Tot Trade Charlotte

I have talked about it all season it seems like and finally put it all together!  We have put together a general information spot and several “mini” spots if you are just looking for information on how to tag your shoes, clothes and accessories.  I am still putting together a toy spot and it should be up soon.  These are great refreshers for returning consignors and give helpful hints if you are a first time consignor.  We’d love to hear from you if these resources are helpful tottrade@hotmail.com

To see a video, simply click on the link provided!  Happy Tagging!  Can you help us fill over 45,000 sq ft this season?  We will see you soon!

Tagging Overview:

Clothing:

Shoes:

Accessories:

I think I must have missed a season?  I have found bags of clothes for a few seasons that Maggie has long outgrown!  Has that ever happened to you?  It takes me down memory lane and all I can think about was when she wore that and what happened when and those adorable hats! 

I am finally ready to sell my boy things too.  Jack was the third to make his way through what his brothers had “gently” worn.  I think their clothes are the hardest because of three times the memories! 

I feel like I am Spring cleaning and can breath so much better when I start the “pulling” process!  How do I do it?  I have the children’s clothes in bags from the previous the season and start pulling everything out and sorting dresses, outfits, shorts, swimwear, etc.  Once I think I have everything together I start the “hanging” process then it is the coolest online tagging!  Trust me, since we have started using myconsignmentmanager tagging has gotten a whole lot easier!

But the fun I had today was the crates I pulled of piled together “not so forgotten toys” to go through for the sale.  “Mom I was looking for that!”  “Oh, that is where that was!”  It truly was like Christmas around here for about an hour!  Trust me, please go through your playrooms, child’s rooms, attic FIRST!  You will always get your clothes tagged, but you may start to become overwhelmed if you wait to get to your toys and accessories till the end!  Making toys and accessories a priority will really add to your bottom line!

OK, tonight I have set aside time to start working on our tagging video and updated pictures for the website.  Look for them to be loaded in the next few days!  Registration is running about 3 weeks ahead of schedule!  What does that mean?  We will have lots of GREAT things this season!  Can you help us fill over 45,000 sq ft of space?  Oh, I know you can!  Advertising will start soon and postcards are in the mail!

We are more excited than ever and have planned a GREAT time for all!  Thank you for choosing Tot Trade and we will see you soon.

Dear Tot Trade Consignor, Volunteer and Shopper,

Jodi and I are writing to you in response to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). As many know, I am a mother of four children and my sister Jodi is their Aunt Jojo.  With that said, neither of us would ever intentionally expose them or other children to the harmful effects of lead. Many of you, who have been with Tot Trade over the years, know that we truly do everything within our power to organize a safe and fair sale for our consignors and shoppers.

Last year, legislation was passed known as the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in order to protect children ages 12 and under against the effects of lead in products such as clothing, accessories, furniture and toys.  Implementation of this law is to go into effect Tuesday, February 10, 2009. The intention of the Law was to increase greater regulation for manufactures and retailers and not the resale industry.

Over the past 72 hours, Jodi and I have worked diligently to seek clarification from Senators, officials in Washington, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, other sale organizers and our attorney to understand the implications of running our sale and what the law means for our consignors.  So what does that mean for you as a consignor and shopper and for Tot Trade as a seasonal children’s consignment sale?

As of today, Thursday, January 8 we have received a press release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission stating: 

Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores,  are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. 

Based on this information/interpretation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CSPIA) Tot Trade Charlotte will proceed with its scheduled Spring/Summer 2009 sales event February 28-March 1 at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center.  As we learn more information we will post both on our Blog and Facebook pages.  In addition, if you are a consignor please be sure to check accepted and non-accepted items found on the consignor page of the Tot Trade Charlotte website.

Please know, the last 72 hours have been a very stressful and tense time for both Jodi and I. We both realize that during this economic climate, it is more important than ever that Tot Trade Charlotte and other area seasonal children’s consignment sales take place.    We would like to thank the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center for working with us during this uncertain time.   We appreciate your recent inquiries and hope that you will join us for truly the BEST season yet!

We are so excited to say that we will see you soon!

Sincerely,

Rhonda & Jodi

Hey Moms, Dads and Grandparents!  Happy New Year!  Seems like just yesterday we were talking about Thanksgiving and Holiday plans!  The Spring/Summer Sale will be here before you know it!  (about 9 weeks now) We are posting new updates to the site weekly including the promised updated consignor tagging photos and instruction video.  It seems that with the economy there is a lot of uncertainty out there, one thing that I want you to be sure of is that Tot Trade Charlotte is working to ensure the best season yet! 

To be honest, I can’t remember how I got started with consignment sales? It started seven years ago and now four children later…..What I have learned is that I can buy complete season’s wardrobe for my four children for a fraction of what I would have spent at retail…even Target!  Lots of moms ask if I shop at Tot Trade? Well, this season’s Christmas card featured a beautiful boutique dress from one of our consignors who brings in some of the most gorgeous outfits (her 5 year picture was in another one of her dresses (only $8) and my boys, well they all were stunning! (From a mother’s perspective of course ) Sometimes when I look at them all together I think….that’s a lot stuff there…how could I do it without Tot Trade…then I do 20 loads of laundry a week and think….thank you moms for all of the cool jammies and favorite outfits! 

Folks who have never tried consigning and consignment sales are looking to these options as a way to stretch the family dollar!  Seasoned consignment participants and shoppers know that seasonal sales are the place to be more than ever!  Tot Trade works every season to gain your trust and loyalty! 

This season, I am asking moms, dads and grandparents alike to start with their toys!  I know it is hard… you think “they will play with it”  but guess what, they never do!  To test my theory, try picking a few things out of their room or playrooms and see how long they miss it!  I used to cycle tubs of toys every 2-3 weeks, but with 4 children…I had a lot of tubs and still a lot of unused toys!   This past season Tot Trade toy tables were filled to the brim and we sold, sold and sold some toys! 

Don’t forget your older children too.  We have entered the Star Wars zone and video games.  I thought I would never go this route, but Santa brought us a PlayStation 2 and V-Tech . After shopping at stores such as GameStop and Play -n- Trade, I thought we can do that at Tot Trade too!  This season we will feature our first ever Game Trade section.  This is an opportunity to sell your gaming systems that your children aren’t using since they have upgraded and I know you have a lot of games they don’t play anymore!  It is another way to let your little ones get involved with the sale by registering and tagging their own items!  This gives them a budget to buy what they want now when they start asking for the latest game!  Help us build this section of the sale this season!  It can only grow and prepare for the Fall/Winter season! 

We are bringing back the First Time Mom presale and adding a special time for our Grandparent presale!  This season Tot Trade is moving to Presale Armbands!  If you are a First Time Mom or Grandparent you can either register online for your presale pass via email or pick-up your armbands from the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center.  We will announce the pick up dates in February!

Look for email update including information about Tot Trade Charlotte’s Facebook page, (I am an addict) we hope that you will become a fan and pass the information a long to your friends.  We are constantly looking for new ways to reach our moms, dads and grandparents. 

Remember Tot Trade Charlotte is your children’s consignment sale.  We cannot be successful without you!  We have lots of great things planned this season to accomodate the growth and shopping from new checkout lanes and a new floorplan.  If you have never participated with Tot Trade as a consignor or volunteer, try us out this season….once you try it…you will be hooked!  I was!  Talk to you all soon!