Consignment stores allow individuals to sell clothes, furniture or other household items for a portion of the proceeds. After an item sales, the original owner of the item and the consignment store owner share the profits. Consignment stores help families recoup some of the money they spend on clothing and gives them an opportunity to purchase quality clothing at reasonable prices.
The average start-up costs for a consignment store range from $2,000 to $10,000, according to Entrepreneur. Start-up equipment includes clothing racks, hangers, shelves and display cases. You also need a cash register, computer, printer and accounting software. If you don't already own usable retail space, you need to purchase or rent space for your store. If you took out a loan to get your consignment store started, you need to factor in your monthly loan payment when estimating your potential salary.
Consignment stores usually sell items for about one-third of their new retail price, according to Bankrate.com. Typically, the consignment store owner keeps 60 percent of the profit on each item and gives 40 percent of the profit back to the item's original owner. To increase earnings, price items reasonably and display items in an attractive and orderly fashion.
Consignment store owners earn an average salary of $42,000 per year, according to Simply Hired. However, average salaries vary according to the geographical area and according to how well you manage and advertise the store. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, general retail clothing managers earn a median hourly wage of $30.25.
Your monthly expenses will offset your profits or salary. Monthly expenses may include:
- rent
- phone line
- Internet service
- electricity
- water
- office supplies
- employee expenses
To increase your salary, reduce your monthly expenses as much as possible. If you must hire help, consider part-time help and do most of the work yourself.
