I feel like every post I write these days has to do with some manner of cleaning; 'tis the season, right? I'm a little too excited about yard work, paint touch-ups, getting rid of grime and grit, and purging and editing my belongings. In regards to the latter, I've been going through my closet(s) and forming piles, determining what to donate, to attempt-to repurpose, to throw out. I hate adding to landfills but there is no justifiable reason for a thrift store to have to deal with my underarm-stained white tees.

In the name of cash, I am adding another pile this season: to resell. Taking a big old bag of clothing to a resale shop can be pretty daunting and I've avoided giving it another try for over two years. The first time I tried my hand at reselling, I walked into my busy local boutique laden with two large IKEA bags of what I thought was really cute stuff and walked out with the exact same thing. The only items they wanted were a pair of jeans and a stretched out t-shirt that belonged to my husband. My face was tomato-red as I shuffled out with my full bags in tow. 

To avoid this fate on my second go-around, I checked in with Beverly of Brooklyn's Fox & Fawn for some tips. Yelp reviewers tout Fox & Fawn as being "realistically styled," with "great prices on great vintage pieces." New York magazine loves their affordable (most under one hundred bucks) collection of designer shoes and handbags.

ReadyMade: Do you notice an upswing in resellers every spring with all of the cleaning and purging going on?
Beverly: Usually we see an upswing at the beginning and the end of each month, when people are moving or rent is due, but spring is definitely the most major. People start to pack away their winter clothes and are confronted by how much stuff they have. People are coming out of hibernation and want to purge.

What steps should a person do to get the best price for their item?
Cleanliness is number one. To keep our shop affordable and to give our sellers the best possible rates, we can't afford to launder every item that comes through the door. If it's dirty, we can't buy it. That said, don't knock yourself out and take everything to the dry cleaners, you'll end up spending on cleaning what you'd earn by selling. It is also important to keep in mind that we've been doing this for years so our eyes are trained to pick up all sorts of stains and discolorations that you may not notice. Things like yellowing in the armpits, dirty collars, etc. If we pass on something and it surprises you, it may be due to a condition issue that you haven't noticed.

If something needs really simple mending, like a button needs reattaching or a sweater has a little moth hole that a stitch or two could take care of, go ahead and mend it. We often take in items that have minor issues, but they get marked "as-is" and, due to the fact that they need work, are priced lower.

Any advice on presentation when bringing an item in?
People don't realize this but it's actually much better to bring items neatly folded in a bag as opposed to on the hanger. We have a limited space in which to buy from people so the more condensed the better. If you have items that are clearly only for donation, pack them in a separate bag. It's time-consuming sifting through PJs and undies trying to find items we resell.

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