot didity blog

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Going...

going, going....get 'em before they are gone!!! Only 14 spots left to crop! We are still accepting consignors too! This is going to be our BIGGEST CONSIGNMENT EVENT EVER!!!!!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Consignor Tip #5

O.K. consignor's... it time to get packing!

All items (with the exception of large items) must be packaged in clear bags.  You can use any size clear bags, including sandwich size bags for smaller items. 

If you plan on selling a single item, and your item is in it's original packaging, for example; a pack of Thickers or stickers, you do not need to put them inside another bag.  Use the original packaging as long as it is not torn. 


When putting your items in the bag, it is a good idea to have contents visible from both side, so the buyer has a good feel for what it is they are purchasing.  This also means that small items should be placed in front and not hidden between two sheets of 12x12 paper.  

It's important that labels are taped to the inside of the package to keep them in one place.  Why you ask?... this is because we are looking for the label when checking customers out, and if you have discounted your item, and the label moves, it's likely that we will not see the discounted price marked on top of the original price.  For larger items, please be sure to securely tape your label to your item. 

Lastly, all packages need to be sealed shut to prevent damage and theft.  Yes... even if you are using flap sealed bags or bags with a Zip Loc seal, you will still need to seal the packaging!  Clear packing tape works great.  For larger items that may be in boxes, please be sure to seal them shut to prevent pieces from falling out or pieces getting separated.

Check out pictures on our web page to show how to package your product.
Happy Packaging!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Consignor Tip #4

Keep those groups laid out and grab a bunch of index cards and a sharpie... it's time to label and price.  You can use scrap pieces of paper, or cut 8 1/2" x 11" into smaller index card sizes... or I went to the Dollar Store and bought a 100 pcs. pack of 3x5 index cards for ... well you guessed it $1.00.

The labels must include the following information:
1.  Consignor #
2.  Price (in increments of 50 cents)
3.  Description (optional)

Although the description is optional, the buyer appreciates knowing the contents.  The description doesn't need to be long, but it should include information if the item is partially used or if there are known missing pieces to kits.  If anyone is selling Cricut cartridges, we do ask that you disclose if the cartridge has been downloaded on a Gypsy.

We get a lot of questions about how to price items.  The best advice we can give is... price it for what you would be willing to buy it for... not what you wish you could sell it for.  For example, you saw a jar of flowers and you had that moment... the 'OMG... I HAVE TO HAVE THEM!' moment.  If the cost was $4.99... and you made 3 beautiful layouts, and you only used half of them, you might reason and want to sell the remaining flowers for $2.50.  But, is someone willing to pay $2.50 for them... would you?  Items that are priced to sell, tend to sell.  We have given the bench mark that, 10 - 20 sheets of single sided pattern paper sell for around $1.00.  But, if you have very current product, and we all know that one sheet of quality, name brands, double sided paper, now goes for $0.89 or more.. you should definitely make the appropriate price adjustments and price accordingly.   


We've identified two different pricing strategies.  The first one we will call it the 'I have to have it' price strategy.  It's much easier for shoppers to have the 'OMG... I HAVE TO HAVE IT' moment, when the product is reasonably priced.  You may choose this strategy and keep your prices lower in order to sell more items all together.  Keep this in mind when you are making your groups too... so if you have 50 sheets of single sided pattern paper, you may consider making 5 groups at $1.00 each or 2 groups for $2.50 each.


The second pricing strategy we will call it the 'starting price' price strategy.  This is when maybe your not quite sure what price you want to mark your item, so you choose a starting price, knowing that you will have the opportunity to reduce the price if it has not sold.  At around 5:30p, when there is about 1.5 hours left in the sale, we will make an announcement letting the consignors know that if they would like to reduce prices on items that have not yet sold, they may do so at that time.  


Lastly we will be having the 'fire bin' sale at the very end of the sale.  This is when we will ask the consignors to determine a final price for all the contents in their bin, as is.  


Please note that lowering pricing on your items, and participating in the 'fire bin' sale are optional.  For any consignors who are not staying for the crop, we will have volunteers to help reduce prices on items not yet sold for you at a rate of 50%, and determine a fire bin sale price by taking an additional 50% off.  For example let's say you had $20.00 worth of product still left in your bin.  The volunteers would reduce each item by 50% and your bin would now have $10.00 worth of product in it.  Let's say $2.00 worth of product sold and your bin now contains $8.00.  The volunteers would determine your 'fire bin' price to be $4.00.

You will be amazed at how quickly $1.00 + $2.00 + $3.00 will add up! 


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail us at info@scrapagain.com
You can also find more information by reading the FAQ

Friday, April 5, 2013

Consignor Tip #3

Deciding how to group your product is much easier than deciding what to sell... so congratulate yourself on getting to this point in the process!!

There are a several different ways to group your product.  Consider the following:
1. By Theme: Baby Girl, Holiday, Birthday, etc.
2. By Type: Cardstock, Pattern Paper, Ribbon, Embellishments, Thickers, Stickers, etc.
3. By Condition: New Product, Used Product, Scraps of paper
4. By Color: All shades of one color grouped together- this works well for cardstock and pattern paper.
5. By Kits: All remaining product and embellishments from a kit or paper line.
6. By individual item
Alpha and Thickers Bundle

Find a good amount of space, like your kitchen table or counters, and begin sorting through your stash and grouping them in piles.  You may decided to group them in a combination of ways... like your cardstock and pattern paper by color an your embellishments by type.  You may even decide to make up your own themed kits by putting together a few pieces of cardstock, pattern paper, and adding a few embellishments that coordinate.  If you have a lot of one product, consider making smaller groups.  For example, if you have a lot of Halloween product, make up 2 or 3 kits.  Consignors have had success pricing individual items like a package of brads, Thickers, or  embellishments.  The idea is to present your product in a way that would appeal to the buyer. 

 Basic Grey Hopscotch Kit with embellishment

Lastly... as you sort and group your product DO NOT create a 'return to scrap-stash' pile!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Consignor Tip #2

Deciding what to sell may not be as easy as you think.  This is because we are reasoning with ourselves on why we should keep the item... saying we can never have too much of one thing (right?1... like cardstock!).. but the truth is, we can have too much! So, here are two tips to help decide what to keep or let go of.

#1:  If you were in the store right now would you buy it?... if no, then it goes in your designated box, bin, or drawer.

#2:  Decide on a reasonable time frame like 6 mos, 1 year, or even 2 years.  Then, as you go through your scrap-stash, keep only those items you purchased within that time frame.  Items purchased beyond the time frame should be added to your designated bin, box, or drawer (and keep it their!).  If you haven't used it by now, chances are you not going to use it... and you most likely already bought something more current to use in it's place.


Also consider smaller quantities of one product.  For example, if you bought a jar of flowers and there are 175 pieces in the jar.... ask your self are you really going to use all of them?  If not, keep only what you think you will use and sell the rest.  The same goes with brads, buttons, and ribbon.  If you bought a spool of ribbon with 3 or 10 yards on it... keep for example 1 yard instead.


Be sure to go through your stash of 'used' product too.  If you are holding onto stickers, thickers, paper, and other product with hopes that you might use them again one day, you should consider selling these items.  Again, decide on a time frame.  If you haven't used the remaining items in the last 6 mos or 1 year, then add them to your designated bin. 

More tips to come on packaging, labeling, and pricing.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Consignor Tip #1

Our Consignor 'how-to' series is back!!
We are so excited for the upcoming scrapbook sale (Sat., April 27!).  Registrations are coming in daily!!  With the sale taking place in about 3 weeks, we are back sharing our series of tips for all consignors to help you get ready for the sale. 
Tip #1: Designate a box, bin, or drawer, and as you start to go through your scrap-stash keep all the items you are going to sell in one spot.  (And here is the hard part)...  Once it has made it's way to this designated box... it should remain in the box and not come back out to join your scrap-stash again!! 
 If you have a creative crew member who is interested in selling their scrap-stash, we are still accepting consignor registrations!! You can register online at www.scrapagain.com

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Your Vote - (Alison Kreft)

Alison Kreft is a designer for Websters Pages and her latest release is now hitting store shelves.  Let us know what you think.  Do you love the color pallet and pattern combos?  Submit your vote on our FB page!



Alison Kreft