1.  Know your brands

• High demand, high popularity, and expensive brands are most subject to counterfeit.  In my research, I also found that designer Men’s and Women’s brands that also carry children’s clothing, accessories, or footwear are more likely to be replicated than stand-alone children’s brands that have smaller markets.
• While not a comprehensive list, here are some popular brands that manufacture children’s clothing and are regularly replicated:  Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Armani Junior, Baby Phat, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, Diesel Kids, Disney, DKNY,  Fila, Gymboree, Guess, Harley Davidson, Jansport, Juicy Couture,  Kenneth Cole,  Lacoste, Levi, Nautica, New Balance,  Nike, North Face,  Puma, Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Roberto Cavalli, Rocawear, Seven for All Mankind, Speedo, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, True Religion, Ugg, Valentino, Versace, and Warner Bros.

2.  Photograph the tag

• Tags contain important legal information about the brand and/or specific design, such as copyrights and trademarks.   While its already illegal for counterfeiters to copy a design, its even more risky for them to emulate legal marks they do not own.
• The “Made In” information can also distinguish between real and fake goods.
• The material can also indicate a fake.  Many reputable children’s brands are 100% cotton, for example, and most are not 100% polyester.  If the materials look cheap for the brand, it may not be the real thing.

Note:  On LoobaLee, we allow up to 4 photos for free, so there is room for the photo, and its an easy one to snap while you are taking the others.

3.  Show up close photos

• A sure giveaway of a knock-off is poor craftsmanship, such as loose or crooked stitching, uneven hemlines, patterns that don’t line up, etc.   I always like to take 1 or 2 close up shots of my items that show design and craftsmanship when a potential buyer zooms in.

4.  Include where you purchased the item originally

• If you are selling a brand that is likely to be confused with counterfeit, it helps to indicate in your listing where you originally purchased the item on retail yourself, such as directly from the brand or a reputable boutique.

6.  Have the receipt or original tags?  Include in your pics

• While it might not be possible, if you have the receipt and it shows a) where you purchased the item, and b) the price paid for the item, this is an excellent way to confirm authenticity.
• Original tags can also convey authenticity, as well as original retail price
• There is no need to take a separate picture, just include it one you are already taking, so long as your viewer will be able to Zoom.

7.  If you are selling Gymboree, always give the name of the Line

• Moms who buy Gymboree on resale typically know their lines.  If you don’t specify the line, it can send a red flag (whether you have an authentic item or not).
• Not only are Gymboree lines regularly copied, many fakes resemble the brand but aren’t copies of original designs at all.  If you can find the line, and it matches with the year of copyright on the tag (or at most 1 year behind), then chances are much higher its authentic.

8.  Explain duplicates

• Sellers who have multiples of the same NWT thing (same or different sizes), are often suspicious on eBay or any other marketplace.   So, if you have multiples, share your story.  You can explain how/why you have multiples of the same items on your profile and/or on individual listings, e.g. if you are a bigger store, if resale is your business, or your a Mom of multiples.

Posted by:

Suzanne Rielle

Owner & Co-Founder, LoobaLee.com

LoobaLee.com is a marketplace for quality, authentic children’s clothing.   It’s our mission to help Moms purchase and re-sell quality clothing that is valuable for resale and re-use.

If you’ve missed our countdown to Fall Selling, you can still apply our 6 simple steps to getting ready to sell online:  FIND it,  EVALUATE it , SORT it, ENHANCE it, and PHOTOGRAPH it.  And, our final, 6th Step, LIST it, can be found here.

This Bonus Step applies uniquely to Gymboree.

When selling Gymboree on-line it’s extremely important to identify the line, which can help you get a higher price for your item and sell it faster.   If you’re already experienced with this, no need to read further.  If you’re new to selling Gymboree, follow the how-to’s and tips below.  After a couple of quick searches… you’ll soon be expert too.

Side Note:  Did you know? It’s easy to include a Gymboree Line ID on your LoobaLee listing.  Just select your Line from our menus.  You’ll never have to worry about misspellings or not showing up in a searches again!

Step 1.  Look at the tag

• Store Tag Still Attached: Store tags will have the Year and Season the item was introduced, like 08 GYM Spring.  Although the tag doesn’t give the line name, this info will guide directly where to search online.

• Store Tags NOT Attached: The garment’s sewn-in tag has a copyright year.   Line designs are almost copyrighted the year before they are introduced in stores.    If the copyright is 2007, for example, you need to look at the 2008 lines.   One exception I’ve found is a Valentines Line might be copyrighted in the same year, because they are introduced in stores already in December.

Tag copyright is 2009; Search for it in the 2010 Lines

2. Research Your Line

• Copyright 2000 – Current: My favorite is Gymbohaven -  a completely free resource.  You won’t even need to give your email to access the database, although if you’re a gymbo fan, you will want to receive email updates from Amy (the owner) on new lines and sales.To begin your search, go to the “Gymboree Lines” tab, and select your Gender and Size category, e.g. Kid Girl.  Lines are then sorted by Year.

• Copyright 1995 – 2007: For vintage lines, especially 1995 – 2000,  you will find the best resource to be NameThatLine.biz  another completely free resource.  Search the database here and/or  look up your tag here.

Note:  These website also both track Janie and Jack lines, but do not track Gymboree Outlet.   You can find info on Gymboree Outline line ID’s on Gymbohaven here.

3.  Take Note

After you find the line, make note of it, you’ll need it when you list.   I like to use a small sticky note and stick right on the tag.

TIPS for finding lines:

• Remember, lines are introduced about 2 months ahead of season, and all Gymboree Line databases are sorted by year/month the line is introduced in stores.    So, if you’re looking for a Fall line, look in the summer months, not the fall months.
• Patterned and themed items are easy to find.   Solid and plain items are more difficult, as are plain socks and plain hair accessories — you’ll need to find the exact color match.  In the future, when you purchase new Gymbo – save the tags with year and season information (or just snap a pic!).
• Pajamas can be difficult to find.  They have historically been introduced as part of a major line or as a line on their own.  Your best bet is to search through matching seasons, looking for similar colors or themes.
• Some Newborn lines are Unisex.  You may need to search under both Boys and Girls to find them.
• Still can’t figure it out?  Here are some other resources to try:
  • Gymbohaven fans on Facebook can help you out.  Just post a picture of your item asking what it is.
  • Try to join one of the gymboree networks, e.g.  gymbofriends.com or gymboplace.com (at times they may/may not be accepting new registrations).  These networks also have picture databases of gymboree lines.
  • Search Facebook and Yahoo Groups for Gymboree pages/groups to join.  There are many experts out there who love to help.

Have any tips for finding Gymboree Lines?   Leave a comment and let us know.  Or, if you’re having trouble, we can help steer you in the right direction.

Thanks!

Suzanne

LoobaLee.com – Where Savvy-Style Moms Buy and Sell Quality Kids’ Clothes – For Free!

And… it’s prime time to get started by listing your back-to-school and early fall items NOW!  Prime window is mid-July thru end of August.

If you’re just catching up with us now, you can check out the previous 5 steps: 1) FIND it,  2)  EVALUATE it ,  3) SORT it 4)  ENHANCE it, and 5)  PHOTOGRAPH it. If you have Gymboree to sell, you will also want to check out this Bonus Step.

So, step 6: There are two things to think about when listing:  How to do it, and Pricing your items.

1.  How to List

If you haven’t listed on LoobaLee before, watch this quick how-to video to see how simple it really is.   You won’t need to use any fancy templates or write any sales language.  Everything you need to create a quality listing will be selected from our drop down menus.   If you have your item in hand and picture ready, its easy!

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Did you know you can list an item on LoobaLee in just 14 clicks?  Start to Finish!

We have fewer steps than any other marketplace, classified, or swapping site!!  And, our steps guarantee you’ll post a quality listing every time.

Other Helpful Tips:

• How to Set up your LoobaLee Seller’s Profile
• How to List a ‘Lot’ on LoobaLee
• See all videos on the LoobaLee You Tube channel

2.  How to Price

This is usually the scariest part for people.  The best advice is this, “List items only at prices you are willing to pay”.   Some additional tips and advice I always give are:

• Don’t over charge for shipping.   Nothing turns a potential buyer away faster.
  • On LoobaLee, shipping charges are determined by the weight class you select for your item, which represents the  weight of your packaged item.
  • We recommend using the actual weight or something lower (free shipping is also an option).
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• General pricing rules of thumb:
  • NWT:  40 – 60% off retail price
  • NWOT:  50 – 70% off retail price
  • MInimal Wear:  60 – 70% off retail price
  • Worn with Love:  70 – 80% off retail price
  • Last Time Around:  80 – 90% off retail price

• Factors to consider when pricing above or below these ranges:
  • Availability of Item:  Did it sell out in stores?   Is it in high demand now?  Is it hard to find?
  • Condition of Item:  Do you use only gentle detergents?  Has the garment only been air dried?
  • Uniqueness of design
  • Single Items vs. Outfits.   See previous steps SORT it and ENHANCE it
    
    
• Finally, don’t sweat it!
  • You can change the price of your listing on LoobaLee any time up to the last week before it expires.  And, you can relist it at any time with a revised price.

Additionally:   Check out this previous blog article I wrote for more tips on pricing and posting “sellable” listings, “7 Secrets to Successful Selling”.

If you have pricing tips or listing lessons – please share!

I hope you enjoyed this 6 Week series of tips.  If you have any questions I haven’t addressed, please feel free to post them below and I’ll respond pronto.   Or, if you have ideas to improve these same tips for the Spring selling season, let me know – thanks!

Happy listing!

Suzanne

LoobaLee.com - Where Style-Savvy Moms Buy and Sell Quality Kids’ Clothes – Fee Free!

I keep hearing from all of you that the single BIGGEST hurdle to selling kids clothing online is simply getting organized to do it. Well, we’re fast approaching (believe it or not) 4 key windows of selling opportunity with Back-to-School, Halloween, Winter, and the Holidays.   So, I decided to come up with a system to help you get organized ahead of time in bite-sized chunks.  Follow my simple 6 weeks to Selling steps and you’ll be right on time for all 4.

Don’t postpone and wait until the last minute.    These steps break the whole process down into manageable chunks that you can fit in your busy schedules.   You can do this.    Whether you have online selling experience and just have a hard time getting organized to sell, or you are a complete novice, I’ll motivate you and walk you through step-by-step.

I’ll send you a new step each week.  Sign up for our email to get each step delivered directly to your mailbox.   Follow along with me, and you’ll be listing by July 10 — right on time for back to school, and without any stress.   Here’s a preview:

Week 1:  Find It (Below!)

Week 2:  Evaluate It

Week 3:  Sort It

Week 4:  Organize It

Week 5:  Photograph It

Week 6:  List It

Let’s get started!

WEEK 1 – Find it!

If you’re like me, you stash your kids clothing that you no longer need all over the place!  Sometimes it’s just pushed aside in the closet or buried at the bottom of your drawers.   Other times, it might make it to a different room, closet, or your basement.  If you’re somewhat organized, it may have even got put into some bins, bags, or boxes.

So, your the first step to getting organized is to just Find it – all.   Get it in one place.   If you have a lot, you may need to claim an area of a room for the next few weeks, but you’ll be glad you did!

If you have a resulting pile as big as mine was (shown below), don’t worry.  You can still get through it all

At this step, just find it – don’t dread it:

• Don’t worry about sizes
• Don’t worry about brands
• Don’t worry if something is missing
• Don’t worry about what you can or can’t sell vs. what you might donate, swap, etc.
• And… don’t even worry about seasons right now

The only thing I want you to look for as you’re doing this is weeding out anything you don’t want to get rid of, e.g. items that look like they may fit your child next season, items you want to save for a younger sibling. etc.   Remove all this from your pile(s) and put safely away in storage.

Do you already have everything in one place?   Are you sure?  It’s worthwhile double-checking before moving on to step 2 next week:  Evaluate It. I’ll be sending you my method for evaluating all the clothing I’m ready to let go and determining if its worth listing for sale on line.  Sign up to get next weeks tips.

See you next week!

Suzanne

May and June are transition months.  We’ll see more summer promoted, but the retailers will soon be gearing up for “Back to School” season.    While summer clothing can sell year-round (more so than winter clothing), the demand significantly declines after May-June — so, open up those bins and get your best stuff listed right away.

Here’s my top picks to get you started:

Demand Peaking in May & June:

• Swimwear
• Summer Formal wear (for weddings & showers, graduations, re-unions, recitals, etc.)
• New Baby Clothes –  NWT items (increasing demand through June)
• Flip Flops, sandals, water shoes/trekkers… and summer Crocs

Other Popular Items:

• Shorts & Bike Shorts
• Summer Pajamas
• Skirts & Skorts
• 2-Piece summer outfits
• Sundresses
• Summer totes and hats
  

Other noticeable trends:

• “Lots” of Summer clothing is also popular this time of year.   Here’s a quick video on how to list a ‘Lot’ on LoobaLee.
• Searches for “crocs” has peaked in May & June since 2007, although the demand has decreased annually since.  Even though some athletic shoe brands rank higher, like Nike & Jordan, crocs are falling in the top 10 searches for both toddler and older kids shoes  pulse.ebay.com.
• Even after more than 10 years, I’m amazed to find Gymboree still dominating buyer’s search activity.  Top of the list for both baby/toddler boys and girls.  Top of the list for girls 4-16, and (surprisingly) in the top 10 for boys 4-16 too.
• Other popular ‘top 10′ brands right now:  abercrombie, Gap, Janie & Jack, mini-Boden, Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Bailey’s Boys, Kelly’s Kids, and Carters.
• And the top 2 most popular designer brands are Juicy Couture and Burberry (no surprises there)

And finally, here comes the Summer Clearances!

TIP:  Get your the last of summer things listed on LoobaLee now, and you’ll be able to clearance them out just like the retail stores 30 days from now, if desired.   As I always say:  “Follow the retail advertisements.   They are spending millions getting buyer attention!”

Do you have any additional tips on what Moms are looking to buy this month for their babies, toddlers, and/or bigger kids?   Please share them below… thanks!

Happy Listing!  ~Suzanne

Are you a style-savvy mom?  List your gently used, quality kids clothes for sale on LoobaLee.com. – it’s FREE!

Browsing the site, you’ll find Free! Shipping on Items as shown below.   If Free Shipping is not indicated, just type your ZIPCode in the box provided, hit Go, and the shipping charge will come back.    Remember… you can always save on shipping by purchasing more than one item from the same Seller.  Our unique checkout automatically combines shipping!

Listing an Item with Free Shiping is Easy. Simply select Weight Class ’0′ when you’re pricing your item.   You can always click on the green Help link to see the entire Weight Class chart if you aren’t sure what Weight Class to use.   Or, try Auto-Calculate to see if we have a suggestion for you.

How does it work? We make an assumption that your packages weight is Zero, which results in $0.00 for shipping.   Just Select Weight Class ’0′ from the chart to set your listing up to offer FREE! Shipping.

Do you like Free Shipping?!  Comment below

Join the fun on LoobaLee now!  It’s free to sign up, and better yet… it’s FREE to list! Start selling your outgrown kids clothing on line now — it’s easy, we promise!

click control in lower right corner to enlarge

Do you have a lot of crewcuts by J.Crew?  Sell multiple crewcut items at one time like a pretty little dress, jewelery and tights (like the crewcuts shown right) or a ‘lot’ of denim jeans or a couple of summer outfits.  How about a cute trench, rainboots and an umbrella.  Sell several gently used boys t-shirts for another little guy to enjoy.  How about a dozen pairs of new socks.  The possibilities are endless!

We simply recommend that the items listed in the ‘lot’ are the same size.  This will not only make the listing sell quicker, it will also make another child’s day when they open their LoobaLee package with a ‘lot’ of new to them duds.  

Take a quick tour below on ‘lot’ listing tips to help make your selling here quick and easy!

 Loobalee.com:  Your premier site to buy and sell quality kids’ clothes!

Here is a short video on how-to, guidelines, and tips for creating effective listings in the ‘Lots’ Category.  When listing lots you have, well, “a lot” of options.  Check out the screencast:

to view in full size, click bottom-right corner

Happy Listing!

We’d like to hear your feedback.  Do you love lots?

When shopping lots, what do you look for?  What do you think makes a good listing?

Before you do, we need just a little bit more information from you about how you want to manage your listings and sales.

In this video, I walk you through the steps of completing your Profile Settings and Buyer Payment details.

In fact,  why don’t you just sign in to LoobaLee and follow along with me.

*Use the lower-right corner control to view full size

If you have any questions at all, please contact us at CustomerCare@LoobaLee.com.

Happy Listing!  Suzanne