5 Shopping Tips From VH1′s Vintage Maven Corri McFadden

by Sarah Devlin | 2:08 pm, March 20th, 2012

Corri McFadden is the founder of web-based consignment business eDrop-Off and star of VH1′s upcoming reality show House of Consignment. VH1 gave us a sneak peek at the premiere (more on that tomorrow) and we also got to speak with McFadden herself about the business that forms the basis of the new show.

eDrop-Off got started eight years ago when, McFadden says, the “eBay store became a budding business model.” As her business grew, she started to take on larger clients, who could donate anywhere between 50 and 200 items on their own, and eventually became an authority on consignment shopping. The most rewarding part of running her own business, she told us, has been “acting on a passion and seeing something grow,” as well as the feedback she’s received from clients, whether they are cleaning out their closets after a divorce or selling items that allow them to put their children through college.

McFadden also has advice for young women and anyone else interested in starting their own business. “It’s harder to work for yourself than someone else,” she says, so budding entrepreneurs should make sure that they are doing something they love, and that they are “diligent, dedicated and understand that there is no downtime. You are your brand — on Facebook, Instagram, or in line at Starbucks” and with that freedom comes a certain amount of responsibility.

As is fitting for the owner of a successful consignment business, McFadden has solid advice for anyone new to shopping for vintage items:

2. Always inspect the garment for authenticity (it helps to do a bit of online research beforehand)

3. Make sure the original detailing (like buttons, etc.) is intact

4. Smell the garment for any odor!

5. Make sure you pay with a credit card, and don’t be afraid to shop online; there are lots of consumer protections in place

With her business growing and her new show, does McFadden still have time to shop on her own? She does, though it’s mostly online. And she occasionally shops her own inventory, although she says eDrop-Off “is the same as Gilt Groupe — we don’t get to shop pre-sale. If you want something you have to bid on it”, which means McFadden has outbid more than once at her own store!

We’re certainly looking forward to seeing how House of Consignment is received by viewers when it premieres this week. In the meantime, McFadden has no plans to relocate her headquarters from Chicago, but she is planning the opening of a brick and mortar store in New York City. All NYC-based vintage shoppers: prepare yourselves!

House of Consignment premieres Wednesday, March 21st, at 10:00pm ET/PT on VH1.

corri mcfadden House of Consignment VH1