Each spring and winter, most of us will go through our closet and find those items that we no longer use. We may find sweaters, jeans or even hats, scarves and other accessories. That also means you need to buy new items to replace those you are getting rid of. That means MORE spending!! Have you ever considered a clothing swap party?
This is a great way to get rid of the items you don’t want and get others you do! You and your friends each clean out your closets and bring those items to a friend’s house. They are set up and then, you all “shop” from one another! It is the perfect way to save money and bring some new life to your wardrobe.
The key to hosting a good party is to keep it on track and organized. Check out these tips to have a successful – and FUN – party!
1. Set a date. Make sure you give everyone at least 3 – 4 weeks notice. With busy schedules, the further out you can schedule your party the better. You can send evites or even create a FREE event on Facebook to invited your friends. Make sure you share the date, time and location – so that everyone has all of the details.
2. Set the rules. You don’t want someone to bring in half of their closet and another person 3 handbags. Determine the number of items they can bring in and also what type of condition. Many times, asking everyone to bring 7 – 10 items is a fair number. This can include clothes and accessories.
As mentioned, you also want to make sure that the items are in good condition. That means no holes, broken zippers, missing buttons.
In order to keep the fun going, you may also want to have your guests draw a number from a bowl when they arrive. This will determine the swapping order – so they know how long they will have to hope that item they want sits untouched!
3. Have it organized. You need to make sure that your party is arranged properly. A big pile of clothes on the table won’t help anyone. Instead, have items organized – sort of like you may see at a store.
Borrow a clothing rack and hang up like items together, such as shirts, pants and coats. Set boxes on a table and then cover with a sheet and display handbags (varying heights on top of the boxes). Use removable wall hangers and display necklaces and/or scarves.
The more organized the party, the better it will be.
4. Visit the rules again.When everyone arrives and you are ready to start, make sure you go back over the rules again. The most important rule is that no one can leave with more items they brought. So, if they came with 5, they only get to leave with 5. Make sure you also determine the swap rotation, so everyone gets a fair turn (see Step 2 above).
5. Donate. your guests to submit an idea for where to donate the left over items. Then, draw one or choose the majority. When the party ends, box up the remaining items and take them to that location.
You can also allow guests one more “freebie” to grab any left over items they may have wanted, before the box is closed.