Party shoes await buyers at Me 'n Moms in Seattle.
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Consignment 101
Although there are minor variations, the process is generally the same at these consignment stores. Before bringing your items in, call and make an appointment and get to know their consignment policy. Make sure your clothes and equipment are clean, in good condition, fashionable and appropriate for the season.
Stores typically offer consignment items for 30 or 60 days. If they sell, consignors receive 40 or 50 percent of the profit, which is paid with in-store credit or cash (some stores offer less for cash). If the items don’t sell, the consignor has a chance to pick them up or allow them to be donated to charity. Because the merchandise is constantly rotating, consignment stores are fun to visit time and again.
Hot Stuff
Most retailers are hurting in this cool economy, but resale and thrift shops are sizzling these days. Here are some highlights of a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops:
74 percent of stores that said sales rose significantly year over year this September and October 35 percent: average percentage sales increase among those stores 90 percent of stores reporting an increase in new customers
Outstanding Stores that Recycle Fashionable Kids’ Wear
By Taryn Zier
If the clothes your children have outgrown are taking up every inch of your closets, join the throngs of parents who sell their belongings at consignment stores. It’s a great way to recycle gently-used clothes and equipment, and also to put some money back in your pocket.
With a little patience, and knowing the right places to go, consignment shoppers can outfit their children in fashionable clothes for a fraction of the retail cost. Once you find a good store, such as these recommended by local moms, visit often as the clothing, toys and gear are always changing.
Me ‘n Moms in Seattle
There are well-loved consignment stores in several Seattle neighborhoods, but one of the most impressive is Me ‘n Moms. It has 20,000 active consignors and 15,000 square feet of space between three locations (Seattle, Lynnwood and Issaquah). At the Seattle store, in the Ballard neighborhood, colorful walls and high ceilings house all things kid and maternity – clothes, gear, toys and furniture. In order to cater to everyone, owner Wendy Douglas takes most items in good condition and clothing generally ranges from $3 to $7.
On a rainy day, Me ‘n Moms can be like a park, said Douglas, with kids trying out toys or clothes and moms sharing ideas. With the sheer amount of inventory, there is much to entertain children while parents shop. The dressing rooms are also a plus, so kids can test out the duds before purchase.
Me ‘n Moms is located at 2821-B N.W. Market St; 206-781-9449. www.menmoms.com.
More in Seattle
Beacon Hill’s Buggy (3315 Beacon Ave. S.) offers a boutique environment where the staff is especially helpful. Kids on 45th in Wallingford (1720 N. 45th St.) carries both new and consignment clothes, including its own line of cotton basics and a popular dollar rack. Both Sugarlump in Madison Valley (2709 E. Madison St.) and Again & a Gain in West Seattle (4832 California Ave. S.W.) have praiseworthy maternity sections. Columbia City’s Sweet Pea’s (4820 Rainier Ave. S.) is admired for its cleanliness, organization and high-quality clothes.
Tree House in Redmond
Tree House, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month, is a cherished store on the Eastside. Owners Susan Swanson and Jeanne Bolton are thrilled to come full circle; their grandchildren are now enjoying the store they opened when their children were young. Tree House carries an assortment of consignment clothes up to size 14 as well as toys and small equipment such as strollers. The clothes range in price, depending on their brand and condition, but are usually one-third their original cost.
Swanson and Bolton focus mostly on consignment due to Redmond’s influx of children’s stores, but they still offer some new items, including dance wear and rain gear. Customers appreciate the play area and the ride-on toys that keep the kiddos busy. Be sure to keep an eye out for Tree House’s periodical 50 percent off rack.
Tree House is located at 15742 Redmond Way; 425-885-1145.
More on the Eastside
Woodinville’s Cruzin Kidz (13400 N.E. 175th St.) may be small, but its brand-name clothes are well-organized, and locally-designed items such as nursing covers and knitted hats are kept in stock. The Eastside Me ‘n Moms in Issaquah (1480 N.W. Gilman Blvd.) has some fabulous finds. Situated near Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Ruby Rose Consignment (12049 124th Ave. N.E.) is a popular stop for children’s and maternity clothes.
City Kids in Edmonds
Two miniature Rat Terriers named Lucy and Scout often welcome shoppers at City Kids. Owner Shannon Trumble opened five years ago, armed with knowledge from shopping and working at other consignment stores, and has a comfortable space. City Kids carries children’s and maternity clothes, a rack of women’s clothes (to please her patrons), shabby chic furniture made in Edmonds, movies, music and books.
Trumble is mindful of her community and believes that brands don’t matter in Edmonds. Instead, she takes in high-quality, clean clothes she can sell at a good price – usually between $3.95 and $4.50 – and makes sure she donates what she can to local nonprofits.
City Kids is located at 9726 Edmonds Way; 425-775-7627.
More in Snohomish County
The popular Me ‘n Moms store in Lynnwood (19800 44th Ave. N.W.), which opened in September 2006, gives north end parents a fun place to shop.
Blooming Kids in Tacoma Blooming Kids is a charming little consignment shop in the heart of Tacoma’s Proctor District. With an eye for good products and 225 consignors, owner Dana Brewer focuses on quality, not quantity. This cozy shop offers a relaxed environment, the best kind for shopping her selection of mostly brand-name kid’s stuff. Along with consignment, she supports other Tacoma moms by selling their handmade hair clips, baby blankets, knitted sweaters and hats.
The clothes at Blooming Kids mostly center on the $5 price point, although onesies and socks can be bought for less than $1. The store also carries shoes, room décor, a small selection of maternity clothes and equipment such as furniture, breast pumps and diaper bags. Brewer accepts books and toys as well, particularly if they are educational.
With new and carefully-chosen consignment items, SugarBabies in Sumner (1114 Main St.) offers a fun-to-shop boutique. Parents love both Sugar Plum’s Consignment in Kent (1501 Central Ave. S.) for its space and variety and Sweet Cheeks Consignment in Burien (13635 1st Ave. S.) for its quality selection of clothes and toys.
Taryn Zier is a freelance writer based in Lake Forest Park, mother of two and an avid thrift shopper.
