If you're interested in partaking in some of the great buys for kid's clothes and toys, be sure to mark your calendars with the following dates for amazing sales all over the area.Sales typically occur in the spring and fall. In addition to providing great deals on gently used clothing, new mothers are allowed to shop early before the public so you have first choice on many of the items. You can also sell your kid's old clothes (0-juniors), maternity clothes, shoes, baby equipment, bedding, toys, books, and puzzles. If you volunteer, you can sometimes earn up to 80 percent of the sale price.
Be sure to carefully read each organization's requirements for submitting items to consign. You will need to make sure the items are not broken or missing buttons, have no holes or stains and are not excessively worn (i.e. pilling) are freshly laundered and ironed if needed. Clothing must not have any odor (including perfumes, spicy foods, or smoking) or pet hair.
You will definitely need to purchase lots of plastic clothing hangers (can be found cheaply at Value Village and Savers), either a ton of safety pins or a fabric tagging kit. You will need access to a computer and plenty of card stock paper to create your own tags and will need to use the highest quality printer setting.
Just Between Friends (JFB) generally charges a small entrance fee (usually just $2), sometimes the website provides free passes or if you or someone you know consigns, you can often get free passes also. On the last one to two days of the sale, most items are half-priced.
JFB has sales locations all over the Twin Cities including: Blaine/Andover, Coon Rapids/Elk River, Maple Grove/Brooklyn Park, White Bear Lake/Stillwater, St. Cloud, and Woodbury. The JFB sales closest to Edina are:
Edina—May 31-June 2 at the Hopkins Pavilion
Eagan—March 15-17 at High Performance Academy
Eden Prairie—May 3-6 at the former Frank's Nursery
Munchkin Markets has several locations throughout Minnesota, including the State Fair Grounds. Their spring/summer sale is scheduled for April 28-29 in the Education Building.
From Yours to Mine (April 20-21) will be located at the Ames Arena in Lakeville. The exciting thing about these smaller scale sales is that you can earn up to 80 percent of the selling price if you volunteer and use Just Between Friends tags. Keep in mind that they will not show up on your computer system, so you will want to either donate the items after the sale or you will have to pick through all of the items that didn't sell to take yours home. Be sure to read their consigning guidelines.
Treasure Hunt Sales (May 4-6) is similar to From Yours to Mine in that it will be located at the Ames Arena in Lakeville. They also accept Just Between Friends tags but with the same conditions and you can earn up to 80 percent of the selling price if you volunteer.
Consign with Convenience
If you're busy during the above weekends or just want more convenience and a closer location, don't forget about all the great kid's consignment stores we have in the surrounding area. Be sure to sign up on mailing lists for the stores you enjoy selling and buying for special promotions and discount coupons. Most of these stores have coupons in the Entertainment Book and/or the Chinook Book.
Bellies to Babies is located at 6638 Penn Avenue in Richfield and accepts all brands of maternity and baby clothing and shoes up to size 2T. Be sure to read their page for selling guidelines. You do not have to hang or iron clothes to consign, however there may be a slight charge if they need to iron the clothes if they are wrinkled. Bellies to Babies buys on the spot.
Kids Carousel is a great little treasure right in Eagan that carries a variety of kid's clothes, shoes, toys and equipment. Click on their "What We Buy" page for their purchasing guidelines. Kids Carousel buys on the spot.
Nu Look Consignment is located at 50th Street and Penn Avenue in Minneapolis and accepts clothing and shoes for all ages. Here is their consigning guidelines page. Nu Look consigns, so you will have to check back with them in the future to see what has sold and to collect payment.
Once Upon a Child has various locations around the Twin Cities, with all of the stores providing a full range of children's clothing, shoes, toys and equipment. Here is the link for their purchasing guidelines. Once Upon a Child buys on the spot.
Turnstyle accepts kid's clothes and shoes from sizes 2T and up. You need to bring them in clean, pressed and on hangers. Be sure to read their consigning guidelines thoroughly and note the times you can either make appointments or walk-in with clothing. Turnstyle consigns, so you will have to check back with them in the future to see what has sold and to collect payment.
Another great resource for consignment buying or selling is the Consignment Mommies national website. Check it out. You'll be amazed at all of the great resources you can find.
Do Good Deeds, Find Great Deals
Of course, we can't forget all the great secondhand thrift stores in our area. When you donate or shop at these stores you are helping wonderful organizations and saving yourself a ton of money.
Many of them have discount days once a week or even 50 percent off storewide on holidays. Don't forget to sign up for their email lists for promotions and coupons. A few of these stores even have loyalty programs. When you donate, you can use their receipt they provide for you as a tax deduction.
Arc's Value Village has kid's clothing, shoes, books, videos, and board games. There is a coupon for Value Village in the Chinook Book. Whenever you shop or donate at Arc's Value Village, you're helping children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. All proceeds go to support Arc Greater Twin Cities' programs and services
Savers currently every time you donate you receive a 20 percent off coupon. Kid's clothes, shoes, bikes, books, videos and games can be found at Savers.
Goodwill is a great place to find kid's clothes, shoes, games, books, and videos. You can often find brand new with tags items from Target that have a small defect or failed to sell.
Salvation Army is now located at 9728 Lyndale Avenue South and sells a variety of kids stuff including bikes and is similar to Goodwill in that they receive donations from Target with small defects, damaged packaging or items that failed to sell. The Salvation Army provides a myriad of programs including disaster relief.
Unique has a store in Burnsville, but it could be well worth your drive if you're looking for baby equipment such as strollers and diaper pails. Unique is actually a for-profit business but purchases donated items from various nonprofits such as the Vietnam Veterans of America.
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