What Alexandria Knows That You Should Too: Turning Data Into Dollars at My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe

If you’re a seasoned consignment store owner, you’ve probably had a moment (or ten) where you look at your racks and wonder, “Why isn’t this moving?” You’re not alone. Alexandria Keener Hammond, owner of My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe in downtown York, PA, used to price inventory based on feel — and it worked. Until it didn’t.

Over the past few years, Alexandria has transformed her intake and pricing strategies into a structured, data-informed machine that not only improved her margins — it more than doubled her monthly sales.

So if you’ve been thinking it’s time to level up, pull up a chair. We’re breaking down Alexandria’s process, her mindset shifts, and how you can steal her playbook (with her blessing).

From Vibes to Verified: A Pricing Evolution

When Alexandria opened her store 13 years ago, her pricing was intuitive. “We were just kind of pricing at what we would purchase things for ourselves,” she admits. Fast forward to today, and My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe is running on a pricing system with all the efficiency of a Swiss train schedule.

She built a pricing guide — “basically a big ol’ Excel spreadsheet,” she laughs — with defined levels for brand tiers, garment categories, and condition grades. “A Level 3 short sleeve top? We’ve got low, medium, and high pricing bands depending on if it’s a basic, a graphic tee, or embroidered.”

But pricing isn’t static. Alexandria adjusts based on inventory levels, brand performance, and even saturation. If a particular brand is piling up, prices shift to keep turnover tight.

Data-backed bonus: According to Retail Technology Show, stores using data-driven pricing strategies see improved sell-through rates and healthier margins — especially when aligning pricing with local demand and competitor benchmarks.

The Luxury Layer: Why High-End Needs High Strategy

As My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe shifted more into luxury resale, Alexandria realized she needed deeper research and tighter accuracy. “With Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci — those pieces require a lot of research and time,” she explains. Pricing these items is based on market value, not just a percentage of retail.

That means comparing listings and sold prices on sites like Fashionphile, The RealReal, Rebag, and even eBay. “I need to make sure our pricing is in line with the big dogs.”

And her work pays off: “We sold 30 Louis Vuitton pieces in just 25 days. That’s around $14,000–15,000. Our average shelf life for those items? Sixteen days.”

Sixteen days. Let that sink in.

Real-time insight: Market-responsive inventory strategies like Alexandria’s are proven to reduce markdowns and improve turnover rates. In fact, one study found that retailers who adapt inventory based on real-time data saw a 25% boost in revenue.

Brand Audits: Brutal but Necessary

Twice a year, Alexandria conducts a brand purge — slicing hundreds of underperforming brands from her accepted list. “If they don’t clear a certain sales threshold for the year, they’re gone,” she says. “Ideally, a brand should generate at least $1,000 a year in sales. If it doesn’t, I’d rather take another Louis Vuitton bag than 20 Loft tops at $16.99.”

Harsh? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

Even for beloved brands, sentimentality doesn’t win. “I’ve cut a lot of Anthropologie brands I never thought I’d cut. But the data is the data.”

📉 Worth noting: A Harvard Business Review article on inventory optimization confirms that underperforming SKUs — especially in fashion and retail — can quietly erode margins. Regular brand audits can increase profitability by up to 10%.

Tracking Everything (Until You Know What Not to Track)

For store owners thinking about tightening their intake and pricing workflow, Alexandria offers one core mantra: “Track everything. Until you know what you don’t need to track.”

Brands, turnover rate, average shelf time — these are her top three KPIs. “If you’re taking in 300 items but 150 are from brands your customers aren’t buying? That’s a waste of time.”

Using ConsignCloud’s Data Explorer, Alexandria can quickly pull brand performance, turnover rates, and shelf life insights. “I look at it constantly. It’s helped me make huge decisions with confidence.”

Transparency as a Business Model

In an industry where trust is currency, Alexandria doesn’t keep her cards close to the vest. “There are some consignment stores that operate with this weird level of secrecy — I just don’t understand it,” she says.

“My consignment agreement is on my website. If someone asks about pricing strategy, I’ll explain what goes into it. Not every little detail, but enough to build a relationship. We’re a service business. You wouldn’t hire a cleaner who wouldn’t tell you what products they use.”

She also sends monthly emails to consignors detailing what’s selling, what’s trending, and what customers are asking for. “I even break it down by best-selling luxury brands, designer names, and mid-range names like Lululemon. Because not everyone has Louis Vuitton in their closet — but they might have Athleta.”

Why it works: Consignors who feel informed are more likely to bring in higher quality items — and more of them. According to Retail Dive, transparency improves loyalty and increases repeat engagement.

Scaling Smarter: When to Let Go (of Doing It All)

Alexandria used to price everything herself. But with a 175% increase in sales year-over-year for March, that model’s not sustainable. “One of my employees is moving into operations and helping with luxury photography. Another handles photo editing. The rest are focused on sales.”

Even her intake process is streamlined. “We don’t usually price while the consignor waits. I get in two to three hours before opening to do that.” And while she might be doing some work at home now — “just to keep momentum” — her long game is clear: delegate the operational load so she can keep steering the ship.

The Consultants Behind the Curtain

In 2024, Alexandria started working with The Retail Guys, a group of consultants with deep experience in inventory and retail strategy. “They’ve been game-changers,” she says. “They help me look at the numbers, audit performance, and spot opportunities. Since working with them, every month has beat the last.”

TL;DR: Alexandria’s Playbook (That You Should Steal)

Here’s what you can take straight from My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe and apply to your own store:

• Build a pricing guide and use it religiously — structure is freedom.

• Track everything — especially brand, turnover, and shelf life — then refine.

• Adjust pricing based on data, not emotion. If it’s flying off the shelf, charge accordingly.

• Be ruthless with your brand list — cut the dead weight.

• Stay transparent with consignors — monthly updates go a long way.

• Invest in tools and people — ConsignCloud, consultants, and a team who supports growth.

  
  

Want to See What Your Store Could Do With the Right Tools?

If you’re thinking, “Okay, but how do I actually start doing this?” — we’ve got you.

Book a ConsignCloud demo or explore more stories from powerhouse stores like My Girlfriend’s Wardrobe. Our platform is built for seasoned pros who want to run tighter, smarter, and with more confidence in their decisions.

Let’s build your next best year — one brand audit at a time.