5 Key Features to Look for in a Consignment Shop POS System

Running a successful consignment or resale store in the U.S. requires the right tools to manage unique operational challenges. In fact, there are over 25,000 resale and consignment shops in the United States, and the industry continues to grow as new stores open and existing ones expand to multiple locations.

A specialized consignment point-of-sale (POS) system – often called resale store software – can be a game-changer for these businesses. Unlike a standard retail POS, a consignment POS is designed to handle consignor relationships, split payouts, and one-of-a-kind inventory that doesn’t belong to the store. Without these features, shop owners may find themselves doing tedious manual work to track sales and payouts.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore five key features to look for in a consignment shop POS system. Whether you operate a single boutique or a multi-location resale chain, these features will streamline your operations, improve accuracy, and help your business thrive.

1. Robust Inventory Tracking & Management

For any consignment or thrift store, inventory management is foundational. Consignment shops handle unique, secondhand items that must be individually tracked and linked to their owners (consignors). Your POS software should allow you to categorize and track each item while associating it with its original consignor. This ensures you always know which items belong to which seller and can credit the right person when something sells.

Key capabilities to look for in inventory management include:

• Real-Time Stock Tracking: The system should update inventory counts immediately when items are added or sold. This prevents problems like overselling items or losing track of merchandise. Real-time updates are especially vital if you sell both in-store and online, as they keep all channels in sync.
• Barcode Scanning & Label Printing: Modern consignment POS systems often support barcode tagging for each item. You can print price tags with barcodes and scan items at checkout, which speeds up processing and reduces manual errors. Scannable tags also help you quickly look up item details (consignor, price, etc.) during a sale.
• Categorization & Search: The software should let you organize inventory by category, brand, size, season, or other attributes. This makes it easier to locate specific items and analyze what types of products are selling best. For example, you might track how designer handbags perform versus everyday clothing, informing your buying and pricing strategy.
• Inventory Aging & Disposition: In consignment retail, items are often only kept for a defined period (e.g. 60 or 90 days). Look for features to flag or report on aging inventory – items that have been in stock too long without selling. A good system may allow automated markdown schedules (e.g. 15% off after 30 days, 25% off after 60 days) or at least generate lists of items eligible for discount or return to consignors. These tools help you clear stale stock and keep the inventory fresh.
• Multi-Store Inventory Visibility: If you have (or plan to have) multiple locations, centralized inventory control is crucial. The POS should provide a unified view of stock across all stores and warehouses. Staff at one location should be able to check if an item is available at another store, and ideally transfer items between stores as needed. Centralized inventory management prevents scenarios like one store overstocked while another is under-stocked, and it improves customer service by locating items across the company.

A robust inventory management feature not only keeps your stock organized but also improves accuracy. By automating stock updates and tracking items by consignor, the system helps avoid common issues like incorrect stock counts or delayed consignor payments due to missing sales records.

Especially for multi-location operations, a shared inventory system means you can manage all locations from a single dashboard with consistency in data and reporting. In short, inventory tracking in a consignment POS is about knowing exactly what you have, where it is, and who it came from at all times – which forms the backbone of your resale business.

2. Consignor Management & Split Calculations

A defining aspect of consignment businesses is the relationship with consignors – the individuals or vendors who supply the merchandise. Therefore, a top-tier consignment POS must excel at consignor management and automatically handle consignor split calculations (the commission or payout owed to the consignor when an item sells).

Unlike a regular retail store where the business owns all inventory, consignment shops sell on behalf of others and then split the revenue. This process can get complicated without software support. In fact, ordinary POS systems aren’t equipped to split sales transactions or segregate funds for consignors, so stores using generic retail software often end up doing a lot of manual calculations. To avoid that headache, look for the following features in consignor management:

• Automatic Commission Tracking: The POS should allow you to set a consignor split percentage (or amount) and then automatically calculate payouts whenever a sale is made. For example, if the standard split is 60/40 (60% to consignor, 40% to store) and a $50 item sells, the system should immediately log $30 as payable to the consignor and $20 as revenue for the store. It should handle different split rates if you offer tiered commissions (e.g. perhaps a higher split for items above a certain price, or for VIP consignors). Having the software “split sales by consignor or item” ensures accuracy in what each party earns.
  
• Consignor Accounts & Database: The software will maintain a database of all your consignors (sellers) with their contact info and account balance. Every item in inventory is linked to a consignor record, and the system updates their account when items sell. This way, you can see at a glance how much each consignor is owed and for which items. Unlimited consignor capacity is important if you have a large seller base.
  
• Consignor Portal & Communication: A valuable feature to strengthen consignor relationships is a consignor portal or automated communication. Many modern consignment POS platforms provide a self-service portal where consignors can log in from home to see their item statuses, sales, and payout history. This transparency builds trust and saves you from fielding constant inquiries. Even without a full portal, at minimum the system could send automatic email notifications when an item sells (e.g. “Your item #1234 sold for $50, your earnings are $30”). Real-time notification keeps consignors informed and happy with your service.
  
• Payout Processing & Flexibility: When it’s time to pay the consignors, your POS should streamline the payout process. The system should be able to generate reports or statements showing what each consignor sold and what you owe them over a period. Even better, some solutions include integrated payout options – for example, initiating batch payments via check, PayPal, ACH direct deposit, or store credit.
  
  Automated payout processing cuts down on errors and manual work. Additionally, a good system will support different payout methods and incentives. For instance, you might allow consignors to take their earnings as store credit (maybe even at a slightly higher percentage) to encourage them to shop with you – the POS should apply those credits to their account and even let you offer bonuses (some stores give a higher split if taken as store credit vs cash).
  
• Consignor Contract & Terms Management: Some consignment software lets you record the contract terms for each consignor or batch of items – such as the consignment period (how long items will be kept for sale), the agreed split, and any fees. For example, the system might accommodate a tiered split (like 50/50 up to $100, 60/40 above $100) or deduct certain fees before splitting. It’s useful if the POS can store these rules and apply them automatically at sale time, so that each consignor is paid the right amount every time.
  
• Consignor Credit and Settlements: Look for features like applying consignor earnings as credit for purchases in your store. If a consignor wants to use their accrued balance to buy something, the POS should handle that seamlessly at checkout (reducing their payout accordingly). Also, the system should make it easy to settle accounts – marking payouts as paid and resetting balances after you cut a check or send a payment, so your books stay accurate.

Effective consignor management tools are key to keeping your sellers happy and your accounting tidy. By automating split calculations and providing clear records, a consignment POS ensures consignors get paid the correct amount on time without you juggling spreadsheets. This feature is especially crucial if you have many consignors or high item turnover – it saves countless hours and prevents disputes by tracking everything for you.

In a multi-location scenario, consignor management features should work across all stores (e.g. a consignor who brings items to different locations still has one combined account). The goal is to maintain strong, trust-based consignor relationships, which in turn encourages people to bring you more great inventory to sell.

3. Integrated eCommerce & Multichannel Selling

In today’s retail environment, even local consignment and thrift stores are expanding beyond the physical storefront. Selling online opens your store to a national (or global) audience of shoppers hunting for unique secondhand finds. Thus, a modern consignment POS system should facilitate eCommerce integration – allowing you to easily list and sell items online while keeping your in-store and online inventory in sync.

When evaluating resale store software, consider how it handles multichannel selling (selling through your website, online marketplaces, social media, etc.) and how well it integrates those channels with your in-store operations. Key points include:

• Built-In eCommerce Platform vs Third-Party Integration: Some consignment POS systems come with a built-in online store module or proprietary eCommerce site. Others achieve online selling by integrating with third-party eCommerce platforms (like Shopify, WooCommerce) or marketplaces (like eBay, Etsy). There are pros and cons to each approach:
  • Integrated eCommerce Solution: This means the POS and the online storefront are part of one system (or provided by the same vendor). The advantage is seamless connectivity – your products, inventory levels, and sales data are all connected in one database. For example, with an integrated setup, adding a new item in your POS can automatically publish it to your online store, and a sale made online will instantly decrement inventory in-store.
    
    This “connects products, inventory, and sales in one streamlined system,” simplifying management. It’s also convenient to have a single support team for both POS and eCommerce. However, the downside is you might have less flexibility in features or design compared to specialized eCommerce platforms, and you may need to use whatever online store solution the POS vendor provides (which could be basic or require an added fee).
    
  • Third-Party eCommerce Integration: In this approach, you use a dedicated eCommerce platform or marketplace and link it to your consignment POS via an integration or plugin. For instance, you might use Shopify or a WordPress/WooCommerce site for online sales, and your POS syncs inventory with it. Or you list items on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or Poshmark and rely on the POS to update inventory when something sells.
    
    The benefit here is you can leverage powerful eCommerce platforms and large marketplaces to reach more customers. Many consignment software solutions now offer real-time integrations with popular POS and eCommerce apps. A good integration will ensure that whenever an item sells on one channel, all other channels update to prevent double-selling.
    
    For example, if your POS integrates with Shopify, a sale on your Shopify online store will automatically mark the item sold in-store as well. Third-party integration gives you flexibility to choose the online channels that best fit your business. The challenge is that setup can be more complex – you have to maintain two systems – and if the integration isn’t robust, there could be sync delays or errors.
    
    It’s important to choose a consignment POS that offers official, reliable integrations (e.g., via the platform’s app marketplace or an API) so that data flows smoothly. When done right, this approach lets you “get the best of both worlds” – a user-friendly POS for in-person sales and a dedicated eCommerce tool for online, with everything kept in sync.
    
• Real-Time Inventory Sync: Whichever route you take (built-in or integrated), ensure that inventory is synchronized in real time between your POS and online store. One-of-a-kind items are common in consignment; you typically have single units of each SKU. If you sell that one antique vase in-store, the online listing needs to instantly reflect that it’s gone (and vice versa).
  
  Some consignment systems boast “item quantity is synchronized in real-time” across in-store and eCommerce channels, which is exactly what you need. This prevents overselling the same item to two different buyers and saves you from manual reconciliation.
  
• Multichannel Marketplace Support: Consider whether the POS can help you list and manage sales on third-party marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, or specialty resale sites. For example, certain resale software (or their integrations) can let you post products to eBay or Facebook directly from your inventory, and then capture those sales back into the system.
  
  Not every consignment shop will use these channels, but they can be powerful for expanding your reach, especially for collectible or higher-value items.
  
• Centralized Order Management: If you do sell across multiple online channels, your POS or its connected system should ideally provide a unified order management interface. You’d like to see all orders in one place (whether they came from in-store, your website, or a marketplace), and handle fulfillment from there.
  
  This makes it easier to track sales and ensures you don’t miss any orders. Some systems will consolidate incoming online orders and even print shipping labels or tie into shipping software to streamline fulfillment.
  
• Integrated Payments Online: If the eCommerce integration is tight, your payment processing for online sales can be unified with in-store as well. For instance, you might use the same payment processor or have all sales (online and offline) feed into the same reporting system for payouts. One example is a consignment platform integrating with Shopify so that in-store and online transactions are unified under one payment processing system. This can simplify your bookkeeping.
  
• Website Features for Thrift/Consignment: If using an integrated website from your POS vendor, check if it supports features you need, such as filtering by product category, showing multiple images, or even indicating the consignor or story behind items (some upscale consignment shops like to add a personal touch about items). Also ensure it can handle sales tax properly for online orders based on state, and shipping calculations.

Overall, eCommerce integration is about choosing a solution that will let you “expand your store seamlessly with an online presence, connecting products, inventory, and sales in one system”. In the U.S. market, more and more shoppers are comfortable buying secondhand items online, and even traditional thrift stores are launching web stores.

Whether you opt for an all-in-one platform or a hybrid approach, make sure your consignment POS supports your online selling ambitions. The extra revenue stream can be significant, and your system should make it easy to manage without double data entry.

Pros/Cons Tip: If you’re tech-savvy or already have an online following, integrating a third-party platform like Shopify or WooCommerce might give you a more robust online store. On the other hand, if you want simplicity, a built-in eCommerce from a consignment software provider might be turn-key. Just weigh the cost and features – and remember, the key is inventory sync and data consistency.

Many successful resale shops use a combination: for example, using Square or Shopify POS in-store (for its ease of use and credit card processing) combined with a dedicated consignment inventory system on the back end that feeds both the POS and online channels.

This kind of integration can offer a “best of both worlds” scenario, as one case study noted – the store gets a modern checkout experience and robust online sales, while the consignment software handles the unique workflows like consignor tracking and portals.

4. Multi-Location Support and Scalability

As your consignment business grows, you might expand from a single store to multiple locations or even franchise operations. Multi-location support is therefore a key feature to consider if you have ambitions beyond one store (and even if you don’t today, it’s wise to have a system that can scale with you). This feature ensures that your POS and consignment software can handle the complexities of operating more than one store seamlessly, while still allowing each store some independence in day-to-day operations.

Here are important aspects of multi-location support in a consignment POS:

• Centralized Database: All locations should share one central database for inventory, consignor accounts, and customer records. This allows you to maintain a unified view of stock levels across all stores via a single dashboard. With a centralized system, an item consigned at Store A can be sold at Store B and properly credited, because the system knows it’s the same item. It also means a consignor’s account is global – if they consign items at multiple branches, all their items and sales roll up to one account for payout.
• Location-Specific Tracking: While data is shared, the POS should still let you track sales and inventory by each location. Location-specific reporting is critical – you want to see how each store is performing individually, as well as the company as a whole. The software should tag each transaction and item to a store location, so you can generate reports like “Monthly Sales for Store #2” or “Inventory on hand at Store #3”. This helps you identify your top-performing locations and those that might need attention.
• Inventory Transfers and Visibility: Multi-store operation benefits greatly from the ability to transfer inventory between stores. Your POS/inventory system should support creating a transfer (moving items from one location’s inventory to another’s) with proper record-keeping. Staff should also be able to check item availability at other locations and reserve or request transfers.
  
  For example, a customer in your downtown branch is looking for a specific designer purse that happens to be in your uptown branch – your system can show it’s in stock there, and you could arrange to bring it over or even ship it to the customer. This unified inventory approach maximizes sales opportunities and customer satisfaction.
• Consignor Management Across Stores: If you have consignors who drop off items at different locations, your software should handle that smoothly. Ideally, the consignor shouldn’t have to have separate accounts for each store. A good multi-location consignment system will allow consignors to bring items to any branch and still have one combined payout.
  
  From the management side, you might see which store sold each consignor’s items, but when paying out you can issue one check or payment that covers all sales company-wide. This simplifies payouts and account updates for consignors across multiple stores.
• Employee Permissions and Roles: With multiple stores, you may want certain staff (like store managers) to only access their location’s data, while higher-level admins can see everything. Look for support for role-based user permissions in the software. This way, an employee at Store A might not accidentally edit inventory at Store B unless authorized.
  
  Headquarters can maintain oversight of all locations, and perhaps each store manager can run reports or manage inventory just for their own store. Role-based access controls keep operations efficient and secure across the organization.
• Cloud-Based Connectivity: Generally, multi-location support goes hand-in-hand with a cloud-based POS system. A cloud system stores data on remote servers, so all locations connect to the same live database via the internet. This is far superior to older standalone systems that would require manual data merging. With cloud POS, sales and inventory info update instantly from anywhere, and you as the owner can log in from home or on the road to see real-time performance.
  
  It’s no surprise that many of the best consignment POS solutions are cloud-based, providing the backbone for multi-store management and scalability. (Cloud systems also help with data backup and security, which is a nice bonus – your data is safe even if a local computer crashes, and you typically get automatic updates and backups.)
• Scalability & Pricing Model: From a business perspective, check how the software charges for additional stores or POS terminals. Some providers charge per location or register, which can add up as you grow. Others might include multiple stores in one monthly fee or offer volume discounts. Ensure the solution you choose can grow with you without exorbitant cost or technical hurdles. It should be as easy as adding a new location in settings and getting that store online, rather than implementing an entirely separate system.

Having strong multi-location support means your consignment business can expand confidently. You’ll enjoy unified control (consistent inventory and consignor management everywhere) plus local flexibility (each store can operate day-to-day without stepping on each other’s toes).

For example, one consignment software’s multi-location module advertises features like “unified inventory oversight, location-specific sales reports, and role-based staff access” to help owners make smart decisions about stock distribution and sales strategies across all their stores.

Even if you currently run just one store, investing in a scalable POS system is wise – it future-proofs your business and spares you a migration later. And in the meantime, you can still benefit from cloud access (manage your store remotely) and robust data handling that such systems provide.

5. Comprehensive Reporting and Analytics

In any retail business, data is king, and consignment stores are no exception. A POS system with strong reporting and analytics features will give you insights to make informed decisions and keep your finances in order. However, consignment and resale introduce some specialized reporting needs – particularly around consignor sales and payouts – so you’ll want a system that caters to those alongside standard retail metrics.

Here are some reporting features and metrics to look for:

• Sales and Profit Reports: At a basic level, the POS should produce daily, monthly, and annual sales reports, including gross sales, returns, taxes collected, and net revenue. Since in consignment you split sales, it’s useful if the system can also show store profit versus consignor payouts.
  
  Some consignment POS reports will explicitly break down, for a given period, how much was paid out to consignors and how much the store earned in commissions (profit). This helps you gauge profitability and plan for cash flow (ensuring you reserve the right amount for payouts).
  
• Consignor Sales Reports: Perhaps the most critical reporting need is tracking sales by consignor. The system should be able to generate a consignor report or statement – essentially an itemized list of each consignor’s items sold, selling prices, and what the consignor earned vs. what the store earned. This is not only useful internally, but often you will provide these statements to consignors with their checks. It builds transparency and trust, as each consignor can see which items sold and for how much. The POS should calculate the totals automatically, so at payout time you can simply print or email the statements.
  
• Inventory and Item Reports: Look for reports on inventory status – for example, items currently in stock by category or by consignor, items that have been in stock over X days (aging report), and items that have been marked down or are nearing the end of their consignment period. An Inventory Aging report flags items that are getting old, which can prompt you to discount them or return them to the consignor. Also, an inventory valuation report (total value of inventory at cost or expected payout) can be useful for accounting and insurance purposes.
  
• Category/Brand Performance: A good analytics suite will show you which categories or brands are your top sellers and which are lagging. For example, a report might reveal that women’s shoes are selling extremely well this season, whereas men’s jackets are slow. Or that Brand X handbags have a higher sell-through rate than Brand Y.
  
  Such insights help in curating future inventory – you’ll know what to accept more of and what to avoid. Consignment software with analytics often includes category performance and brand analysis metrics, highlighting top-selling categories and high-performing brands. This allows you to fine-tune your inventory mix and pricing strategies.
  
• Financial Integrations (Accounting & Tax Reporting): Keeping your books straight is vital. Many consignment POS systems offer integration with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. This means daily sales and payout data can sync to your accounting ledger, saving you from manually entering numbers. It ensures your financial statements reflect the correct cost of goods (since payouts to consignors are a cost) and revenue.
  
  Additionally, consider tax reporting needs: for example, if you pay any consignor above a certain threshold (currently $600 in a year for U.S., which may require a 1099 form), the system might help you track that and even generate tax reports. One pawn/consignment POS noted that it could automatically generate IRS Form 8300 for large cash transactions – while that specific case is more for pawn shops dealing in high cash amounts, it illustrates the benefit of a system that can handle compliance reporting.
  
• Real-Time Dashboards and Visualizations: It’s helpful if the software provides a user-friendly dashboard with key stats in real time – for instance, today’s sales total, number of items sold, top seller of the week, etc. Graphs and charts can make it easier to digest performance trends. Some consignment platforms emphasize real-time dashboards and data visualization tools that turn raw sales data into actionable insights. Visual reports can quickly show trends like seasonal spikes or slowdowns, inventory turnover rates, and more.
  
• Multi-Location Reporting: As mentioned earlier, if you have multiple stores, reporting should be able to filter by location or consolidate as needed. You might want a report comparing location A vs B sales, or a company-wide roll-up. Make sure the POS can slice data in these ways.
  
• Consignor Account Analytics: Beyond just sales, you might analyze consignor behavior – e.g., who are your most profitable consignors (bringing items that sell fast and for good prices)? Some systems might let you run reports on consignor performance, which could inform how you incentivize or recruit consignors (perhaps giving top consignors a slightly higher split, or targeting marketing to dormant consignors to bring in more items).
  
• Scheduled and Custom Reports: Check if the system allows custom report generation or scheduled emails. It can be useful to receive a weekly summary report automatically via email. Also, ensure you can export data (to Excel or CSV) if you want to do deeper analysis on your own.

Using these analytics, you can make smarter decisions. For instance, if reports show a certain category has a low sell-through, you might adjust pricing or stop accepting those items. If your dashboard reveals that consignor payouts are often delayed due to manual processing, that highlights a need to use the software’s payout features more fully or integrate an automated payment service.

Importantly, reporting builds credibility with consignors and insight for you. When you can provide clear, accurate statements and answer any question with data, consignors feel confident. Internally, the ability to quickly see “what’s selling, what’s not, and where we stand financially” is invaluable.

Modern consignment POS systems emphasize this by syncing sales data with accounting and providing real-time performance metrics across categories and locations. All of this ensures that when it comes time to make strategic decisions or close out the month’s books, you have all the information you need at your fingertips.

FAQs

Q1: What is a consignment POS system and why do I need one for my resale store?

Answer: A consignment POS system is point-of-sale software specifically designed for consignment and resale businesses (including thrift stores, secondhand boutiques, etc.). It includes features beyond a standard retail POS, such as consignor tracking, sales split calculations, and payout management. In a consignment store, you’re selling items on behalf of consignors and owe them a percentage of each sale.

A regular POS might handle basic checkout and inventory, but it won’t automatically credit the right consignor or calculate commissions. You’d end up doing those tasks manually, which is time-consuming and error-prone. A consignment POS streamlines that process by keeping track of who owns each item, splitting the sale amounts, and generating reports of what you owe each consignor.

In short, if you run a resale business in the U.S. – where dozens or hundreds of different people might be the owners of your inventory – a consignment POS system (or resale store software) is essential to manage those unique needs efficiently and accurately.

Q2: Can I use a regular retail POS system for a consignment shop?

Answer: You could use a generic retail POS for a small consignment operation, but you will quickly encounter limitations. A standard POS treats all inventory as store-owned and typically lacks any concept of a consignor or split payout. This means after each sale, you’d have to manually figure out the consignor’s share and track it in a spreadsheet or separate system.

As your inventory and consignor list grows, this becomes unmanageable and prone to mistakes. Ordinary POS systems aren’t built to automatically split sales or handle consignor accounts, so most consignment stores find they need either a dedicated consignment POS or an add-on integration. The benefit of a specialized system is that it will automate all those behind-the-scenes consignment tasks, saving you a lot of labor.

For example, when an item sells, the software will immediately attribute the sale to the correct consignor and update what’s owed to them without any manual steps. That said, some very small-scale sellers start with a tool like Square POS plus manual tracking, but nearly all growing consignment shops eventually switch to software that supports consignment features. It’s simply more efficient and provides a better experience for both the store and the consignors.

Q3: How do consignor splits and payouts work in a consignment POS system?

Answer: In a consignment POS, you can define the consignor split (also called commission or payout rate) according to your agreement with consignors. Common splits are 50/50, 60/40, etc., where the first number is the consignor’s share and the second is the store’s. The software will have this info either globally or per consignor/item. When an item is sold, the system automatically calculates the split – for example, for a $100 sale at a 60/40 split, it will record $60 to be paid to the consignor and $40 as revenue for the store.

This transaction is usually logged in both the daily sales records and the consignor’s account. Consignor payout management features then allow you to run reports of all unpaid balances to consignors. Typically, at chosen intervals (weekly, monthly, or once a consignor has accumulated a certain amount), you’ll issue payouts. The POS can produce a payout statement detailing each item sold and the total due to that consignor. Some systems even let you print checks directly or send electronic payments.

For instance, modern cloud-based consignment software might support ACH direct deposits or integrations with services to pay consignors via PayPal etc. Until you issue the payout, the consignor’s earnings remain as a balance on their account – some stores allow the consignor to use that balance as store credit if they wish to buy items in the shop.

Once the payout is made, the account balance resets (or reduces by that amount). The POS keeps a history of payouts too, so you can see what was paid and when. Overall, the consignor split and payout process in a good POS system is largely automated, ensuring each consignor gets the right amount and providing transparency through reports or consignor portals.

Q4: Does consignment POS software support selling items online?

Answer: Yes, many consignment POS systems today support eCommerce integration or have built-in tools for online sales. Selling online is increasingly important for resale stores – for example, to reach customers on platforms like Shopify, your own website, or marketplaces (eBay, Poshmark, etc.). Consignment software can sync with these online channels so that your inventory stays consistent.

When evaluating options, you’ll find two main approaches: integrated eCommerce (where the POS includes an online store module, or the vendor offers a combined in-store/online platform) and third-party integrations (where the POS connects to external eCommerce solutions). Both can work well. With an integrated eCommerce, you get a one-stop solution – the system will let you create an online catalog of your items that ties directly into your inventory.

This is convenient for ensuring real-time updates; as soon as something sells in store or online, it reflects everywhere. If using third-party integration, say your POS connects with Shopify, then you manage your website through Shopify but the integration means that adding a product in the consignment system can publish it to Shopify, and Shopify orders come back into the system automatically.

The key is that inventory counts and sales data synchronize so you’re not accidentally selling the same consigned item twice. Additionally, some consignment platforms integrate with niche resale marketplaces or allow bulk listing to places like eBay to expand your reach. Before you commit, ensure the software supports the online channels important to you and read reviews about how smooth the integration is.

In summary, yes – consignment POS software often supports online selling, either through its own eCommerce capabilities or by playing nicely with popular online store platforms. This enables a true multichannel sales strategy, which is increasingly where the U.S. resale market is headed (given the rapid growth of online thrift and resale shopping).

What are some other important features or considerations for consignment POS systems?

Answer: In addition to the five key features detailed above (inventory management, consignor splits, eCommerce, multi-location, and reporting), there are a few other considerations to keep in mind:

• Integrated Payment Processing: You’ll want a POS that can handle modern payment methods (credit/debit cards, contactless payments, mobile wallets) seamlessly. Most cloud POS systems either come with built-in payment processing or integrate with third-party processors. Ensure the rates are competitive and that it supports things like chip cards and possibly even EBT if that’s relevant to your thrift store. Some consignment systems also allow you to pass credit card fees to consignors or buyers if needed (for instance, deducting a portion of processing fees before splitting payouts – this can be a way to share costs, though policies vary by store).
• Customer Management and Loyalty: Resale stores benefit from repeat shoppers. Some POS software includes CRM features or loyalty programs (e.g., tracking customer purchases, offering reward points or punch cards). While not consignment-specific, it’s a nice bonus if your POS can also manage customer data and marketing. For example, capturing customer emails at checkout for promos, or running a loyalty program to encourage frequent buyers.
• Ease of Use and Support: A feature is only as good as its usability. Look for a system with an intuitive interface, since you and your employees will be using it daily. Training new staff should be straightforward. Also, consider the customer support and training resources of the software provider. Do they offer onboarding assistance, tutorials, and responsive help in case something goes wrong during a busy sales day? Good support can be a lifesaver, especially during the initial setup and if you run into any issues processing consignor payouts or end-of-day closing.
• Hardware and Mobility: Think about what hardware you need and whether the POS works on it. Many newer systems run on tablets (iPad/Android) or via a web browser, which can be cost-effective and space-saving. Others might require a Windows PC. Ensure it’s compatible with receipt printers, barcode scanners, and tag printers that you plan to use. If you do pop-up sales or trade shows, a mobile POS capability (like using an app on a phone with a card swiper) could be helpful – and then all sales still feed into your central system.
• Pricing and Scalability: Finally, consider the pricing model – is it a monthly subscription (common for cloud systems) or a one-time license? Are there extra fees for additional user accounts, consignor limits, or transaction volumes? Also verify if the system imposes limits (some entry-level plans might cap the number of consignors or inventory items). Choose a solution that fits your budget but also won’t constrain you as you grow.

Remember that the best consignment POS system for your store will depend on your specific needs – size of inventory, number of consignors, number of locations, and whether you do online sales. It’s often helpful to take advantage of free trials or demos. By ensuring the software has the core features discussed (inventory tracking, consignor splits, eCommerce, multi-store, and robust reporting), you’ll be well on your way to selecting a solution that saves you time, reduces errors, and lets you focus on growing your consignment business.

Conclusion

Choosing the right consignment shop POS system is a critical decision that can profoundly impact your resale business’s efficiency and success. The five key features outlined above – inventory management, consignor split calculations, eCommerce integration, multi-location support, and comprehensive reporting – address the unique challenges of consignment and thrift retail.

A system with these capabilities will help you keep track of every item (and who it belongs to), automate the complex financial split with consignors, expand your sales across online channels, scale up to multiple stores, and gain data-driven insights into your operations.

In the fast-growing U.S. resale market, where new stores are popping up and existing ones are scaling by about 7% a year, having a powerful consignment POS is almost a necessity. It streamlines daily tasks – from quickly processing intake of items with barcodes to printing payout checks – and it reduces manual errors that could erode trust with your consignors or cost you profit.

Moreover, with the trend of shopping moving online and consumers expecting a seamless experience, the integration of in-store and eCommerce through your POS will position your business to reach a wider audience without double the work.

When evaluating options, remember to consider your business size and growth plans. A single-location vintage boutique might prioritize ease of use and affordability, whereas a multi-location franchise will need robust centralized control.

Fortunately, many consignment POS solutions today are cloud-based and modular, so they can serve small startups and then grow with you (adding features or locations as needed). Don’t hesitate to compare a few systems, read reviews, and even ask for references from other consignment store owners. The investment in the right software will pay off through saved time, fewer headaches, and happier consignors and customers.

In summary, the ideal consignment POS (resale store software) for your shop is one that handles the consignment basics flawlessly – tracking inventory not owned by you, splitting sales and managing consignor accounts – while also providing the modern tools of retail – like integrated online selling, real-time analytics, and scalable multi-store management.

With such a system in place, you can focus on sourcing great merchandise and serving customers, knowing that the technology has your operational back. By ensuring the five key features above are covered, you’ll be well-equipped to streamline your store’s operations and thrive in the ever-expanding resale industry.