Preparing for a JBF event can sometimes be overwhelming. A fellow JBF owner has generously shared a few tips and tricks!!

NOTE: Tagging and preparing your items does take time! So...don’t procrastinate! Many of our smart consignors start thinking of things to sell as soon as the previous event is over.

Place totes or laundry baskets in each of your kids' closets. Every time something comes out of the wash that’s too small, fold it neatly (reduces wrinkles, try to avoid ironing) and put in the basket. When those totes get FULL, switch them out for empty ones. Put a label on them that says "JBF FALL” or "JBF SPRING" and put them into the basement (or garage or spare room).

Several weeks before the sale, stock up on hangers and cardstock, tagging barbs, buy extra ink, safety pins, clear packing tape and a spool of curling ribbon ($2 in the party supply aisle and it’ll last you for YEARS). You can buy these things at Wal-Mart too. Remind yourself that yes, though you are spending $20-$30 on supplies to sell your items, it’s SO WORTH IT! When you break it down, you’re spending about 15 cents per item on tagging supplies. Compare making 60% selling a $10 pair of jeans ($6.00) to making a couple dollars selling those at a garage sale, and you’ll agree that it’s a no-brainer.

Here's a tip: keep your safety pins, scissors, clear packing tape and ribbon in a plastic wipes box! Having all these supplies readily available and together ends the frustration of sitting down to tag and having to constantly jump up and find something else you need.

When you feel the need to purge (or just find some closet space), get some empty totes out and go through your kids' rooms. Anything you pull from the closet STAYS on the hanger, because that’s a step you now can skip when tagging (if all the clothes in your house are on the hanger like a “question mark,” you'll be JBF ready). Anything that’s not JBF quality goes in a bag for charity. Stained items that are treatable go in a pile on the washing machine for the next time you do laundry. Shoes get a swipe of Magic Eraser if needed (or get tossed in that laundry pile too)

Usually at this point you should put all these totes in the garage and don’t look at them again for a while (see why planning ahead makes this easy?) Plus, gathering stuff weeks before lets your kids see if they’re missing something (then it can be retrieved from the garage) AND it’ll let you re-evaluate what’s left in their room. Right before the sale you might do another run-through and gather stuff that’s been uncovered that they really don’t care about.

Another tried and true tip…DON’T take anything (except clothes and shoes) while your child is there. They won’t miss the toys if they don’t see them leaving, but if they watch mommy box up something it suddenly turns into something they can’t live without.

Another mom mentioned she had to start using colored totes, because when she used clear ones her kids could see the stuff in them in the garage and want to get it all back out! So smart!

Next, decide where you’re going to get down to business, somewhere protected and clean and out of your daily living space is ideal (guest bedroom, basement). Hang all your clothing (left like a question mark). Keep or put it in size order. This will help you when entering your tags and less work for drop off. Pin together outfits, look for stains and tears, use Downy wrinkle release (I only pull out the iron if it’s critical to the outfit, such as a flower that’s all crushed up and wrinkled front and center, or a lace hem that’s not laying right). Use baggies for misc items like socks, accessories, small pieces that go with a large toy. Now take a break for a day (or a week) unless you’re really feeling motivated or are down to the wire.

Sit down at your computer and go to www.myjbftags.com. Get logged in, and go to “my profile” on the left. Check to see that your account says the sale you’re about to participate in. Make SURE your consignor number listed is correct (make sure it's your new universal consignor #). Also consider checking the “reduce” and “donate” boxes. I always do, and promise you’ll make more money if your items are set to reduce (even if you choose not to donate). If you are donating your items, be SURE and check the reduce box, otherwise you’re cheating yourself out of money you could be earning!

Bring your merchandise near the computer (or take the computer to the items, my preference). In the order that your items are stacked or hung, complete each tag. BIG TIME SAVER: SKIP the category column. It’s designed for sale owners planning purposes and I, as an owner, don’t use this information. Use the “TAB” key to move across the screen. When tagging clothes or shoes, and you’re doing something that’s size 6 just go to that column and hit the number 6 until you see what you want (6 mo, 6, etc) then tab over to get to the description. Much quicker than scrolling down every time.

KEEP YOUR ITEMS IN THE ORDER YOU ENTER THEM IN. After every 100 items or so, print those tags. NOTICE the order they printed in. Cut only a few sheets at a time, keeping those sheets in order after you cut. Now pick up the tags in order. I print 6 to a page, so I pick up tags and feel like I’m playing cards, top row 1, 2, 3, bottom row 4, 5, 6. Now keep that stack of tags neat! Now, break time!

Pull out your nicely organized stack of tags, and go to your organized stack of items. Now simply take the first tag to the first item and pin it on, continue on down the pile, pining on the right shoulder of garment when you are looking at it (left shoulder for real). If you are using the tagging gun, insert the tag through the original tag or the right armpit seam, NOT the middle of the fabric and make sure it is clearly visible. There should be no “memory game”, trying to figure out what tag goes with which item.

When you get to shoes, you may need to use ribbon to tie the shoes together, some toys and large items will require packing tape, some items need to go into ziploc bags.

Bag or box your items, keeping clothing sorted by size and gender. I always tag toys and equipment first then do clothes. You get the biggest bang for you buck with the big stuff and that is important if you run out of time.

NOW YOU'RE READY FOR DROP-OFF! I know this was long but hopefully the 5 minutes it took you to read it will save you HOURS of work and wasted time when getting ready for the sale.

The first time consigning is overwhelming to everyone, so that’s why planning ahead and finding your rhythm is the key to enjoying the process...well, that and the money. Our consignors earn, on average, around $300 each sale. So buying supplies and spending your time prepping your kids outgrown things should be well worth your effort.

Happy Tagging!
Caryn Berg
carynberg@jbfsale.com
email anytime with questions!