TotTrade Charlotte

New This Season

First, thank you for choosing to consign, volunteer and shop with Tot Trade Charlotte.  Tot Trade Charlotte is one of the fastest growing children’s consignment sales thanks to you!  Please take a look at the new items we are adding this season and favorites from previous seasons!  We look forward to working with you again for the biggest season yet!

New this season:

• Late night shifts for volunteers!  Moms have been requesting late night shifts for a few seasons, so check your calendars and spend a late night with us this season!
• Let’s Make a Deal Snack:  Tot Trade Charlotte is bringing back our Snack option. There will be a limited number and specific request for items.   Please note, volunteers who register for this option must drop snacks off during Tot Trade Charlotte’s Spring/Summer Drop Off (Tuesday, Feb 16 or Wednesday, Feb 17) to receive your armband.  Let’s Make a Deal Snacks cannot be dropped off before a presale.  You must have a presale armband to enter the presale.  With increasing number of volunteers, we appreciate your help to keep us going!
• Due to the increase in consignors and shoppers, Tot Trade Charlotte is requesting all consignors use masking tape or computer generated labels with their consignor number on their items. (clothing, toys, accessories, etc)   Tot Trade Charlotte staff and volunteers try to match items that loose their tags during the sale as well as at the end of the sale; however we can no longer be responsible for items that are not labeled.  Thank you in advance for taking the extra step to ensure your items are properly identified.
• First Time Moms & Grandparent Presale Time Change:  Please note the time change for this season’s First Time Mom & Grandparent presale on Friday afternoon. 

Some of consignor’s favorites from last season: 

• Consignor sign-in:  Sign –in will be located on the homepage for easy log-on.  Please use this link and you will not be asked for a print code if you use online tagging.
• Drop Off: Tot Trade Charlotte will offer a separate entrance for consignors who have 100+ item apts.  We will continue to limit 100 item appointments and add a few more check-in stations. We think this small change will continue to streamline our check-in process.
• Shoe inspection:  Tot Trade Charlotte will have a shoe inspection table located at our shoe racks (we are adding more shoe racks for the Fall/Winter sale too!)
• Presale shopping: Presale shopping will be scheduled over two days. The first day Tot Trade Charlotte will offer presale shopping to volunteers and consignors ONLY. The second day will be scheduled for First Time Moms and Grandparents with the end of the day opening to the public. A door attendant will be stationed at the door at all times for all presales. The separation of presales will also limit the number of people at check-out and children at the sale. (We will still permit children at all presales; because we understand that it may be difficult to secure a sitter for new little ones, this change should provide an overall better shopping experience for everyone.)
• Sale Lay-Out: The growth that we have experienced over the past two seasons has allowed us to move into both the front and back rooms of the Events Center. For your planning purposes, we have posted our sale floorplan under DOWNLOADS. 
• Table signs will only reflect categories listed for online tagging. We will also post these categories on the website for handwritten tags including tagging template and 3X5 cards.   In addition, we will expand our book section and will try to have a volunteer on hand to keep books organized into groups including infant, toddler, chapter and parenting books. We will also continue to organize and separate DVD/VHS tapes. (The crates worked wonders!)
• Check-out – Tot Trade Charlotte will offer (2) sets of  8 check-out stations for a total of 16 registers!    We will check out shoppers with clothing and BIG TICKET items at the back of the sale and CLOTHING items and 15 or less items at the front.  The registers will be clearly marked and we will use volunteers to assist customers.  (Thank you for your patience as we grow, come back…we promise you will like these changes!)
• Volunteer Coordinator:  We are excited to have one of our long-time staff members Lee Anne Caney as our volunteer coordinator.  What a fantastic job Lee Anne did coordinating all of our volunteers last season!  We always have so many tasks to complete throughout the sale and both Jodi and I can get so torn between all the jobs that it can be difficult for us to communicate what needs to be done. Thank you for your patience as we grow and promise to make this an area that you will want to be a part of!

QUICK REMINDERS:

• 100 item appointments:  Tot Trade Charlotte does not require consignors to schedule a drop off appointment; however, we would like to know that you are coming if you have 100 + items.  Tot Trade Charlotte has listed (4) 100 item appointments every 10 minutes throughout drop off.  Once these appointments are taken Tot Trade Charlotte will not be able to add additional appointments.  If you are unable to schedule an appointment, I assure you that we will be able to check-in your items; however your wait time may be longer.  Please DO NOT schedule an appointment if you DO NOT have 100+ items.
• Drop Off Procedures:  Please be sure to allow enough time to put out any NON CLOTHING items out on the sale floor.  If these items are dropped off and NOT put out on the sales floor Tot Trade Charlotte cannot be responsible for putting them out.  Volunteers will be working to inspect, organize and put your clothing items out on the floor.  If consignors DO NOT assist us with putting out their NON CLOTHING items, staff is left with hours of sorting and distribution.  Tot Trade Charlotte has worked to streamline your check in process this season to limit your wait at check in to allow you time to put out your items.  Thank you for your help!  Remember, we are constructing a mini department store in 6 days, every minute counts!
• Earn More This season!  With the increasing number of consignors and shoppers (YEAH)  Tot Trade needs your help!  This season, Tot Trade has added benefits to volunteering!  IF you volunteer to be a SUPER MOM (12 HOUR VOLUNTEER) here is what you get 1) consignor fee waived 2) SHOP FIRST at the PRESALE and 50% OFF PRESALE 3) EARN 70% of Sale 4) After completion of (2) seasons as a SUPER MOM consideration for a Tot Trade staff position.  Check your calendars and register today! 
• Consignor Referral:  Tot Trade NEEDS volunteers to work the sale to make sure everyone has a positive experience.  Due to the change in Volunteer shifts, Tot Trade WILL NO LONGER offer an 70% Sale to moms who refer 2 moms.  Check out our Super Mom Volunteer Option.
• Consignor Corner:  Each season, Tot Trade has items that loose their tags throughout the sale.  Tot Trade’s policy is to hold those items and cards and try to match them throughout the sale and get them back out on the sale floor.  Tot Trade Charlotte will bring back the Consignor Corner to sort and retag these items.  If you are shopping, please stop by and check to see if you have items that we can retag and put back out on the floor.  The consignor corner will be located at the front of the sale at the cash registers.  Tot Trade’s goal is to SELL your ITEMS! 
• Presale Passes:  Volunteers will receive (1) PRESALE pass for themselves to enter.  Consignors, First Time Moms and Grandparents will receive (2) presale passes.
• Tagging examples:  Please be sure to check out our tagging examples on the consignor page.  Tot Trade has added several examples and features to ensure a UNIFORM tagging process.