2011 Spring/Summer Kids Consignment Sales (Raleigh-Durham area)

So it's been a while since I've compiled a list of all of the upcoming, local-to-Raleigh children's consignment sales. However many of you have been asking me about it, so I took a chance this past week to gather some updated sale dates and website links. I didn't get this blog post up in time for the big Kids Exchange sale at the NC State Fairgrounds as I had hoped; however I took plenty of photos this year to give you an idea of what will be there again next July 11-18, 2011.  Click on the photo below to see nearly 40 photos of the Kids Exchange.

If you haven't already read my previous posts on consignment sales, please do so to get the full scoop of how wonderful they can be for a parent's wallet! But first, before I get to the list of sales, I've got some photos from the Twice as Nice kids consignment sale that is going on THIS WEEKEND (public shopping starts Friday morning at 10 am; half-price shopping starts Sat. at 11 am). This is the sale where I sell all of my items, so I highly encourage you to go check it out! (Hint, hint!!)

Click on any of the photos above to see the full-size version or click here to see all 60 images from the Twice as Nice sale.

I have photos from many (most) other sales I've attended in the past, and if I can go back and find them all, I'd like to come back soon and edit this post to add a picture to each sale listing below to give you a better idea of what each sale looks like. In the meantime, here is the list of upcoming Raleigh-area 2011 Spring/Summer kids consignment sales. As always, if I've missed your sale, please add the details in the comments section below.

SALE NAME & DETAILS
Kids Exchange
January 19 - 23, 2011 (Public sale days: Fri-Sun)
Fall/Winter Sale: July 11-18, 2011 NC State Fairgrounds
Jim Graham Building & Expo Building
http://www.KidsExchange.net
Notes: With 2500+ consignors, this is the largest sale in the region, covering two buildings/123,000 sq. ft!
Twice as Nice Kids Consignment Sale
February 3-5, 2011 (Thu-Sat)
Hope Chapel
6175 Old Jenks Rd / Apex, NC 27523
http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/
Notes: This is the sale where I sell all of my items. Come buy my stuff! ;-) {Happening this weekend!}
The Monkey Exchange
February 10-11 (Thu-Fri)
North Hills Club Ballroom
4824 Yadkin Drive / Raleigh, NC  27612
http://www.themonkeyexchange.com
Notes: upscale and boutique children's clothing and accessories. FREE babysitting across the hall on Thursday, Feb. 10 from 9am - 12noon
First UMC Cary Spring/Summer Sale
February 18-19, 2011 (Fri night/Sat morning) *Added 2nd day!
First United Methodist Church, Cary
117 S. Academy Street / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.consignwithfumc.com/
Kids Everywear
February 19-28, 2011
Morrisville Outlet Mall
1001 Airport Blvd / Morrisville, NC 27560-8935
http://www.kidseverywear.com
Notes: Voted Raleigh's Best Consignment Sale in 2010 by ConsignmentMommies.com. Also has early shopping days for Pregnant & New Moms (must pre-register). Has maternity, Juniors and Ladies clothing, as well as "Home" furnishings section as well.
The Friendship Closet Consignment Sale
February 25-26, 2011 (Fri-Sat)
Apex United Methodist Church
100 S. Hughes Street / Apex, NC 27502
http://www.friendshipcloset.com/dates-location
Notes: Accepts/sells maternity clothing. Digital barcode tagging for consignors
Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale
March 1-3, 2011 (Tue-Thurs)
Life Spring Community Church
501 Wake Chapel Road / Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
http://www.just4kidsnc.com
Notes: Digital barcode tagging for consignors
WINGS Consignment Sale
March 5, 2011 (Sat)
Holland's United Methodist Church
9433 Ten-Ten Road / Raleigh, NC  27603
http://www.wingsconsignment.com
Chapel Hill/Durham Mothers of Multiples Sale
March 5, 2011 (Sat)
Yates Baptist Church (new location)
2519 Chapel Hill Road / Durham, NC  27707
http://consignmentmommies.com/CustomContentRetrieve.aspx?ID=2980069
Upscale Resale
March 10-12, 2011 (Thu-Sat)
Cary Masonic Lodge
1142 SE Maynard Road / Cary, NC
http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com
Note: Trunk Show, Boutique & higher-end consignment sale clothes up to tween sizes. Digital Barcode Tagging for Consignors.
Divine Consign Show - Raleigh
March 14-17, 2011 (Mon-Thurs)
Location: TBA
http://www.dcskids.com
Notes: Exclusive Trunk Show & Boutique Overstock and Consignment Sales; Also has a Grandparent Preview Show & New Mom Shopping (must pre-register)
Church Kidz Stuff
March 17-19, 2011 (Thu-Sat)
Hayes Barton Baptist Church
1800 Glenwood Avenue / Raleigh, NC 27608
http://www.hbbc.net/Ministries/ChildrensMinistry/ChildrensConsignmentSale/tabid/5922/language/en-US/Default.aspx
Notes: Digital Barcode Tagging for Consignors
KidCycle Sale
March 18-20, 2011 (Fri-Sun)
University Mall, Chapel Hill (former Kerr Drugs)
201 S. Estes Drive / Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.kidcyclenc.com
Nearly New Clothing Exchange
Tentative: March 12-22, 2011  (Fri-Sun)
Location TBA
http://www.nearlynewclothingexchange.com
TMOTT Sale (Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets)
March 26, 2011 (Sat)
N.C. State Fairgrounds / Raleigh
Kerr Scott Building
http://www.tmott.org/sale.htm
Kidaround Kidsale
March 25-27, 2011 (Fri-Sun)
The Factory in Wake Forest (MVP Factory Sports indoor basketball court)
1839 US 1-A South Main St. / Wake Forest NC
http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com/
NEXT 2 NEW 4 KIDS
April 6 - April 10, 2011 (Wed-Sun)
Cleveland Gymnasium
8994 Cleveland Road / Clayton NC 27520
http://www.next2new4kids.com
Second Blessings Consignment Sale
TBA (Fri-Sat)
Greenwood Forest Baptist Church
110 SE Maynard Rd. / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.gfbccary.org/consignment/

***Chatham Kids Consignment (Chapel Hill/Pittsboro) asked me to let you know that they have closed up shop and will not be hosting a sale this year.

If you don't live in the Raleigh area, be sure to visit http://consignmentmommies.com for a VERY comprehensive listing of children's consignment sales all over the United States!

2010 Spring/Summer Raleigh Area Consignment Sales

Well the Spring/Summer kids consignment sale season has already begun! I was hoping to get this post online before the big Kids Exchange sale a few weeks ago, but that didn't happen because I haven't finished sorting through the photos that I want to add from a bunch of the previous sales. Yet still I suppose it's better to go ahead and get this list published ASAP, so here it is below.


Kids Exchange
January 20 - 24, 2010
NC State Fairgrounds
Jim Graham Building & Dorton Arena
http://www.KidsExchange.net
With 2500+ consignors, this is the largest sale in the region, covering two buildings/123,000 sq. ft!

The Friendship Closet Consignment Sale
February 5 - 6, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Apex United Methodist Church
100 S. Hughes Street / Apex, NC 27502
http://www.friendshipcloset.com/dates-location

Nearly New Clothing Exchange
February 6 - 14, 2010 (Sat thru following Sun)
Falls Village Shopping Center
6675 Falls of Neuse Road / Raleigh, NC
Former Great Outdoor Provision Store
http://www.nearlynewclothingexchange.com 

First UMC Cary Spring/Summer Sale
February 20, 2010 (Saturday morning)
First United Methodist Church, Cary
117 S. Academy Street / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.consignwithfumc.com/

Divine Consign Show - Raleigh
February 23 - 26, 2010 (Tue-Fri)
Falls Village Shopping Center / Next to Tookie’s Toys in the old Dilly Dally location
6675-127 Falls of Neuse Road / Raleigh
http://www.dcskids.com
Notes: Exclusive Trunk Show & Boutique Overstock and Consignment Sales; Also has a Grandparent Preview Show & New Mom Shopping (must pre-register)

Second Blessings Consignment Sale
February 26 - 27, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Greenwood Forest Baptist, Cary
110 SE Maynard Rd. / Cary, NC 27511
http://www.gfbccary.org/consignment/

Church Kidz Stuff
March 4 - 6, 2010 (Thu-Sat)
Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh
http://www.hbbc.net/Ministries/ChildrensMinistry/ChildrensConsignmentSale/tabid/5922/language/en-US/Default.aspx

Kidaround Kidsale
March 5 - 7, 2010 (Fri-Sun)
The Factory in Wake Forest (MVP Factory Sports indoor basketball court)
1839 US 1-A /South Main St. Wake Forest NC
http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com/

Kids Everywear
March 6 - 15, 2010 (Sat-following Mon)
Morrisville Outlet Mall
1001 Airport Blvd / Morrisville, NC 27560-8935
http://www.kidseverywear.com/
Notes: Probably 2nd largest sale in the area & growing each year! Also has early shopping days for Pregnant & New Moms (must pre-register)

Upscale Resale
March 12 - 13, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Cary Masonic Lodge
1142 SE Maynard Road / Cary, NC
http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com
Note: Trunk Show, Boutique & higher-end consignment sale clothes

Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale
March 16 - 19, 2010 (Tue-Fri)
Life Spring Community Church
501 Wake Chapel Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
http://www.just4kidsnc.com

Chatham Kids Consignment
March 19-20, 2010 (Fri-Sat)
Lowe's Foods Shopping Center, Cole Park Plaza
11312 US Highway 15 501 N
at Manns Chapel Rd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.chathamkidsconsignment.com

Twice as Nice Kids Consignment Sale
March 25 - 27, 2010 (Thu-Sat)
Crosspointe Church (new location!)
6911 Carpenter Fire Station Rd. Cary, NC 27519
http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/

TMOTT Sale (Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets)
March 27, 2010 (Sat)
N.C. State Fairgrounds
Kerr Scott Building
http://www.tmott.org/sale.htm

NEXT 2 NEW 4 KIDS
March 31 - April 4, 2010 (Wed-Sun)
Cleveland Gymnasium
8994 Cleveland Road / Clayton NC 27520
http://www.next2new4kids.com

I also wanted to point out a few other resources for those of you not in the Raleigh area. I have a bunch of mom-friends in the Nashville, TN area, and there are a BUNCH of sales, starting in the month of February, for you all listed here.

Another really cool looking resource that I stumbled upon last week is called ConsignmentMommies.com. It's a site that lets you rate and discuss the sales that you've attended, so that new shoppers can get a feel for what it's like before even going! It also has a huge regional listing of sales in the NC, SC, VA and eastern TN areas.

Check back soon for my own evaluations and photos of each sale I've attended in the past 6 months.

2009 Raleigh-area Consignment Sale Roundup (Fall/Winter Sales)

It's that time of year again... back to school shopping will start all too soon and parents will be sorting through clothing & toys to decide what still fits and what needs to be replaced. Almost a year and a half ago I discovered a new favorite hobby in bargain shopping called Children's Consignment Sales. I posted a blog last summer about my initial experiences with consignment shopping. Since then I can easily say that I've been to more than a dozen sales total, which are kind of like giant cooperative yard sales. I'm still by no means an expert, but do eagerly look forward to the chance to get nearly-brand-new clothing and toys for my child for about 25% of the original retail cost. Even toys or "play clothes" that look a little worn work fine for a toddler... she doesn't care or know the difference!

For new moms or parents who haven't shopped a consignment sale before, here are a few tips of my own followed by some local news videos explaining the sales and then a list of the upcoming Raleigh, NC-area Fall/Winter sales.

1.) Take a list! Start making a list now of every item you can think of that you need for your child. It can be specific or generic, but just write it down, sort it by category type and even prioritize it by importance. I would never remember everything I want without having it on paper while shopping a sale. Don't think, "Oh that's too specific - I'd never find that at a sale." I've been blown away by very specific items I've found at sales before... such as One Step Ahead's "Walking Wings" (normally $24.95, but I found them practically new for $10). Last year I bought an $85 Kozy Carrier for only $20! The amount of new-with-tag clothing items for sale is often quite surprising too.

2.) Since the sales don't provide shopping carts, take something to carry your items in; I recommend a device with wheels! I use our SnugGlider stroller frame (without the infant car seat) and attach a rectangular laundry basket with a bungee cord. It works fabulously! I also have seen shoppers using carts such as this one, but I've never made the investment to get one of those. A wagon or an empty stroller could work well too.

3.) If possible, sign up for a time slot to work a few volunteer hours so that you can shop early. The best items always go first and once you shop a sale early, you'll realize this. Consignors (people who sell their items) also usually get to shop earlier than the public as well. The only thing to remember about consigning is that there is usually a consignors fee ($5-15) which you pay whether or not any of your items sell. If you do sell your items, depending on the sale you'll typically get about 2/3 of your selling price and the sale owners keep the other 1/3.

The Raleigh area is very fortunate to have quite a few consignment sales nearby and those numbers seem to be growing! I've compiled a list of 10 upcoming Fall/Winter sales with their dates and locations below. There are 4 more area sales that I'm aware of, but have not yet confirmed their upcoming dates/location. First though, here is some local news coverage from two of the area's largest sales, KidsExchange and Kids Everywear. Note that these videos are from last winter's "Spring/Summer" sales and are not specifically referring to the upcoming sales.

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If the crowds in those videos overwhelm you, take heart... all sales aren't as chaotic as those two! In fact, many of the smaller sales are great because since they aren't as crowded, you can find better bargains! Feel free to leave a comment below inquiring about a specific sale and I'll be happy to let you know any details I know about it. (Although there are a few on this list that I haven't been to before.)

Here is the list, sorted by upcoming sale dates:

Kids Exchange

July 20 - 28, 2009 (Mon-the following Tue)

NC State Fairgrounds

Jim Graham Building

http://www.KidsExchange.net

Note: This is the biggest sale in the entire area… it’s MASSIVE!

The Friendship Closet Consignment Sale

August 7 - 8, 2009 (Fri-Sat)

Apex United Methodist Church

100 S. Hughes Street / Apex, NC 27502

http://www.friendshipcloset.com/dates-location

Upscale Resale

August 13 - 15, 2009 (Thu-Sat)

Cary Masonic Lodge

1142 SE Maynard Road / Cary, NC

http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com

Note: Trunk Show, Boutique & higher-end consignment sale clothes

TMOTT Sale (Triangle Mothers of Twins & Triplets)

August 15, 2009 (Sat)

N.C. State Fairgrounds

Kerr Scott Building

http://www.tmott.org/sale.htm

Twice as Nice

August 20 - 22, 2009 (Thu-Sat)

New Horizons Fellowship

820 E. Williams Street / Apex, NC 27502

http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com/

Note: One of my very favorite sales, and not just because I designed their website! :-)

NEXT 2 NEW 4 KIDS

August 26 - 30, 2009 (Wed-Sun)

Cleveland Gymnasium

8994 Cleveland Road / Clayton NC 27520

http://www.next2new4kids.com

Divine Consign Show - Raleigh DCS Fall Show

August 31 - September 4, 2009 (Mon-Fri)

Stonehenge Shopping Center

7432 Creedmoor Road / Raleigh, NC

http://www.dcskids.com

Notes: Exclusive Trunk Show & Boutique Overstock and Consignment Sales; Also has a Grandparent Preview Show & New Mom Shopping (must pre-register)

Kids Everywear

August 29th - September 15th
Morrisville Outlet Mall

1001 Airport Blvd / Morrisville, NC 27560-8935

http://www.kidseverywear.com/

Notes: Probably 2nd largest sale in the area & growing each year! ; Also has early shopping days for Pregnant & New Moms (must pre-register)

Kidaround Kidsale

Two Sale Dates & Locations!

#1 - Sept. 11 - 13, 2009 (Fri-Sun) @ The Factory in Wake Forest (MVP Factory Sports indoor basketball court)

1839 US 1-A /South Main St. Wake Forest NC

#2 - Oct. 9 - 11, 2009 (Fri-Sun) @ The Lighthouse Center in South Raleigh

326 Tryon Rd / Raleigh, NC (the Garner side of Raleigh)

http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com/

Nearly New Clothing Exchange

September 16-20, 2009 (Wed-Sun)
Pleasant Valley Shopping Center
6270 Glenwood Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27612
Next door to Kirklands

http://www.nearlynewclothingexchange.com

Chatham Kids Consignment

September 18, 19, 20, 2009 (Fri-Sun)

11312 US Highway 15 501 N
Chathams Crossings
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.chathamkidsconsignment.com

First UMC Cary Fall Sale

September 19, 2009 (Sat)

First United Methodist Church, Cary

117 S. Academy Street / Cary, NC 27511

http://www.consignwithfumc.com/

Note: Planning Ahead? Spring Sale will be Saturday, February 20, 2010

Church Kidz Stuff

October 1 -3, 2009
Hayes Barton Baptist Church, Raleigh

http://www.hbbc.net/Ministries/ChildrensMinistry/ChildrensConsignmentSale/

Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale

October 4 - 10, 2009 (Sun-Sat)

Life Spring Community Church

501 Wake Chapel Road

Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

http://www.just4kidsnc.com

Second Blessings Consignment Sale

Spring 2010
Greenwood Forest Baptist, Cary

http://www.gfbccary.org/consignment/

Gov't Wants to Outlaw the Reselling of Kids' Clothing!! What?! (CPSIA)

I am just floored by this.

Last Friday (January 2nd), a LA Times article reported the following: "Barring a reprieve, regulations set to take effect next month could force thousands of clothing retailers and thrift stores to throw away trunkloads of children's clothing." On February 10, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act will go into effect which mandates that all products sold for children age 12 and under be tested for lead and phthalates (chemicals used to make plastics more pliable). This includes clothing! Perhaps the best article I read to explain all of this is at The Simple Dollar. There is also good discussion over at BabyCheapskate and TheSmartMama.com.

New clothing manufactured after February 10th will be tested and have some sort of approval rating seal or certificate. BUT... what about used clothing and products? I am a huge advocate of consignment sales as well as stores like Kid to Kid or Once Upon a Child. I participate on Freepeats regularly too. But the owners of these sales and stores do not have the resources to spend on expensive tests. Nor is that even a reasonable feat for local consignment sales - which have hundreds or thousands (or even hundreds of thousands!) of items dropped off in a short period of time right before the sale opens to the public. A law forbidding the sale of used items & clothing would put these sales out of business! An unverified source I read online said that the penalties are stiff: $100,000 per violation and up to 5 years in jail! The enforcers are going to be State Attorney Generals and the CPSC.

When a consumer buys an article of clothing or a toy for their child, part of the item's purchase cost is justified by the item's resale value. I know that my child will wear that clothing or use that toy for less than a year, but I expect to get some return on the item's value by reselling it at a later date. Essentially this law will eliminate this possibility for everything I already own, which causes an immediate permanent reduction in my wealth. Because of that, I will buy fewer products which helps to slow the economy. This action is contridictory to the objectives which Congress is trying to pursue to stimulate the economy during our current recession.

And this comes at a time of "economic hardship"... that's all we hear about on the news these days. I want to know - is the Congress considering the families who can't afford to buy their children brand new clothes every few months when the seasons change and their kids have grown an inch? If the economic crisis is hitting America so hard, wouldn't the number of families in this category be increased right now already?

This feels almost like a destruction of property rights or a devaluing of the currency. My goods are worth something on February 9th, but come 12:01 am that night, they suddenly lose their value. I believe that the CPSIA will cost many American families much more money than any economic stimulus check has ever benefited them.

What about the environmental impact? According to the LA Times, "Those [products] that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead." So whether or not they are actually hazardous, millions upon millions of brand new toys and clothing will be tossed into landfills. Might I add that all of the "non-earth-friendly" plastic toys will surely sit there in the landfills for many years to come, whether or not they are even dangerous. Too bad they couldn't have been used and played with in the meantime! This law doesn't allow enough time for current used products to be properly tested.

Now in general, I think it's a great thing to mandate the levels of lead in children's products. In fact I have often wondered why it wasn't mandated before with all of the crazy Chinese product and toy recalls in the past couple of years. HOWEVER, today is January 4th, and even though preliminary research shows that this issue has been around for at least 3-4 months, this is the first I've heard about this law which is to take effect in only 36 days!

What happened to "being green" and recycling and not wasting products unnecessarily? Freepeats, Freecycle, eBay, and Craigslist have become an integral part of my life, along with millions of other Americans, and I take pride in knowing that I am helping to avoid excessive waste by buying and selling items instead of tossing them out when I no longer need them or always buying them brand new.

My heart goes out to the owners of local consignment sales like Twice as Nice. Stores like Goodwill probably will not go out of business, mainly because they do not specialize only in clothing for under age 12, but have adult inventory as well. Yet I can't imagine not having local resources like Kid to Kid to help me save money on used clothing and toys. I think the law needs to be amended before being passed, so that only products manufactured AFTER Feb. 10th are subject to screening. Used products should receive a longer "shelf life" for at least another year, to allow adequate time for testing and screening to be performed.

It's not that I want my child wearing lead-filled clothing or playing with toys full of phthalates. But I also don't want to see a bunch of perfectly good items - items which people paid hard-earned money to buy - go to waste and then be replaced with costlier versions of the same thing. I think there can be a better balance than the current proposal set forth, and I'd like to see that bill be amended to allow for the resale of used items.

If this whole issue upsets you, the best course of action is to contact your local Congressman and Senator at these links below. I know I will!

https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

What do you think?

Posted via web from goldentwig's posterous

Freepeats - now open for free registration in Raleigh-Durham!

So I ended up scoring some pretty decent deals at the consignment sale I mentioned in my last post, and another one this morning. What I found that I enjoyed most about this morning's sale was the few hours before the sale started when I worked as a volunteer. I know I'm a pretty outgoing person, but it was a lot of fun to meet other people and help get things ready for the sale. It's open to the public on Saturday and the room was JAM-packed, so if you're in the Raleigh area, you might go check it out.

Consignment sales can save you a lot of money on baby and kid items, but what's even better is when stuff is FREE! About a month ago, I heard about a new website called "Freepeats." It's based on the Freecycle model of sharing items you no longer need with other people who live in your area to keep them from ending up in landfills. The difference with Freepeats is that it's all baby, kid & maternity stuff! Members who have something to give away post an "Offer" ad, and then when someone else has picked it up from them, they change the title to "Taken." It's as simple as that! Members can also post "Wanted" ads if there is a specific item for which they are searching.

Freepeats requires you to join a local chapter group and pay a one-time ever fee of $4.95. However, if you join a newly-formed group with the first 2 weeks of its inception, you get a lifetime membership for free! And it just so happens that the Raleigh-Durham chapter opened its virtual doors TODAY! So if you live anywhere near the Raleigh area, I encourage you to join right away simply so you don't have to pay the fee! (I did notice that the free lifetime membership cut off for Raleigh is listed as 9/01/08 instead of 8/14/08. So I checked with the moderator and found that she will be on vacation during mid-August, so the Raleigh and Birmingham chapters get an extra two weeks to sign up for free!)

Another difference between Freepeats and the Freecycle models that I've used, is that Freepeats utilizes a message board system for listing items instead of the archaic Yahoo email groups that most Freecycle groups still use. This makes it much easier to quickly scan the list and see what is available that you might be interested in. I've noticed they also have areas for free formula as well as coupons and formula checks.

So clean out your closets, check this out, and let me know if you snag a great item for free!
http://www.freepeats.org

Consignment Contentment!

This past March I discovered a wonderful little thing about parenthood called "kids consignment sales." Not knowing what I was getting into, I attended the "Kids EveryWear" sale at the 'dead airport mall' in Morrisville (if you live around here, you know where I'm talking about!) and was simply blown away at the options for parental consumerism. Well those impressions were floored tonight when I walked into the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds. The "Kids Exchange Sale" is going on this week and opens to the public for shopping on Friday and Saturday (July 25-26). (See below for more sales and dates.)

Apparently I'm not the only one who didn't know about these huge events before entering parenthood... I've run across quite a few new moms who weren't aware of these massive consumer-fests. So here's a quick guide I've put together with some thoughts about consignment sales.

I didn't really know what to expect with this Kids Exchange Sale, except that I had heard it was the biggest in the area. For some reason, consignment sale websites never seem to have many detailed photographs, which doesn't make sense to me. I should think they would want to give new parents an idea for all that is offered at these sales. Anyway, this sale is MASSIVE... apparently the coordinators are saying this year is the biggest sale yet, and they are overflowing the outdoor toys and bikes, outdoors! As my daughter and I walked around tonight putting out our measly 15 or so items that I'm consigning, parents walked by with huge carts full of clothing and baby gear to sort into the appropriate areas. A volunteer handed me a MAP when I walked in the door and I needed it too! Pretty much any baby/child item I've ever thought of is probably somewhere in that huge room... now it's just a matter of finding it and getting to it before everybody else does! I started a needs/wish list a few months ago, and have been holding out on purchasing some desired items until after this sale and the others have passed, hoping to snag a deal along the way. Since I'm selling more than 10 items, I'll get to shop "early" with other consignors on Thursday, but I definitely won't be beating the crowds, so I hear. Expected wait time in the checkout line is minimum 30 minutes, but possibly an hour or more! Good thing I just updated my iPhone with the new 2.0 software and got some games. ;-)

I ran into my friend Nancy and neighbor Lisa, who both gave me some great insights and help about how to put my stuff out and strategies for shopping and selling. A Kids Exchange worker gave me a suggestion to go buy a large rolling trashcan from Wal-Mart to bring with me while I shop; She said that's it a perfect size (tall with a small footprint) for holding everything, yet navigable through the crowds. How much stuff does she think I'm going to buy? A trashcan's worth?? Hmm, I guess we'll see.

So anyway, just to try to capture the sheer enormity of this sale, I snapped a few pix with my iPhone. A farm of baby swings.

A wall of Board Games

A Sea of Toys

Swim Gear

Changing Tables and Highchairs

Need a bouncy seat or 50? How about an Exersaucer? There are hundreds to choose from!

This is just one row of perhaps a dozen like this, each FULL of clothing.

Videos, media and "educational" games

Enough children's books to fill a small library.

So in case you miss this sale, here is a list below of other upcoming local kids consignment sales in the Raleigh, NC area. If you aren't from this area, look up your state on http://www.kidsconsignmentsales.com.

(Please click on the links to check for updated event information and changes.)
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Kids Exchange
July 21st - 28th, 2008
Jim Graham Building at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh
http://www.kidsexchange.net
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Twice as Nice - I went to this one last spring and found *lots* of cute clothes!
August 1-2, 2008
The CC Jones Building
309 Holleman Street
Apex, NC 27502
http://www.twiceasnice4tots.com
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Upscale Resale - sounds like it's exclusively very high-end clothing.
August 14-16th, 2008
Cary Masonic Lodge in Cary (also planning to have another in Greensboro but have not scheduled that yet.)
http://www.UpscaleResale4Kids.com
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The Divine Consign Show Raleigh - also sounds like it's exclusively very high-end clothing. No toys or other items like that accepted for consignment.
August 26-29, 2008
Quail Hollow Swim and Tennis Clubhouse
http://www.dcskids.com
Contact Kelly at (919) 272-3070
New Mom Registration - If you are expecting your first child or if your first child is less than 12 months old, you are invited to attend the New Mom Private Shopping on Thursday, August 28th from 9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. But you must register!
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Kids EveryWear - This sale seemed HUGE when I attended it in March! I got tons of deals on baby gear, toys, and clothes too.
September 13 - 19, 2008
Prime Outlets Mall
Morrisville, NC
http://www.kidseverywear.biz
Adoptive parents, first-time moms of a child under age 1, and pregnant moms can all shop early after registering online!
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Kid Around Kidsale
October 3-5, 2008
"The Factory"
1839 US 1-A /South Main St.
Wake Forest NC
http://www.kidaroundkidsale.com
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Just 4 Kids Consignment Sale
October 5-10, 2008
Life Spring Community Church
501 Wake Chapel Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
http://www.just4kidsnc.com
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Most consignment sales offer you the opportunity to shop first if you volunteer your time to work a shift. You also get to shop earlier than the public if you are a consignor, so dig out 10 items from your closet and tag them! It's worth the bargains to get to shop first! Also, many of these sales are actually biannual with one sale per year focused on winter and fall clothing, while the other sale focuses on summer/spring apparel.

Good luck bargain hunting!