Why Didn’t You Take All of My Items?

One of the most common questions we hear is, “Why didn’t you take everything I brought?”

The answer is simple: consignment is not the same as cleaning out a closet or taking items to a garage sale. We have to be selective about what goes onto our racks so we can provide the elevated, boutique-style shopping experience our customers expect.

Here are some of the most common reasons we may pass on an item:

It isn't clean.Clothing needs to be freshly washed and ready to go on the rack. We cannot accept items with stains, odors, dirt, or heavy wear.

It has pet hair.We love our pets too, but excessive pet hair is one of the biggest reasons an item may not be accepted. Please lint-roll and remove pet hair before bringing items in.

It isn't in season.We have limited space, so we focus on what customers are shopping for right now. Seasonal items may be better saved for a future drop-off.

It isn't folded or prepared.Please bring clothing clean, neatly folded and ready for us to inspect. We do the sorting, pricing, tagging and merchandising, but the items need to arrive ready for that process.

It looks more like a garage-sale item.We're not a garage sale or a traditional thrift store. The Velvet Studio is a curated consignment boutique. We look for pieces that are clean, current, unique, vintage, high-quality or otherwise a great fit for our shoppers.

And sometimes, an item is simply not something we think will sell in our store. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it. It just means it may be better suited for another resale option, donation, or garage sale.

We know it can be disappointing when we don't accept everything, but being selective helps us keep The Velvet Studio looking fresh, organized and boutique-like for both our consignors and our shoppers.

A little preparation before you arrive makes a big difference: wash it, remove pet hair, check for stains or damage, fold it neatly, and make sure it is appropriate for the current season.

The better the item arrives, the easier it is for us to get it onto the rack and into the hands of its next owner!