Tot Trade Charlotte

On election night, I am wacthing the returns and working on Tot Trade!  I hope that all took part in the voting process today.  I took my 5 year old daughter and my husband took my 7 year old son.  I felt it was important to include them in this history-making election.  They have really been getting into the process at school so I have 2 young pundits at home now!

Tot Trade is excited to announce the dates for the Spring/Summer 2009 Sale event:  February 28-March 1, 2009.   Believe it or not, right after the sale we have a lot of moms asking when registration will open for the next season!  Planners, I love it….so we decided to open Early Bird Registration this month.  What does that mean for you?  Register as a consignor for only $5.00!  The Early Bird Registration is good thru November 30. 

• A few new items this season:  Streamline!  Streamline!  Streamline!  Jodi and I have looked at every part of the sale from check-in, shopping, check-out and pick-up to STREAMLINE it all….which means a positive experience for you as a consignor, volunteer and shopper!  We love suggestions, remember Tot Trade is your children’s consignment sale so contact us at tottrade@gmail.com with your comments. 
• Be sure to look at this season’s schedule carefully!  We have changed some times and don’t want moms to arrive at the wrong time
• Be sure to check “What ’s New” both on the main page and consignor tab.  Here you will find all of our changes for the upcoming season.
• If you have been a shopper, but never consigned before, this is your season!  Now more than ever families are looking for ways to extend their budgets!  Tot Trade is the perfect answer to recycle what you are not using while purchasing the items that you need at a fraction of the cost!

Lots of ways to get involved this season!  Thank you for choosing Tot Trade!  Jodi and I, the Tot Trade Staff, Volunteers and the Staff at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center work hard to ensure that you have the best experience possible!  Tot Trade is growing by leaps and bounds, but we can’t do it without you!  Check the Blog for the latest information about this season’s sale.  Get involved today! 

Back to the returns……..

Tot Trade Moms have come out in FANTASTIC Fashion this season!  We have had to add 15,000 sq ft of space to accomodate all of the wonderful GOODIES!  Mark your calendars now….shop till you drop and come back for Tot Trade’s 50% OFF select items on Sunday, August 10!~    Come and SAVE a bundle this season!  TONS OF STUFF!

Hey Mom - it is official - all the 100 item appointments have been taken, but don’t worry….we still have room for you!  If you have 100 items or more, please email us an approximate time and we will schedule you.  I know that more moms will come up with 100 items or more especially over the weekend as tagging goes into high gear.  Please, don’t worry we will take care of you!  The appointments help us to schedule our staff and volunteers and we are so excited that so many of you are really cleaning out your closets! 

Make sure to check out the consignor page for all of your questions that you might have while tagging.  Also, don’t forget the “Stuff a Bookbag” school supply drive and an opportunity for you to shop earlier!

Thanks mom for your time and efforts!  We have really put our advertising in high gear this season and our radio spots start next week!  Listen for us on WSOC!  Remember to tell your friends and list us on your blog! 

See you soon. RHONDA

Tot Trade is excited to launch its first “Stuff a Bookbag” school supply drive!  Help Tot Trade make sure children go to school this Fall prepared for success!  Please bring a new school supply including any of the following:  pencils, crayons, markers, spiral notebooks, paper, ruller, scissors, erasers, hand sanitizer and new or “gently worn” bookbag to the sale and deposit into boxes located at the entrance of the sale.  Tot Trade will make sure that your donations will go straight to children in the community!  In advance, thank you mom for helping prepare our future Tot Traders!

As you start tagging and printing your items - please use the following print code:

PL53934   I have included a copy of what your clothing item should look like.  Please note that when looking down at the hanger it looks like a “question mark” and the tag is pinned on the right shoulder.  We are getting a lot of questions 1) do clothes need to be on hangers 2) will I get my hangers back  3) where do I get hangers?  To answer your questions:  1) please put all clothes on hangers  Hang sets at the shoulders not at the bottom of a shirt/sweater, etc. 2) no, you will not get your hangers back, although we always end up with a ton of hangers, help yourself  3) you can find hangers at the dollar store, walmart and target.  Once you start consigning you will start to accumulate hangers for each season’s sale. 

I can’t stress enough to not forget your TOYS!  LOTS OF TOYS!  Outdoor play equipment goes fast as do joggers, cribs, gliders, train tables and pack-n-plays.  For more tips on pricing and just about anything else, please see our consignor webpage!  Thanks in advance for all of your Fall/Winter clothing goodies and FANTASTIC stuff!  We will see you soon! 

Hey Mom, I have to say the excitement that is building around this season’s sale is already in high gear!  Still at four weeks out our email box and registration is burning up the internet!  Thank you for choosing Tot Trade! 

Jodi and I know that when moms like something they tell their friends.  There is still a few postcard distribution slots open.  We will complete this option by Friday, July 18 in order to give you time to distribute to your friends, childcare, summer camp, moms at the pool…everywhere!  In today’s economy, more people than ever are discovering the benefits of consigning and shopping children’s consignment sales!  Tot Trade is your one stop shop and the Tot Trade staff works hard each season to offer you the best consigning, volunteering and shopping experience!  Get involved today!  I was hooked after my first sale  7 years ago in Columbia, SC!  Take care and we will see you soon……look for an exciting give away during our 50% Off Sale day, Sunday, August 10!

Hey mom, we hope that you have our sale dates on your calendar…but even more important that you have scheduled some time to volunteer this season!  We need moms like you more than ever!  Volunteering is easy …..  meet new people, we provide snacks and drinks…and did I mention the presale?  Based on your volunteer shift, you will have the hottest presale ticket in town!  Every season I hear at the check out…”man I wish I was at the presale!”  Tot Trade offers options for ALL of our moms!  Tot Trade offers 4, 8 or 12 hour “super mom” shifts!  We have added some shifts…if you have a creative shift that you would like to offer, email us tottrade@hotmail.com   We’ll see you soon!  Rhonda & Jodi

The countdown is on and we have already had requests to add 100 item appointments which tells me either moms anticipate they will have a lot of stuff to sell or that you have been busy tagging!  Appointments are not required; however we ask that if you have over 100 items to try and schedule an appointment so we can handle your items in a timely manner. 

Typically moms start the majority of their tagging 2 weeks prior to the sell - so please schedule now so we can make adjustments to volunteers and staff if we need to. 

Tot Trade’s advertising starts this week so things should really start to move at a fast pace!  Look for our ads in the Charlotte Obersver’s neighbor’s sections, Stanley News & Press, Independent Tribune, Concord Standard and WSOC radio! If you have a favorite blog, please let other moms know about us…be sure to mention the Tot Trade website.  We are working on posting your tagging video today/tomorrow!  See you soon!  As always if you have a question, please email tottrade@hotmail.com. 

Hey Mom!  We are really starting to get a lot of emails which is so exciting because we are still 5 weeks out from the sale.  What this means is that people are buzzing about the sale!  We love the excitement that surrounds the sale….keeps us moving and shaking.  A few questions that have been asked by a number of moms….so here are some answers that will help:

1. We are mailing out postcards this week (July 7) so you should be receiving them Sat/Mon.  If you need more, please let us know!
2. Tagging questions:  Please see the tagging examples found on the www.tottradecharlotte.com website.  You will need to scroll down and look at all the photos.  We are working on a video short if we can get it loaded to YouTube so you can see the tagging in action.
3. Consignor Fee Payment:  Once you have registered for this season’s sale, please return to the Tot Trade /Consignor /Sign UP page and click pay.  This link will direct you to our PayPal account so you can complete your registration.
4. Remember to register to Volunteer!  Just a 4 hour shift will get you in earlier to shop this season’s presale….we have had a lot of moms register already….so check your calendar and sign-up today!
5. Toys and accessories:  Moms, I cannot say it enough, TOYS, EQUIPMENT, ACCESSORIES SELL!  I could not believe how much stuff we had last season…..but more importantly is how we sold ALL of the stuff !  Pull your toys and accessories FIRST so you make sure to include them while you are tagging your clothes!

Ok, that is it for now….just a few reminders and answers.  Please make sure to check the BLOG for the latest information about this season’s sale!  Jodi and I will see you all soon……..

Moms!  You have asked and we are growing so quickly we want all moms to be informed.  We are working on a quick video on “how to tag”  including

• where to place the tag
• how to hang my items including sets
• how to tag big ticket items
• how to band like items

We want all of our moms to be successful and think this video short will answer all of your questions so there will be no surprises at drop off!  Look for more information on our blog coming in the next week! 

Start your boxes now….clothes, accessories, furniture, toys….toys…..toys…..!  The Fall/Winter sale is a larger sale and moms are looking for toys !  Today’s economy is uncertain, but what moms know is that  Tot Trade offers families a great  way to recycle the things your children have outgrown or don’t use and buy the things your children need now at a fraction of the cost! 

In advance, thank you for choosing Tot Trade!  There are a lot of sales out there and we value our mommies!  See you soon. Spread the word ….  Tot Trade is coming to town!  Fall/Winter Sale August 9-10 Cabarrus Arena & Events Center (Free Admission)  Events Center Building