How to Start a Consignment Store Business

The Washington DC area has a very thriving second hand or consignment market. With plenty of foreign service personnel living in the area, shopping in the consignment stores can yield one-of-a-kind pieces from various parts of the world. It's always a thrill to find great and unique pieces of items from consignment stores that you won't find in the department stores.

So how do you join the fray and start your own consignment store? I've found several resources on the Web that can help you start your own consignment business:

• The WEBworks Consignment Store "How To" Manual
• Getting Started in Resale
• Thrift Store Safety Checklist (can help you decide on what products to accept in your resale store)
• How Do I Start A Consignment Shop?
• Rags to Riches (a success story of a woman who started a consignment store)

Also check the website of the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops http://www.narts.org/ as they have publications catering specifically to those who are thinking of entering this business as well as those already running their own resale stores