KonMari Movement Sparks Joy in Consignment Business
— -- Marie Kondo, the woman behind the decluttering movement known as KonMari, is now inspiring people to turn their clutter into cash.
Sylvia Weisenberg, a KonMari enthusiast, says she has made about $3,000 so far by consigning the clothes she cleaned out after following the method’s instructions to only keep items that bring you joy.
“I think the most important part of the KonMari method is really focus on your goals, on your life, and decluttering helps you do that,” Weisenberg told ABC News.
Kondo laid out a step-by-step guide to her patented KonMari method in her New York Times bestselling book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing.
In the self-help tome, which has sold over 3 million copies internationally, Kondo encourages readers to examine their belongings and only surround themselves with things that "spark joy."
The success of KonMari has led at least one New York City store owner to decide that she needed to do almost the opposite of what the method espouses: add on to her store.
“People are using the KonMari method, which is what made us decide that we need to open a much bigger store,” said Ina Bernstein, the founder of Ina, a high-end consignment shop.
Bernstein estimates she has seen a 20 percent uptick in items brought into her store for consignment.
KonMari devotees are also turning online to websites like TheRealReal.com and thredUP.com to cash in.
Experts say you are most likely to get the most money back on items that are in season, timeless, in excellent or new condition and those with a designer label, especially for high-end European and American designers.
