During my internship at House of Consignment, I contributed to the daily operations and promotional strategies of a growing resale business. I played a key role in merchandising transitions, developed marketing content, and conducted in-depth product research to accurately identify, describe, and price consigned inventory. This allowed me to apply my academic knowledge of fashion promotion, visual merchandising, and consumer trends in a real-world, community-based retail setting.
Final Project Outcome
This promotional post was created during my internship at House of Consignment under the direction of my site supervisor, Kirsty Roefs. The goal of this piece was to highlight positive customer feedback and enhance social media engagement by showcasing real visitor experiences. I combined photography from various store sections with a customer testimonial to visually communicate the boutique’s eclectic atmosphere and curated inventory. This content was designed for use on Facebook and Instagram as part of our broader digital marketing strategy to build community trust and drive traffic to the store.
What I did
On a typical day, I created promotional graphics, photographed inventory for the store’s website, and helped design seasonal floor displays, window presentations, and department-specific layouts. I frequently updated the store’s online listings with new arrivals and helped maintain visual consistency between the store’s physical space and its digital presence. A major component of my responsibilities included researching incoming inventory to assess authenticity, condition, and value, using secondhand fashion marketplaces, brand archives, and current market trends as references. I also performed quality control, rotated seasonal stock, and helped execute sale events and promotional campaigns. Additionally, I contributed to the launch of new departments and worked remotely on marketing emails and social media content when not on-site.
What I learned
This internship gave me firsthand experience in consignment-based retail, sustainable fashion, and localized marketing strategies. I developed a better understanding of how merchandising and marketing intersect, and how they can be used together to support brand identity and boost customer engagement. I improved my skills in product photography, digital graphic design, pricing research, and store layout planning. I also learned how to balance creativity with efficiency, especially when updating displays and managing high-volume inventory. Most importantly, I became more confident in making decisions about product value and presentation based on real-world data and experience, rather than classroom examples alone.
