Turning (Not Quite) Trash In To Cash: Reselling Your Used Kids’ Gear

Each time Mac outgrows another pair of tiny, expensive, never-touched-the-ground-because-this-kid-can’t-even-walk-yet shoes, I simultaneously vow he’ll go barefoot and make a mental note to check Zulilly in the morning. When I was pregnant, I made up my mind that we were going to try our best at simplicity parenting: Want, Need, Wear, Read Christmases, present free first birthday parties. Whatever it took to avoid the overflowing bins of flashing, singing plastic that seemed to take over my friends’ living rooms (no judgement here- I just really, really, REALLY wish I’d been born in a Dwell magazine or IKEA catalog).

The thing is, it’s hard. Like, hard hard. Even with my husband aboard the simplicity train, Mac still has leagues of wonderfully generous grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends who want nothing better than to spoil him rotten. Which leaves us with A LOT of under-used, under-worn baby gear, whether we have room to store it, or not. (Spoiler alert: We don’t.) My not-so-secret weapon to combat Operation OMG There’s Stuff Everywhere?

Sell it, Baby. Sell. It. All.

Here are a few of my tried and true favorite places to take your used kid’s stuff, both brick and mortar and online:

Children’s Resale Shops:

  • The Growing Tree Audrey & HenryThe Growing Tree Located on Edgewood Ave in up and coming Murray Hill–The Growing Tree has a devoted following of buyers and sellers. Owner Lara McFall accepts gently used gear, clothing (sizes NB-10), and toys (manufactured in the last five years). She also carries select local designers, like Beamies Dreamies and Ginger Baby Designs. Be sure to make an appointment if you’re planning to sell.
  • Twice As Nice  An adorable little shop in the Riverside area, Twice As Nice buys the best in baby and children’s clothing and shoes. While selective, they do take some gear- I’ve seen some amazing strollers- as well. Bonus- Twice As Nice will buy your gently used maternity wear, too! (Update: Twice As Nice has since closed. We’re so sad to see them go!)

Also check out: Once Upon A Child, Littlebits Children’s Resale and brand new to Jax–Kid to Kid!

Children’s Consignment Stores:

  • Amy’s Turn Amy’s claim to fame is being the oldest and largest children’s consignment store at the beach–and they’re huge! An especially great place to consign your larger items like cribs; you’ll never hear that they “just don’t have the room this month.”
  • Plenty of room for larger items at Amy's Turn, near the beach...
    Plenty of room for larger items at Amy’s Turn, near the beach…

    Lollipop Lane If you’re in the Atlantic Beach area, Lollipop Lane is another fabulous consignment shop. Owner Beth Maynard categorizes the shop as a Consignment Boutique, and it fits the bill; your little ones’ smocked pieces and Lilly Pulitzer can definitely be sold here.

Also check out: Ladybug Lane

 

Children’s Consignment Sales:

  • weeTrade Hi, my name is Erin, and I’m addicted to weeTrade. I shopped their seasonal sales (There are usually two per year) last year before the baby was born and returned this year as a Consignor. You can net up to 65% of your selling price (A number you determine yourself) and pay only an $8.00 fee. There’s even a restock day if you manage to find more items you’re ready to let go of! Between Mac’s too-small baby clothes and too-young playthings, I came home from their February sale a few hundred dollars richer.

    weeTrade's Spring 2015 Preview Night Line. Selling here is a sure thing!
    weeTrade’s Spring 2015 Preview Night Line. Selling here is a sure thing!
  • Finders Keepers  Finders Keepers is another warehouse-sized kid’s consignment sale in the Jacksonville area. For a $12.00 fee, you can make up to 65% of your selling price- and pricing starts at $2.00! Although I’ve shopped them before, I plan to be a first-time Consignor at their upcoming March sale.

Also check out: Jump N Jax

 

Online Options:

When I’m looking for a more immediate sale or have an item that, while in perfect shape, may not be the right style or brand for a brick and mortar location, I head to my computer. (Okay, we all know I head to my phone.) I’ve sold too many things to count on platforms like eBay and Craigslist.

More recently, Facebook and Instagram have become go-to destinations for parents looking to buy and sell. Zip code specific Facebook groups (Like Swip Swap and yard sale pages) are easy to find- just search “For Sale Jacksonville” and filter your search results by Groups, as opposed to People or Pages.

If Instagram is more your thing, it’s all about the #hashtag. Try posting your items with popular sales tags like #IGshop, #babycloset or #kidcloset- or set up a separate #shopmycloset account specifically for items you’re looking to resell.

Apps:

This is some fancy 2015 stuff right here- but don’t let that scare you. I am, hands down, the least tech-savvy girl I know- and even I have managed to master some of the great new clothing resale apps out there! Some, like Kidizen and Totspot, are specifically geared towards kids’ items. Others, like ThredUp or Yerdle, are open to adult clothing and products, as well.

Did I miss your favorite children’s resale outlet here in Jacksonville?  Share your neighborhood favorites and let’s get selling!

Erin
Born in The Great State of Texas, Erin grew up in Jensen Beach, Florida. After graduating from Florida State University (Go, Noles!), she managed to wrangle herself a career in fashion management and HR; one that allowed her to live in her favorite places- Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago, Palm Beach, & Newport Beach- before her husband, Derek, caught on to her plan. The couple moved to Jacksonville in 2013 for Derek’s second career in the Navy, where they now live happily as a party of four: their son, Mac, joined them in 2014 and their daughter, Josie, came less than two years later. Erin spends her weekends exploring Jacksonville with the fam, her weekdays learning how to be a Stay At Home Mom who’s never at home, and her nights knee-deep in t-shirt designs for Brindle &The Blonde- with one eye on the video monitor, of course.

3 COMMENTS

  1. Don’t forget The Mommy Sale! It’s the second annual one in March right in Mandarin! http://Www.facebook.com/themommysale
    You rent a table for $25 and sell all your baby and kid stuff and keep all the profits.
    It’s like a huge indoor yard sale but only baby and kid stuff. It’s awesome!
    You can sign up for a table from their Facebook page… There is a link! 🙂
    This year it is March 6- it’s always in the spring.

  2. VarageSale is the family friendly buy/sell app that just launched in Jacksonville! It’s completely free to join and post items and buyers can shop your items from their couch! We have close to 2,000 members and we are growing. Member profiles are tied to Facebook accounts so you know who you’re buying and selling with. It’s a great company.

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