Article by Lisa Crockett; photos courtesy of The City Consignment Boutique

In just a few weeks, hot afternoons will give way to crisper weather, and long sleeves will replace short ones. The coming of fall means many things – shorter days, cooler temperatures, and of course, new clothes. If you’re looking to make room in your wardrobe by divesting yourself of clothes you already have, finding a consignment shop might be the way to go.

“The demographic for our store is about 28-years-old and up,” said Staci Saliger, the owner of The City Consignment Boutique. “Our top sellers include brands like Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Talbots, and Banana Republic. We also sell Coach, Dooney & Bourke, and Tiffany & Co.”

Consigning clothing takes a little more time than a simple donation to a charity, of course, but if clothing is relatively new and in good condition, it can be a great way to earn some extra cash.

“Clothing should be in good condition, laundered, and on hangers,” said Saliger. “We’ll go over your items together and give you back what we can’t use.”

Successful consignment is an acquired skill, so Saliger has a few hints to new consignors. First, make an appointment to bring your clothes in. Check for stains, tears or animal hair and leave damaged goods at home. Make a trip to the store ahead of time to see if your clothing fits in with the overall feel of the store.

“We hope that coming in to consign your clothes is like walking into a friend’s home to talk with them,” said Saliger. “Visit the store to see if it’s a comfortable fit.”

Saliger prices the items based on her knowledge of the retail market, and said that clothing is usually priced at about a half to a third of what it would sell for new in its original store (this is usually based on a “sale” price.) The store will typically try to sell items at that price for a month or so, and at The City Consignment, consignors can monitor their items online with a system called “My Resale Web.”

“Not all stores have the ability to let their consignors monitor their items online,” said Saliger. “We feel like that is something special we offer.”

When items sell, the store takes its cut – at The City Consignment that portion is typically 60 percent – and then pays you your share. If items haven’t sold within a month, the store will usually lower the price. If an item still doesn’t sell, consignors have the option of coming to collect the item or allow it to be donated to charity for a tax write-off.

Saliger is a long-time veteran of the consignment business, and said she enjoys the community aspect of her store.

“We have customers come in from all over; we get a lot of our business through word-of-mouth referrals and I love the networking I see happening in our store,” said Saliger.

The City Consignment Boutique hosts regular after-hours events including a “Wine and Cheese” night on August 8. The store will be open from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and will feature home-based businesses that will come in to network and promote their businesses. Customers will receive 25 percent off their total purchase. Customers must reserve a spot at the event by calling the store at 303-741-8902.

The City Consignment Boutique is located at 7475 E. Arapahoe Road. For more information, visit them on Facebook.

Additional Options –

Here are a few other options for cleaning out the old to make room for the new: The Goodwill Donation Center in Castle Pines is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It offers a quick way to unload clothing and household goods in exchange for a tax write-off receipt. If you’re looking to get cash from your used goods, however, take a look at these options:

The Cotton Kloset, 16524 Keystone Blvd., Parker; www.cottonkloset.com. This store features brand-name clothing, accessories, home décor and furniture. Its website lists new arrivals, including details like brand, size and color. Consignors earn 50 percent of their item’s sale price and are paid by check in the store.

Ali’s Closet Consignment Boutique, 1610 E. Girard Place, #K, Englewood; www.alisclosetconsignment.com. Consignment items are evaluated by appointment Monday through Friday. Clothing should be consigned during its current season. This is an upscale shop that consigns items from Nordstrom, Dillards, Neimans, Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s and similar stores.

Act II Consignment Boutique, 1500 W. Littleton Boulevard, Littleton; www.myact2.com. Hot sellers at this store include Coldwater Creek, Chicos, Brighton and Banana Republic. Shopping online is available at www.shopact2online.com. Consignors do not need an appointment to bring items in for sale.

Plato’s Closet, 7600 E. Park Meadows Dr., Lone Tree; www.platosclosetparkmeadows.com. Not a true consignment concept, clothing is purchased by the store when you bring it in. Styles at this store appeal to a younger shopper – the store features teen and young adult brands.

Uptown Cheapskate, 8223 South Quebec, Centennial; www.uptowncheapskate.com/centennial. Like Plato’s Closet, this store buys items outright from customers and appeals to a young shopper. Top brands include American Eagle, Hollister, Roxy, Diesel, and Juicy Couture.