Tags and labels are an excellent way to provide your clothing designs with a professional touch. However, attaching price tags can be a challenging task. Done wrong, you’ll end up damaging your clothes, and while simple stickers might seem like a good option, they fall off easily or get shuffled around, making a real clothing tag crucial to your business.

There are several different techniques to professionally tag your clothes. Whether you’re running a retail business or need to price clothes for your next garage sale, here are a few smart, proven, and effective ways to tag your clothing properly.

Use a Standard Tagging Gun

A tag gun is the standard option for tagging your clothes and is effective for normal weight fabrics such as cotton and denim. To use a tag gun, first slide the lock lever on the gun forward. Then, insert the needle and drop the round edge of the fastener into the guide. Once done, remove the guard, gently squeeze the trigger to test the gun, and attach the price tag.

For tagging accessories such as belts, ties, bibs, socks, hair bows, bagged toys, etc, first place the items inside a clear plastic bag, then tag the item through the plastic. This will allow the price tag information to be visible without the customer having to open the bag.

Utilize a Safety Pin

Another way to tag your clothes is by utilizing a safety pin. This is an excellent method for moments when you’re short on resources and need to tag your clothes quickly.

All you need to do here is stick the safety pin through both the care and price tag, then settle the price tag on top. Once done, shift the safety pin so it’s nested away behind the tags. In case the item doesn’t have a care tag, place the pin against a strong side stitch.

Make Your Own Hang Tag

For a home made solution, create your own hang tags using twine and a hole punch. First, punch a single hole in the center of the price tag. Once done, cut 8-inches of twine and slowly thread it through the punched hole in the tag. To connect the price tag to the clothing, you can either tie the twine through the care tag or simply thread the price tag through a button hole.

Stick the Tag on the Adhesive Label in Front of the Clothing

Stickers are perfect for selling clothes at yard sales and flea markets. For an effective, professional look, stick a blank label on the care tag to ensure your tag doesn’t get removed. Your labels can be pre-printed with prices, or alternatively, left blank and filled in with a Sharpie or other marker. Make sure any numbers or letters are written out legibly.

If you’re running a large retail business, you should consider theft as a hazard for your inventory. Security tags are a quick way to prevent theft while providing neat tags for your clothes. 

Security tags are specially designed to latch safely on clothing and must be removed with a specialized tool kept at the register. Security tags also contain sensors that can track clothing, and alert you when a product leaves the store unauthorized. These tags are best used in retail for expensive items such as handbags, coats, and shoes.

How to Tag & Price Your Items

Here are just the most important rules to remember when preparing your items. Not following these rules may result in your items being turned away.

• You set your own price, there is a $2.50  minimum
• All items must be clean, stain free, in working order, with all parts attached
• Hang clothing items with the top of the hanger facing left, making a question mark
• All clothing items must be put on size appropriate hangers, including onesies. We no longer accept clothing in plastic bags, with the exception of socks.
• Attach the tag on the front left (over the heart) of the garment for hanging clothes. If using a tagging gun, attach the tag under the left arm in the seam, NOT through the front of the shirt.
• Use white cardstock to print your tags. NO PAPER TAGS, and NO COLORED CARDSTOCK!
• Include a detailed description of your item, including brand name, color, and style. NO GENERIC DESCRIPTION like “pants” or “t-shirt”
• Pick the appropriate category from the drop down menu to ensure proper sales tax
• Tags must be attached with a safety pin/tagging gun, or string/zip-tie on non-clothing items
• No alterations to information on your tag
• Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission
• There is a limit of 35 books picture books
• There is a limit of 50 items in the “Infant Clothing 0m-24m” category per sex
• There is a 400 item limit per consignor. Consignors that consistently have an above average sell through can ask to have that limit raised
• We reserve the right to refuse any item
• There is a $5 handling fee for every 10 items that are refused at drop off, or that are later pulled from the floor. There is a $5 fee per item for items that are pulled off the floor due to recalls. Please read through our “Accepted Items” and “How To Prepare Your Items” pages carefully, and inspect your items thoroughly, before dropping them off.

Pricing Guidelines

You set your own price. We suggest anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 of the original price with a minimum price of $2.50. Brand names and quality items usually bring more. Make sure you price to sell! Great places to do some research on pricing are e-bay and local consignment stores. We very strongly recommend that you mark your items to go 1/2 off for Sunday. If they did not sell at full price on Saturday, they are very unlikely to sell at full price on Sunday, but many shoppers will return specifically for the discounted items.

You have to bring a minimum of 20 items, or $50.00 worth. The minimum price per item is $2.50. You can group two or more items together to reach a higher amount and to print fewer tags. We have found that clothes from newborn to 3T sell better in sets, 4T and up sell better as separates.

You can price items above $50.00 at less than half price during 1/2 off day. For example you could price a carseat/stroller set at $100.00 regular, and at $70.00 during 1/2 off day. Please see further down the page for details on how to do this.

Prepare Items

All items should be cleaned and clothes should be ironed. All parts must be present. If your item has a couple of smaller parts (e.g. doll house with furniture) please put all the small parts in one zip-loc bag.

Clothing on hangers must be hung with the top of the hanger facing left, making a question mark shape. Pin sets together on one hanger. Clothing items on hangers sell better. Small clothing items such as onesies, infant shirts, sleepers, etc. can be put in zip-loc bags on tables.  Please have your items on hangers when you arrive, it will make the check-in process a lot quicker. We will have a limited amount of hangers available for sale for $0.25 each, for those whose clothes are not hung properly.

You MUST wipe down your equipment such as high chairs, strollers, or other toys. 

Car seats, pack ‘n plays and cribs must have the owner manual attached (zip-loc bag secured with a zip tie to it works well), and must be checked for recalls with the Consumer Safety Commission.

We do not accept car seats that are older than 4 years, or cribs that are manufactured before June 2011.

Guidelines By Product Type

Your description must include the brand name and a description of your items. We will not accept any items with tags that are generic, such as “clothing”, or “toy”. Make sure sets are properly labeled with the number of items, e.g. “Gymboree pant/shirt set, blue w/stripes”.

All items must be entered through our inventory system. You will be able to enter your item description, price, donation preference and discount preference. You can print your tags at any time, however, we found that it is easiest to print tags after you have entered a few of your items. You will be able to fit six tags onto one page of cardstock and then cut them out. Or you can enter all your items and then print all of them at the same time. Just make sure you have all your items entered and your tags printed by the deadline. You will not be able to access the inventory system after that date because we are setting the program up for the sale.

Do not use paper for your tags, use white cardstock only! Paper is too easily torn from the garment and can be lost. We cannot sell items without tags! You can get reasonably priced cardstock at local stores such as Target, Michael’s and Sams Club.

Mark your tags for donation and for 1/2 off day as you wish. You can mark each tag individually, so you don’t have to discount all items, or donate all items, but only selected ones. If you mark your items to donate, they will automatically be marked to go half off.

Make a new tag if you made a mistake. Do not cross out, or overwrite anything on your tag, no whiteout, no changed prices. Please do include “obvious” things such as color or long-sleeve/short-sleeve on your tags. This is the only way that we can see if shoppers tamper with your tags, or exchanged higher priced tags for lower ones! (Yes, unfortunately, that does happen). It also helps us to match a missing tag to a tagless item to put them back out on the sales floor instead of having them removed. You can change your tags at any time and print a new one for the same item, up until the deadline noted on the sign-in screen.

Large items: You can price items above $50.00 at less than half price during 1/2 off day. For example you could price a carseat/stroller set at $100.00 regular, and at $70.00 during 1/2 off day. To do this you have to enter the item twice into the inventory system. Once with the full price, a second time with the reduced price. Mark both tags with DISCOUNT NO! You can then hand write (this is the only time you are allowed to hand write on tags!) on the tags which tag is for which day. Mark the lower priced tag with “Sunday Only”.  Feel free to use a colored marker for this. Attach both tags securely to the item.

Tag location: Attach the card with a safety pin to the upper left front of clothes, or if you are looking at your item pin it to your right. You can punch a hole at the top of the tag to make it easier to slide the safety pin through. Remember all clothing is to be hung on hangers with the top of the hanger facing left, making a question mark shape. DO NOT STAPLE the tag to clothing or other items!

If you are using a tagging gun, DO NOT put the barb through the front of an item as that will leave a hole. Find a seam like under the arm or the side of the pants, or you can put them through the sizing label of your item.

Back-up tag (optional): You can also put masking tape with your consignor number on your items. Should the original tag get lost, we at least know whose item it is, and can possibly re-tag it. Put the tape in a visible, but not distracting, place (like on the inside tag of clothes, or the bottom of a stroller or tricycle).

Hanging sets: Sets must be securely pinned together. Pants should be pinned to the bottom part of the hanger, not to another clothing item. You want shoppers to see both pieces without having to take them off the hangers. Please pin single pants to the hanger by the waist, or use pant hangers.

Tagging toys and baby equipment: You can punch a hole in the top of your tag and attach the tag securely with a ribbon or string. Do not use scotch tape.

Tagging onesies, socks, small items, small toy sets: Onesies, socks, bibs, rattles, hair bows and other small items will sell much better if sold as a set. Please put several similar items together in one ziploc bag. Clearly label what is in the bag on your tag, and securely tape the bag shut. Multiple items that go together must be securely attached together. Your pieces will get lost if they are not securely bundled. Zip loc bags and zip ties work great.

Tagging toys and equipment with multiple items: For items with multiples pieces, print the same tag with the same item number multiple times and attach them to the appropriate items. You can then mark the tags by hand (this is the second only time you are allowed to handwrite on tags!) item 1 of x, item 2 of x, etc. Only use multiple tags for items that belong together, e.g. a doll playhouse (first item) with equipment (in a ziploc bag, second item).

Tagging shoes: If shoes have laces, tie them together or put a curling ribbon through the eye holes or velcro to help keep them together. Attach your tag with ribbon or string.

Important Tax Information

Make sure you choose the correct item category from the drop down menu. Due to Minnesota tax law we must charge tax on all non-clothing items, clothing items are tax free. When you enter your items you can pick from a vast selection of categories to place your items in, such as “toys”, or “clothes – girls”, etc. For example, dance costumes are tax free, dance shoes are taxed. Receiving blankets are tax free, regular blankets are taxed. Here are a few of the most common items and which category they must be placed in to correctly charge sales tax:

Examples of nontaxable clothing that can be categorized under “Tax-Free Accessories”, or the appropriate clothing category (shoes, clothing-boys, etc.): Baby receiving blankets, bandanas, bath robes, bathing suits and caps, belts, bibs, caps and hats (ski, hunting, fishing, golf, baseball), costumes, dancing costumes, diaper inserts, diapers (cloth and disposable), ear muffs, footlets, gloves for general use (cloth, leather, canvas, latex, vinyl, etc.), gym suits and shorts, hats, karate uniforms, mittens, neckties, rainwear (ponchos, jackets, shirts and pants), scarves, snowmobile suits and boots, sun visors, steel toe shoes and boots, suspenders, uniforms (athletic and nonathletic). Other items not listed here like new baby bottles or non-clothing items can be categorized under “Baby Equipment”

Examples of taxable clothing accessories or equipment that must be categorized under “Taxable Accessories”, “Sports-Equipment”, “Bags, Purses, Backpacks for kids”: Barrettes, costume masks (sold separately from costume), crib blankets, sheets, mattress pads, rubber sheets, etc., doll clothes, hair clips, hairbows, hairnets, handbags, headbands, jewelry, purses, sunglasses (nonprescription), umbrellas, ballet and tap shoes, cleated or spiked athletic shoes, gloves for use only in a sporting or athletic activity (baseball, bowling, boxing, hockey, golf, etc.), goggles (nonprescription), hand, elbow, knee guards, helmets (all types), leather glove guards, life preservers and vests, masks or shields (protective such as baseball masks, chest protectors, mouth guards or shin guards), skates (roller, ice), ski boots, helmets (all types).

For the full list see the Clothing Sales Tax Fact Sheet 105 from the Minnesota Revenue Department.