Children's Consignment Sales
 

:D I'm feeling quite contented now because I went to the big spring sale in town and made out like a bandit, scoring 46 outfits for $80.48. I love it all! Sturdy, high quality items--smocked dresses, play clothes, and best of all, several outfits printed, embroidered, or appliqued with motifs that my daughters and I like for our children: seashells, turtles, ladybugs, pirates, ice cream, and even one with armadillos! (Yay Texas)

Two of my grown daughters live in big cities and frequently go to consignment sales. Is anybody else a fan?

when my children were little and would outgrow their nice(church) clothes, i would take them(the clothes, not the children) to a consignment shop to be sold. it was a nice way to pick up some extra cash. i usually found something to buy-especially costumes.

I always consign my kids' clothes after they've outgrown them. I get a store credit and then go a pick out things for the next season. I picked up three dresses and a swimsuit for my daughter yesterday for about $25. I still have to take the mountain of my son's old summer clothes there next week, so we can make room for new stuff. They grow way too fast!

LOL - this is exactly why my parents didn't believe in monogrammed clothing!

A little on a tangent, but my mother was constantly buying very nice clothing, and never wearing most of it. I was toying with taking some of the items to a consignment shop. The tags are still on a lot of the clothes! Has anyone ever had any luck with those? I've only bought things for costumes at them myself, so I'm sort of throwing this out there.

I, too, have made out like a bandit at Consignment sales. My kids are 3 and 1, so they are in sizes that really don't get worn out by others. My strategy has always been to go for the higher end items (smocked, label, etc) and get them for what I would pay for something new at Target. The clothes often look brand new!

Honey- as for your mom's stuff... I think your results may vary. I have lived in several different states, and several different towns in each state, through my adult life. Some cites (Dallas comes to mind) have INCREDIBLE consignment stores for women's clothing, with high traffic through them. Other places, notsomuch. ANother option would be eBay... there are lots of people who look for high end stuff on there to take advantage of a discount. This may be a good avenue for you, especially since you can list them as New With Tags.

I know of at least one big consignment sale locally that a group of moms put on every year. I think it is kids' clothes and toys. And it is very popular.

We have great consignment shops here, so I don't mind taking my nicer stuff and donating the rest to Goodwill. Shoot, there's even a bridal consignment shop about a half-hour away from me. I sold my wedding gown there, as well as my flower girl's dress. They have some absolutely beautiful gowns there!

We went back today to see what was left on half-price day. :D Another fabulous day. There was so much good stuff left--Oshkosh, Lands End, Ralph Lauren, and we're satisfied with today's haul as well! I love to go to the August sale because of all the cute Halloween and Christmas outfits.

Yesterday there were all these massive and expensive SUVS outside. Today, there were some truly scary people there, including one woman who was everywhere I was---yelling to her kid, "Caitlin! Yew git back here!" and *finally* she walked over to the kiddie pageant dresses and I was rid of her.

There are several local women's consignment shops near me that seem to be doing well. Not sure if it's the economy or going green, but if they still have the tags on them, I would definitely see. The worse they can say is no and then you donate them instead for the tax benefit.

I love half off day! We have a huge one here that I try to go to the first day if I have the hours to wait in line, but half off day still gives me tons of great finds. I'm also working at a different one next month so I can shop first. I've never done that before, but I am so excited to get my pick of all the stuff. I always buy a ton, and now that I have a girl I'm excited to buy tons of cute outfits for her! I don't have the patience to be a consigner. I just bring my clothes to the local children's consignment store instead.

Is this just a southern thing? We didn't have them in Boston or RI.

Its definitely MORE popular in the south... huge in TN, NC and GA... but growing. You can find lists of sales here: http://consignmentmommies.com/index.html

I'm dying to have a girl so I can stop looking and start buying!!!

----------------------------------------
AOII, Elon University

I'm currently getting some clothes ready for a consignment store....I love shopping consignment!
I bought a TON of stuff at the half-off day last year for nearly nothing!

One of the dresses I got had a stain on the front and I took it to the cleaners, praying that it would come out because the dress was so exquisite. Yesterday I picked it up, the stain is gone, yea!!!! It's so beautiful--sleeveless and ivory with pink and pale green embroidered flowers and ribbons.

I do a sale in Smyrna, TN every year. It is one of the best and largest in TN. I started working it right before Max was born. I volunteer for working the sale so I go to the worker's presale and shop before anyone else.

I LOVE consignment sales. People would be surprised at the selection and savings. I outfitted Max in Children's Place, Orient Expressed, Petit Ami, Kelly's Kids, etc. I just finished working the spring/summer sale on Sunday.

Now, I still get Max's clothes, but I also shop for my nephews, too.

Consignment sales are one of my most favorites things in the world!

Tippiechick, when is that sale???

A friend is giving me a pass for early shopping at the biggest consignment sale in our area. It's tonight, and I am so darn excited I can barely stand it. I'm sure I won't be able to fit everything into my laundry basket!

It's always in Feb/March and August. They also have a Christmas sale, too, in November.

It just ended. But, the one in town is this next week, I think...

You should start doing the Smyrna sale. It takes me about 1hr 15 min. from here. And, it is SO worth it. (ESPECIALLY for moms of girls!)

www.sugarbabiesconsignment.com

Word of advice to anyone doing a sale: \
1. Take a rolling storage container. (Think Rubbermaid storage containers with wheels)

2. Don't waste time by deciding piece-by-piece. Grab it if you like it. Put it in your cart. Then, at the end, find a spot on the floor and go through your items.

3. Have 3 piles. Absolutely Yes. Absolutely No. Maybe.

4. Check your items well. Buttons and zippers. Correct sizing. (Check both items in a set. (I once bought an outfit for Max. The top was listed 2t. But, the pants they had folded and pinned were actually 9 MONTHS.) The pants were 2T!Check for stains. (Look under the tag, too.) If something white has a stain, consider whether or not you could q-tip it with some bleach to remove it. If so, I get it.

5. Have rules. You decide what is too much for something...
Here's my rule:
$5 rule per piece. If it is over $5, it has to be high-end. Boutique brands, I will pay more for. But, I base what I should pay by the brand and what it sells for new.

:) Today was half price day at our local consignment sale. I'm sitting here smiling at the haul we took! :) I called my oldest and told her that we have some really precious Halloween and even Thanksgiving outfits for her daughter. Also, Ballerina is due to have a baby in the next 2 weeks and we found 4 beautiful owl outfits for the little Chi O legacy! (And Pi Phi. :D) (Let me say here that BlazerCheer is the best owl outfit finder ever.) Then for ZetaDaughter's son, there were lots of OshKosh overalls and cute Mickey Mouse tops!

Is anyone on GC still doing this? Today was the half-price sale here and I'm thrilled to say that I scored big! Lots of precious appliqued stuff for all the grandbabies and even some cool UGa stuff for my 11-year-old.:D

Carnation, I forget how many kids and grandkids you have. Remind me? We're going to hit up a consignment shop when we head into Columbus tonight. I have stuff to sell, and a few baby related things I'm looking for. I'm ready to start shopping for summer clothes for our baby girl! My oldest daughter will likely still fit into her size 6 clothes from last summer, so don't have to get her much this year. I need to start organizing my sons clothes to sell. I have everything from 2T and bigger of his still, and he's a 4t or 5t now.

13 kids, 5 1/2 grandkids! I'm waiting for one of our daughters to come into town tonight with her daughter so I can share my haul with them. I'm sooo excited!

I love to shop the kids consignment shops in this area. I'm rarely a seller (my kids are just too hard on their clothes usually) but I'm an enthusiastic buyer of clothes and toys. My tween still talks about the Guess skinny jeans we got for $6 a couple of years ago.

And for anyone in the Los Angeles area, check out this biannual sale. It was started and is managed by one of my OPhiA sisters from my home chapter. I'm so proud of her! http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/lo...130799523.html

sorry if this is a silly question, carnation but how exactly does one have half of a grandchild?

I think you missed this part of her post.

When a daughter is about halfway through a pregnancy! (An AOII daughter, btw!)


ETA: the post about Ballerina is over a year old--her 17-month-old daughter is here tonight. :)

Sadly, I did not find a good haul of clothes tonight. :( BUT, I did find a great condition baby Bjorn for $30! Score! They're $100 new, and the sling I got wasn't working out and I love being able to wear my baby when I need to. So excited to try it out tomorrow!

As a result, I've convinced my husband that we need to go to the outlet malls on Monday to take advantage of coupons I have for Carter's and Osh Kosh plus any President's day sales!