How to Consign Children's Clothes

I take clothes to Lots for Tots in Falmouth. I find I get about the price I want. They usually offer half of what they will sell the item for. You get the money right then.

I don't know where you live, but twice a year on the North Shore, they hold the Children's Drop & Shop, a massive consignment sale and the mamas get really good prices on their good condition clothes. Plus, if you consign more than 100 items, you can go to the preview sale the night before it opens to the public and get all the good deals on new stuff for yourself early. They had it in March, I think, so they won't be having it again till September, but it's a great event. I think the website is www.childrensdropandshop.com -

I have brought my kid's clothing to Once upon a child- they give you the money upfront when you drop the items off, although it's less than what you may get from a regular consignment shop- I think only 30% of what they mark it for. At a regular consigment shop you usually get about 50% of what it sells for, if it sells. You get paid when the item sells. I have had very good luck selling large lots of items on ebay as well. It's a little more work on your part as far as taking pictures and writing a description, then shipping them, but you can make more money that way than at consignment shops. Good luck!!

Hi D.,

Sarah K. gives a lot of good pointers. I'd skip the fabric softener though since some people are made ill by scents. Before going to your local consignment shops, call to see if they have fliers that describe what they take, when they take it, how they want those items delivered, and how they pay. If they have a flier, you can pick it up and check out their store at the same time. See if it's a place you like and if the staff is friendly. If they don't have fliers, you can get the information over the phone.

: ) Maureen

I work at the Children's Orchard in Milford, and they give you cash at the time of the appointment rather than having to wait for your clothes to sell. They also do store credit. One of the nice things is that they take all seasons, all the time! So you don't have to sort out seasons. They do appointments, drop-offs, and walk-ins, and take equipment, toys and clothes. ###-###-####.

Each place is different, you should call and ask what the rules are for their store. For instance one store won't take any pants with pleats as that's an 'old style.' Where I go they want all the clothes washed within three days of drop off. If you have animals and/or smoke you need to double bag the clothes. If there is any mark on the article of clothing they will discount it so try to look for that before you wash and work to get the stain out if possible. Some stores will give you a percentage and send you a check at the end of the month, others will give you a store credit. Call around - you'll be amazed how each store handles it differently. Where I go they want you to first bring in 10 items, if they like what they see then you will get an appointment to drop off all the rest. Odd huh?!
N.

Hi D.,
I run a Children's Consignment Event twice a year in Canton, Ma. This next one is Sept. 19-20. Check out my website at www.bellatreasuresevent.com. We will be opening up registration in June and will be accepting unlimited amounts of baby items. You sign-up as a consignor and work with our on-line inventory system from your home. You set the price and if your item sells you can earn up to 75% of your selling price. We accept basically anything a child uses. You also can retrieve all unsold items and them bring them to your local consignment shop and see what you can get for them there. Whatever works for you. We will be accepting Fall/Winter clothing only at the September sale. All other items are accepted though. Check us out if we are convenient for you. Pass the word! We had a VERY successful sale in April. Check out the website and see what you think. Hope to see you there. A. SAHM of 4, MOM-OWNED Business

Do an online search of your local consignment shops. Some pay cash like the chain stores Lots for Tots and Children's Orchard. others take the clothing they think will sell best from what you bring in and have them in the store for 2-3 months with the price going down each month, when they sell you get a percentage and can then shop with that in the store of cash out.

I have had good and bad experiences, try your hand and see which you like. I have been very disappointed by what is paid out to me by the cash out shops and then I do like to buy when you have money in the store of the consignment shops.

Each store has rules and lists of what they take and how much at a time. Roght now I have 35 items at a local shop and I am excited to see what my balance will be to buy my son more pants and seasonal clothing.

It can be fun or a pain, give it a try

Try a site called GumdropSwap (http://gumdropswap.com). You can swap from anywhere in the US by sending the clothes your kids outgrow to this kids boutique in CT. As long your things are in good condition they don't turn down anything because of brand, size or season. They take everything unlike resale store like Once Upon a Child! They give you points to shop on the website and send the clothes that fit your kids. It's great if you don't have time, patience or know how to do consignment, Ebay, craigslist, tag sale, etc.

In my experience, I used The Sassy Fox in Douglas. They don't take many under 2T clothes. They took a few of mine (under 2T) but they were in great condition and of great quality. They will look and price them as they see fit. The price goes down after a certain date. You can either use the $$ for other items in the store or just take the cash. I'm pretty sure you get 1/2. I brought in about 10 kids items and 10 womens and got about $30. Some didn't sell. If your items don't sell, you can either pick them up or they donate to a women's shelter.

I use two local consignment shops. One is pickier than the other, so I plan my day by dropping at the first location and then bringing what they don't accept to the other store.

A few pointers- make sure items have matching pieces included.
Snap all snaps, button all buttons, zip all zippers, tie all shoes.
Don't bring stained items, check for holes too.
Older items are generally not accepted.
Make sure items are appropriate for the current season.
I wash my items the day before bringing them in, so they are clean and fresh smelling, stain free and wrinkle free.
Washing with Oxyclean with color boost makes the clothes look bright and clean.
Use fabric softener so they smell fresh and feel soft.
Iron out tough wrinkles.
Place your items in a clean laundry basket or rubbermaid bin. Bags cause wrinkles and are difficult to sort through.
Make sure they are neatly folded.

Just keep in mind that you want your items to sell. So bring in only what you yourself would buy!

Check around with your local shops. Locally owned, non-franchise stores, offer you a larger percentage of the profit. It's also nicer to support local companies.
Both places I use give me back 50% of the profit. I can take a check or use it as store credit.
Have fun with it. I love being able to use my children's outgrown clothes, to let me buy new ones!
-S.

Hi D. - basically you call these places to make an appt, they will ask what kind of clothes you have, what sizes, and ask that you have everything freshly washed. They will look through what you have and take what they want- giving back what you don't want- and it is worth it to take the stuff that they didn't take to other shops. Most of them will either offer you more money in a store credit or less money in cash. I have made hundreds of dollars doing this and gotten basically free clothes because with the store credit, it's just like you're trading up. Good luck!

you can try childrens orchard.they have oneon route 1 in norwood mass.not sure how they piece but has to be in good condition andthey make an appoinment with you and go through the clothes and offer price