Pass It On ...
Wisely!
Send
your donations,
expired consignments, and unsold merchandise to where they will
do some good.
Resalers just can't STAND to let perfectly-good things go to waste. Even when they aren't saleable,
there's still a lot of use left in so many things we come across. But there's a problem. Our local charities have a limit on what they can handle, and there are things that
simply cannot be passed on with enough efficiency by them. So what do you do? Look for sources which need what you have to
give.
Yes, it's a little
more trouble than bundling everything up, but isn't our world worth it?
| The basics of
finding a worthwhile charity to redistribute items in a responsible and
agreeable manner:
Don't supply your competitors. You do not want anything that has been in your shop to be sold elsewhere. It will damage your reputation and your sales. (This point is examined more deeply in the Manual.) Use, instead, free clothing pantries in your area. When dealing with charities, if you do not know them, look them up. Some ratings sites include Charity Navigator and Give.org (part of the Better Business Bureau). Do not burden your charities. Handling and disposing of unusable items costs these folks time, effort and money. Make sure they want the specific items before you send them. Just like your shop, they can be overwhelmed with what is, basically, trash. You know it, they know it. Sometimes, things really are ready for the trash heap. Make sure you agree with the charity's mission and approach. No sense helping groups with whom you disagree. Many charities make a big to-do over the UNdesirability of "used" items, for example. |
What do YOU want to Pass On... Wisely?
Clothing: Clothes
that can be worn to work are always needed. Some web sites to steer you in
the right direction: The
Women's Alliance and Dress
for Success. For mens' suits, see Career
Gear. Mastectomy bras, swim wear, and other specialty clothing items
are needed by breast cancer survivors who often cannot afford these costly
items. Contact your local chapter of the American
Cancer Society for information.
Shoes: Wearable, just not terribly saleable,
shoes? Soles4Souls distributes
them.
Furs: Personally, I
think this is a little weird, but The
Humane Society gives furs to animals.
Electronic Goods:
Got computers, printers, back-up drives, scanners, digital cameras, fax
machines, photo copiers, and multi-media equipment? Try asking a teacher
or principal if a local school can use them. If possible, it's nice to send someone
over to the school who can set it up. If you cannot find a local group
(remember, transportation can add to the cost of recycling...and of course
to the cost to the environment!) check the EPA's
eCycling Links.
Cell phones: Donate
them to people who may need 911. To find a local group, check Charity
Guide's suggestions.
Books: Your local library probably has a Friends of the Library Book Store or Sale. Boys and Girls Clubs often have libraries, if you have suitable books. Check Adopt-a-Library for libraries further afield. By donating coloring books to local emergency rooms, you can make a difference to a frightened child (be a sport and include crayons).
Eyeglasses: Most Lions' Clubs collect glasses of any prescription for redistribution. New Eyes for the Needy does, as well.
Fixtures, equipment, and so on: Try FreeCycle, whose motto is "Changing the World one Gift at a Time". They utilize Yahoo Groups to swap within your community. Join, and post what you have to give away. Actually, FreeCycle allows most anything to be given away, not just furniture, appliances, and so on. A similar organization is FreeSharing. A great way to find an individual who needs just exactly what you have, and also, to look for something you might need. No selling, just gifting.
Household Linens: Towels and sheets can be used by almost any homeless shelter. If they are more tattered, try the animal shelter, which always needs bedding material.
Bridal gowns and accessories:
If
your town doesn't have a Making Memories event, it should. See Brides
Against Breast Cancer. Heavenly
Angels in Need transforms donated wedding and formal dresses into
burial gowns and angel wraps for infants of families who do not have
anything in which to bury their child. Donations can be mailed.
Prom dresses and accessories:
Princess
Project has their own and over two dozen other groups, including Glass
Slipper, listed, as well
as tips on starting your own prom dress giveaway.
Another source: Inside
the Dream is an organization that helps prom-goers. They're in
Ontario, but on their site they have listings of sister organizations
throughout Canada and the US
Severely outdated
gowns can possibly be used or re-worked into theatrical costumes by your
local amateur theater groups.
Suitcases, duffel bags, backpacks: Check local foster care agencies. A nice suitcase for his or her possessions can give a foster child a little more pride and self-confidence.
Wire hangers: As resalers, we get a lot of these. If your local dry-cleaner won't take them, here's a conscious-raising and word-of-mouth idea for your clientele: Go to Make Stuff for ideas on how to use them up...great suggestions that you could make into a customer service brochure for your clientele. Another alternative is to bundle them prettily with curling ribbon and your business card as a gift to buyers or an incentive to potential consignors.
| An alternative: Raise CASH for your charity. Have a Bag Sale, Dollar Rack, or "Name your price" event in your shop or borrowed space: So many charities need things we cannot supply directly: baby formula, rent money, cleaning supplies. Consider managing and manning a rummage sale with your (and your resale peers') unsaleables and donating the proceeds. Often, the charity can help publicize the event and provide manpower for transport, set-up, selling, and clean-up. You donate your merchandise, time, and talents, and your town wins. What could be better? TGtbT's Bag Sales, Dollar Sales, and BOGO Deals can help you raise the maximum amount from your cast-offs. |
What's my Ecological
Footprint? A thought-provoking interactive quiz
How to Recycle Practically
Anything has a lot of info...like what to do with old carpeting
SCARCE
collects everything from broken crayons to books. Great
example of what people-power can do on a local scale!
| TGtbT.com is the premiere web site for professional resalers. Start a consignment, resale or thrift store with our free articles and Products for the Professional Resaler. Interested in business plans, operating your shop, consignment software and selling secondhand clothes, upscale designer fashions, children's gear or used furniture? Consignment shops, resale stores, thrift stores and consignment sales use Too Good to be Threw. As a lifelong member of NARTS and a consignment consultant, our information is designed for the resale industry. | ||
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