Comparison Report on Area Children

Comparison Report on Area Children’s Consignment Sales
Summer 2011

We think it’s good to stay abreast of recent and local trends. In order to ensure WeeRuns remains relevant in the local consignment sale community and to meet the needs of our shoppers, volunteers, and consignors, we have spent months tracking and researching public information about surrounding sales. What we have discovered is surprising to us, and we feel worthwhile to share:

There are approximately 50 other children’s consignments sales within about a 20-mile radius of our sale sites. The growth in seasonal sales over the last 15 years has been nothing short of amazing! When WeeRuns hosted its first event in September of 1994, there were fewer than five sales in the Triad! Tracking sales over time, it is interesting to note many such sales have come and gone. WeeRuns is PROUD to have had a consistent presence for 17 years!
Payment to consignors varies tremendously between sales. Five or six local sales pay out from 60-90% based upon variables including membership, number of hours volunteered, and longevity/ loyalty. Fewer than five appear to pay out 70%, fewer than five 50%, and about 15 don’t readily disclose this information. It appears WeeRuns is in the norm, along with approximately 20 other seasonal sales paying at the 60% rate. WeeRuns is PROUD to be among the majority regarding consignor pay-out.
Of the surrounding sales, the majority are affiliated with either churches or preschools and are utilized as both an outreach and fundraising event. One or two seasonal sales support local civic or club organizations, and less than 5 appear to be for profit. For a few sales, it is unclear who is hosting and/or who benefits from the event. WeeRuns is PROUD of its tradition of for-profit seasonal sales, its corporate mission, and its track record of supporting local, state, national, and international charitable relief efforts and feels the combination of retail business practices joined together with a heart for community giving produces the most efficient, effective, and vibrant consignment community possible.
Of the surrounding seasonal sales, a few are open to the public for a single day! Most offer their consignments to the public for a 2-day event, and a smaller portion hosts events lasting 3 days. WeeRuns recognizes the time and effort which go into the preparation of your items for consignment, and WeeRuns is PROUD to say we are the ONLY seasonal sale in the surrounding area which offers you the exposure you deserve: a total of 16 days of public and private events!
Regarding participation fees, the majority of seasonal sales do not disclose this information publically. It is necessary to contact each sale for further, more detailed information. A few (less than 5) indicate that they do not charge participation fees and about the same number state that they do collect a participation fee. WeeRuns makes clear its collection of a participation fee on its website, printed materials, and social media and believes it is good business practice to make all information available to all potential consignors at all times. As a for-profit business, WeeRuns does not have available church fellowship halls and preschool gyms and the like to host its events. WeeRuns seeks appropriate short-term retail space twice yearly and must consider many different factors, including:

Square footage

Safety and security

Indoor and outdoor lighting

Heating and air conditioning

Availability of convenient parking

Our participation fee helps offset the extremely high and rising costs associated with the ability to host the event, in addition to other business-related expenses such as licenses, fees, storage, insurance, capital expenses, etc…Every attempt is made to establish long-term relationships so WeeRuns can return to sites we have utilized in the past. While WeeRuns would enjoy the stability of a permanent site, WeeRuns is PROUD of our business model which reduces overhead, keeping costs to a minimum and enabling us to meet the needs of our participants.

So, what does all of this mean?

Consignors have many choices! We are proud to have been among the first in our community offering seasonal sales to meet the needs of local families…and we are proud to have had a consistent presence for 17 years! The relationships we have formed over the years benefit our consignors…our mailing list database includes approximately 15,000 families from many states who have ASKED to received notification from us…and our e-mail marketing and social media efforts reach even more young families!

WeeRuns is NOT a fundraising event for an organization or church. We are proud to be a for-profit business which is motivated to operate efficiently and profitably for the benefit of all our participants! And WeeRuns is extremely proud of its mission and history of charitable giving which proves its heart for our community and the families it serves. Over the years, WeeRuns not only has donated its designated unsold items to multiple organizations, but our Round-Up Campaign at check out and matching donations have raised almost $21,000 since 2005, benefiting many worthwhile efforts!

WeeRuns is THE ONLY area sale which offers its consignors extended exposure of their items…all other area sales are weekend events. WeeRuns provides 2 weeks of private and public sales for the benefit of our participants. When factoring in our consignor pay-out rate of 60% (which is in line with the majority of other sales) and participation fee, WeeRuns is the best value for your time and effort.