Preloved Checklist: How to prepare your items to trade in at Arco

Sorting of incoming stock each week during the days the shop is closed.

As you know, the beautiful, preloved pieces in Arco come from you, our community. Each week, I receive dozens of bags of items from parents, filled with clothes, books and toys their children have outgrown. It takes me on average two weeks to get to every bag, sort and assess each item for credit, price and label them, and then get back to you. The process is tedious - but it’s a labor of love!

However, please note…

Trading in items to a curated vintage boutique is not the same as donating to a charity shop. What I mean is that if you want store credit for your items, they need to be ready for resale. You should carefully inspect and clean each of your items before trading them in.

Here are the key things to think of before bringing your items to Arco:

1.        Freshly wash all clothing items within two weeks of bringing them in.

2.        Inspect clothing for holes, rips, and stains. Sleeves and back seams are key areas for damage to look at closely.

3.        Make sure books have no ripped pages or other damage.

4.        Count all puzzle pieces and parts to games, insuring they are complete.

5.        Wipe down toys and shoes with a soapy cloth, then let them dry out in the sun.

Remember, too, that I do not accept brands like Primark and Shein, so please save me time by leaving those at home.

Thank you for all your enthusiasm, support and beautiful preloved items brought in so far to Arco. We just reached 230 trading mamas and papas, which is quite the number in under two years of operations!