Shopping for baby and children’s clothes and equipment such as strollers, baby bouncers, high chairs, etc. from secondhand sellers is one of the best and most popular ways for parents and grandparents to buy great, used items at bargain prices for their special children.
Russie Carter’s Encores auction, perhaps the largest of all, is celebrating its 31st year of business. Her first auction had about 45 consignors, and now each auction has 400 or more consignors.
Carter, whose mega sale will take place in Murfreesboro in late August, said the popularity of consignment sales has increased not only because of the economic climate but also because of the sustainability movement, with increasing emphasis on reducing, reusing and recycling when purchasing used items.
But the bottom line is that these sales offer bargains on everything from baby furniture and gear to clothing, toys, shoes, books, sporting goods and more for kids and teens. Their sales also include adult clothing and plenty of home accessories.
Carter told the story of a young mother who purchased maternity clothes, baby clothes and equipment (including a $200 stroller) for $360.
“She stocked up on bibs, bottles and other baby items – 75 items. We estimated the retail price would be about $1,500!” Carter said.
Natalie Dohanos, whose Hooked on Consignment sale has been in Hendersonville for 12 years, says her customers love finding bargains on everything from baby clothes to books, shoes and fun items for kids of all ages. Her sale also includes some new and gently used women’s clothing.
Suggested prices are generally one-third to one-quarter of retail price, says Dohanos. Experienced secondhand shoppers can spend $100 and get goods valued at $500 to $600, he adds.
“In the current economic climate, consignment is the way to go,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed seeing the mothers who were shopping for their children when we first started, now showing their daughters how to shop for their children on consignment.”
Some of the sales, like Dohonos and Carter’s, are entrepreneurial ventures, but many others raise funds for churches, school programs and other nonprofits and provide buyers with another reason to shop at consignment stores.
Be sure to get your calendar out, as most of these sales are “pop-ups” that only last a few days.
Here is a selection of the Fall/Winter 2024 public consignment sales:
*13-15 August: Addicted to Commission sale,162 Imperial Blvd. in Hendersonville. This sale, in its 13th year, typically features around 85,000 items and includes sizes from infants to girls and boys 18. The public sale is Aug. 13-15, but there is a pre-sale with tickets on Aug. 10 and 11. Details: hookedonconsignment.com
*21-23 Aug.: Floods of unexploded bombs Consignment sale at Hendersonville First United Methodist Church, 217 E. Main St. in Hendersonville. This sale, attended by approximately 200 consignees, has been running for more than 20 years. Proceeds benefit the community and children’s ministries of this Methodist church. Details: Floodsofduds.com
*23rd–24th August: Brentwood United Methodist Kids Sale will be held at the church at 309 Franklin Road in Brentwood. The sale, which is expected to attract more than 100 consignors, raises money for the church’s missions. For details, call (615) 373-3663 or visit bumckidsale.net
*27th-31st August: Encore’s South Consignment The sale is in its 31st year. The sale typically involves more than 400 consignors contributing more than 100,000 items for babies, teens and pregnant women. Also this season, the kids’ sale will be combined with the adult clothing sale and a home decor sale. The combined sale will be held at the Middle Tennessee Expo Center in Murfreesboro, 1660 Middle Tennessee Blvd. At the end (Sept. 1), Encores will host a “Dollar Dash” where all leftover items will be offered for $1 and a portion of the proceeds will go to local charities. The remaining items will be donated to ThriftSmart. Details: www.encoresconsignmentsouth.com/
*30-31 August: Little Sprouts Sale, with more than 500 consignors and an estimated 75,000 items at Liberty Hall in the Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Rd. This sale, which offers advance ticket sales ($5-$29), has been running since 2008. Details: littlesproutssale.com
*Sept. 6-7: Reruns Are Fun Sale at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park at 4215 Long Lane in Franklin. This “same sale/new owner” sale has been running since 1990 and features all categories of children’s clothing, toys and gear. New owners Kelly Gilliam and Kelly White, who said they expect about 200 consignors, have run the sale “all season” and are also accepting adult clothing and home decor. The public sale is free, but there is a presale on Sept. 5 for $5 if you want to pay to shop early. Details: rerunsarefunsale.com
September 23-24: Otter Creek Church Fall/Winter Children’s Program The sale will be held in the church gymnasium at 409 Franklin Rd. in Nashville. More than 300 consignors are expected. Proceeds will benefit youth organizations and children’s charities. Details: www.ottercreeksale.com/
September 25-26: Children’s program from Oak Hill School The sale will be held at the Oak Hill School Enrichment Center at 4815 Franklin Road with about 300 consignors. This sale, which includes clothing from newborns to toddlers, also features furniture and equipment, as well as a housewares and home decor section. The sale, which has been held for 40 years, will feature a half-price sale on Sept. 27 and 28. Details: oakhillschool.org/consignment
27 September – 2 November: No child sales, the Ladies of Charity Fall/Winter Consignment The sale includes consigned and donated clothing and accessories for men and women. The six-week sale will be held at the Ladies of Charity shop at 2216 State Street and will be open Monday through Saturday during the sale. Details: ladiesofcharitynashville.com/
Tips for commission buyers
*Check the sales websites for sale times and other details, and to learn how to get an early shopping pass. Most sales offer this benefit to volunteers, consignors, grandmothers, new mothers and first responders, and some sell advance sales tickets for early shopping privileges.
*Shop early on the first day of the sale to get the best selection, or on the last day to get the best prices, as most sales offer a half-price day at the end of the sale. Note that the first public day of most of these sales is quite hectic, and some sales discourage shoppers from bringing children.
*Make a list. Think ahead about fall/winter items like Halloween costumes, holiday clothes, and small gifts for the Christmas stocking.
*Keep in mind that in most cases, shippers set the prices for their items themselves, so if you see multiple duplicate items, the prices may be very different.
*Bring a shopping bag, laundry basket, or rolling cart (or even a wagon) to transport the items you want to purchase as you continue shopping.
*Bring cash. Most outlets accept debit and credit cards, but some charge a surcharge if you use credit cards. Some outlets do not accept checks. Cash always works.
*Before you buy, check the sizes. Some savvy shoppers write down their children’s measurements (inseam, pant length) and take a tape measure with them.
*Most sales offer a wide selection and super low prices on books, puzzles and games.
*Please check all items for good condition (zippers working, no stains or other defects) before paying, as in most of these sales all purchases are final.
*Become a volunteer to gain access to presales.
*Check back on half-price (or even cheaper) days to see what great deals are still available. You might be surprised.
Enjoy the savings! Stay cheap!
Mary Hance, who has four decades of journalism experience in the Nashville area, writes a weekly column for Ms. Cheap and appears Thursdays on Talk of the Town on NewsChannel5. You can reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Facebook at Facebook.com/mscheap.
