Baby on a Budget: Need Bargains? Try A Consignment Shop or Sale

During these tough economic times it is ever more important to make the most out of every penny you spent. One way parents can provide for their children without spending a lot is to shop consignment stores and sales first for their children’s clothes, equipment, furniture and even cloth diapers. Read on to see why area mothers are opting to buy consigned items over new items for their children. You might even glean some tips on how to save even more money at these stores and sales.

The Tennessee Valley area offers a number of high-quality consignment stores where shoppers can save money while finding nice clothing, toys, furniture and more for the children in their lives. “I get more for my dollar,” said Madison’s Charsty Babb, mother to Akira, 2 years old, of shopping for consigned items.

Merri Gardunia, of Huntsville and mother of two boys, Chad, 14 years and Caden, 20 months, shops consigned “because of the great deals.” She added, “It’s a shame to splurge on new clothes when you can find used things in such good condition and at great prices.”

Kimmy Adkins, owner of Twice Upon a Time Upscale Consignment Boutique emphasizes, “Parents can always save money at Twice Upon A Time.  We only offer name brand clothing.  These name brands can cost a small fortune in the malls and boutiques.  In our store, we show the discount amounts on ALL tags, this allows our customers the opportunity to see exactly when things mark down and how much they mark down to.  We also keep a clearance rack that offers an even greater discount for customers.  In addition to our clearance, we have started holding semi-annual clearance sales where most items are $1-3!  On every receipt, we offer a $1 discount on a future purchase.  We try to offer many ways for our customers to save!”

Stretch Your Money at Consignment Stores
The following tips will help you stretch your dollar a bit further:

• Use consignment store coupons found in area publications, such as The Huntsville Times’ Magazine Enjoy!
• Look on a store’s web site for special offers.
• Signup for email notifications of sales at stores that offer such services.
• Search the bargain or clearance racks for items a child may need for current or future seasons. Just don’t forget you have those clothes if you are saving them for a future season!
• Take advantage of their customer rewards programs where the more you shop at the store the more you can save on future purchases.

These small efforts can add up to big savings. For example, if you get a 10 percent off coupon from an area consignment store and use it on the day of a 25 percent off the entire store sale day, you can save a total of 35 percent off your purchases.

Still wondering if consignment stores are worth the time and effort? Jennifer Funkhouser, mother of 2 year old Ryn is one Valley mother who can’t get enough of consignment shops. “I love the consignment shops in this area! I really like finding good deals, and I am one of those types of people who likes to search for those good deals. I go to the consignment stores enough in this area where the owners know me and know what I am looking for, and as soon as they see me enter they say ‘Hey, we put some Hannah Andersons out right over there,’ ” said Jennifer. An added bonus to not spending so much on clothing is, as Jennifer points out, “If you get home and realize you don’t like the outfit all that much you don’t have to worry about how much you spent on it.”

Recently one customer wanted the Cocalo Alphabet Soup Crib Sheet four-piece set that can be purchased at area baby stores brand new for $180. At an area consignment store the same crib sheet set in gently used condition, with six additional and matching pieces such as a lamp and mobile, cost only $130.

Sonya Nix, owner of Better Than Before Consignment Shop in Decatur and Cullman believes that customers can maximize their consignment experience in several ways:

• Always check with your favorite consignment shop first.  Mall shopping can be fun, and department store sales are great, but we’ve done our homework.  The bargains at our store (and probably other consignment shops as well) will almost always beat the mall/department store sale prices.  Interestingly, many items still have the tags on them, so you’re not always buying “used” merchandise.  Often the consignor never wore the item they’re consigning!
• Make the consignment shop visit a routine thing.  We get new merchandise in daily - usually from about 12 - 18 people per day.  With each consignor bringing 20 - 100 pieces on each visit, that’s a lot of merchandise for the consumer to look at.  You can’t stay gone too long; you might miss a really exceptional piece!  Those little treasures get snatched up quickly, so you want to make sure you comb the new arrivals on a regular basis.
• Shop the off seasons.  We have a semi-annual sale in January/February and again in July/August.  This sale includes our 75% OFF clearance rack.
• Get on board as a consignor.  We reward our consignors by mailing them 15% OFF coupons immediately after each consignment appointment. They get to use those coupons on any merchandise in the store - a perk that non-consignors don’t get.
• Don’t be afraid to ask.  Consignment shops are typically much more personal than department and discount stores.  If you can’t find what you need - ask the staff.  Don’t assume that just because you can’t find it, they don’t have it.  Bargains are worth digging for.

Take Advantage of Consignment Sales

Some area mothers prefer to get all the season’s clothing, toys and equipment all in one shot, making the Valley’s consignment sales their best option. At two of the most recent sales Charsty attended, she set herself a goal to keep her purchases under $50. She came out of both sales with pajamas, several sweat shirts, five outfits and toys (including a tricycle she bought for $10, which she is saving for her daughter’s third birthday) for under $40.

Of her experience at area consignment sales, Merri said, “You come out with a lot of stuff for next to nothing.” Not only are there bargains at the sales, but Merri is also impressed with how the sales operate. “They are run very well. The clothes are worth buying; they are displayed well and in good shape.”

Maximizing savings

Several mothers offered tips on how to maximize their savings at consignment shops and sales. For consignment sales, “I go on day one and buy the stuff I really need,” said Charsty. “I stay away from the clothes on the first days because there is so much clothing, and I wait for the half off day.” A tip that can apply to both sales and shops is “keep your spending in cash,” said Charsty. “This way you can control how much you spend.”

Merri offered consignment sales/stores shoppers the following tip, “It there is something you really want, grab it!” This tip is especially useful at sales where it is fast-paced during the first days of a sale. Remember sales are for a limited time, too; some last days while others last as long as a month or more.

Jennifer offered a tip for shoppers shopping at consignment shops, “Many of the stores mark items down after three months. I look for those items and look for the deal within the deal.”

Another way to maximize your savings is to consign at stores or sales. At least one store in the Valley offers you more money for your consigned items when sold if you elect to use the money as store credit only. If you choose to consign at sales you have the added luxury of shopping before the public, thereby combing through a better selection of items and possibly better-priced items. Some sales even offer you a discount if you volunteer on some of the sale days.

The Valley has so many quality consignment shops and sales that there has never been a better time to give them a try and see how far you can stretch your family’s income. Be warned: you could become addicted like Merri, Charsty or Jennifer.

Angie Gilchrist loves finding a good bargain at Valley consignment stores and sales for her two-year-old Eli and her baby due this spring.

Athens
Kountry Kids Consignment 256-230-3100

Cullman
Ace of Paris 256-775-0005
Better than Before 256-739-3550

Decatur
Better than Before 256-351-0666
Kidz Kloset 256-580-8005
Sprouts 256-353-0305
Watch ‘Em Grow 256.350.4646

Guntersville
Fussy Britches 256-582-2770
My Sister’s Closet 256-582-8659

Hampton Cove
Twice Upon a Time Upscale Consignment Boutique 256-532-0250

Hartselle
Once Upon a Time 256-751-1825

Huntsville
Play it Again 256-536-3729

Somerville
Olivia’s Attic 256-631-8444 or 509-3499

Semi-Annual Consignment Sales and Locations:

Athens
Kid’s Mart

Cullman
Cullman Kid’s Mart

Decatur
As They Grow (Web site coming soon)

Florence/Shoals
Dittos for Kiddos, Spring Sale: March 14-21.
Wee Swap, Spring Sale: Feb. 21-28.

Huntsville
Kids Kloset
Kids Market
Klassy Kids Exchange
MomsMart, Spring Sale: Feb 26-28.

Sale Dates Are Subject to Change, Verify With Web Site for Up-To-Date Information