As every parent knows, raising kids ain’t cheap. Sometimes it seems like they wear a piece of clothing once and they’ve already outgrown it before they can put it on again. If you’re like me, you probably have an item or two that’s been bought and never worn after getting forgotten in the back of the closet (oops).
But don’t despair (cue infomercial music) – there’s a solution to your troubles! Whether you have gently (or never) worn clothing items you’d like to recoup some money from, or you’re tired of paying full price for clothing your kid will wear once, consignment stores have got your back. We’ve got a list of six great consignment stores in Calgary to help you save (and earn!) money on your kid’s’ clothing to help take a bit of the sting out of their next growth spurt.
*For consignment opportunities, be sure to visit the shops’ websites to gain a full understanding of their consignment process, including what items are accepted, turnaround time, consignment rates and payment options.
Fresh Kids
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2040 34th Avenue SW
freshkids.ca
Fresh Kids has a cute little storefront in Marda Loop offering pre-loved baby, kids and maternity clothing and baby gear. They have many popular mid to high-end brands in their shop, including Aden + Anais, Burberry, Gap, H&M, Little Marc Jacobs, Natives, Nike, Noppies, MEC, Minimocs, Patagonia, Ralph Lauren, Robeez, Sorel, TOMS, UGGS, Zara, Vans and more. Items can be purchased in-store or online, and local pick-up and worldwide shipping are available (and it’s free with orders of $150 or more). For interested consigners, once you’ve dropped off your gently used items and they’ve sold, you’ll receive 35% cash or 50% store credit in compensation. It can take up to 60 days for items to hit the website and store floor, and any items that haven’t sold 6 months after that are donated to a local charity.
Growing Co.
Calgary Farmer’s Market – 510 77 Avenue SE
growingco.ca
Established in 2018, Growing Co. is one of Calgary’s newest boutiques offering preloved clothing for kids and babies. While there is a storefront located at the Calgary Farmer’s Market selling Canadian-made organic, sustainable and eco-friendly products, their used clothing selection is offered online only. In addition to clothing, Growing Co. also offers consignment options for nursery items such as bedding and swaddles and baby gear like carriers and high chairs. If you are looking to consign some of your own items, you can choose to receive immediate payment or wait for your items to sell, in which case you’d receive 40% of the selling price or 50% if you’d like store credit. Because they are passionate about keeping used clothing out of landfills, Growing Co. also has a buyback program where you can bring back used clothing you’ve bought from them (with a receipt) to receive a credit towards future purchases.
Once Upon a Child
3 Locations – 9250 MacLeod Trail SE, 4625 Varsity Drive NW, and 2770 32 Avenue NE
onceuponachildmacleod.com
Once Upon a Child has a huge selection of second-hand baby and children’s items including clothing, shoes, toys and baby gear. Swimwear and special occasion apparel (like Halloween costumes) are also available during certain times of the year. A range of toys, games, books, exersaucers, strollers, high chairs and other baby gear is usually in stock. Sizes for clothing start at newborn and go all the way up to a 16/18 in youth, so there’s a good chance that you’ll find something for all of your kiddos in one stop! Brands like Gap, Old Navy, Gymboree, Children’s Place, and Justice are just some examples of what you’re likely to find. If you’re in the market to sell clothing or gear, Once Upon A Child will go through your gently used items (bring clothing in laundered and folded), pay cash for the items they want, and give you back anything that doesn’t meet the criteria of what they’re looking for!
Sproutz & U-Turn
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Bay #36 2835-37 Street SW
sproutzuturn.com
Sproutz & U-Turn has been a Calgary consignment staple since 2003. Although they originally catered specifically to kids, they have expanded to include consignment items for teens, men and women as well. The Sproutz & U-Turn storefront boasts over 5,000 square feet of space, and the store receives between 150-300 bins of items each day, so there is tons of selection available. Clothing, toys and children’s gear in good used condition are what you’ll find in store at Sproutz & U-Turn. If you’re looking to unload some items of your own, make sure that they’re in season, clean, and folded (if they’re clothing items). One bin of children’s items and one bin of adult clothing are accepted every 7 days, and consigners receive 30% of the price of their item, which stays on the sale floor for up to three months. Any unsold items or items that were not chosen for consignment are donated to approved Calgary charities.
Twice Bearly
450 14 Street NW
twicebearly.com
If you’re on the hunt for kids’ clothing, toys and equipment (like high chairs, bassinets, exersaucers, breastfeeding pillows, diaper bags, child umbrellas, skates, swim goggles, bikes, ride-on toys, suitcases, jewelry, strollers and everything in between), Twice Bearly has you covered. They carry everything from preemie to size 10 in boys and girls clothing. As an incentive to shop at their store, Twice Bearly has a “Big Bear Savings Card” where you receive a stamp for every $20 spent at the store. For every 10 stamps, you receive $15 off of your next purchase. Technically, Twice Bearly isn’t a consignment store, as they offer cash upfront for your gently used clothing and toys. If you’d like to bring items to the store to sell, it’s recommended that you come early in the day or call to make an appointment. Any items they don’t wish to sell will be returned to you.
WASHED + WORN
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Online Only
washedandworn.ca
WASHED + WORN is an online consignment store for kids’ items, which means you get to avoid the hassle of putting on pants to go shopping for your kiddos and can just get to the good stuff. From the comfort of your home, you can find tons of great items for kids and babies including clothing, footwear and baby gear. Sizing for clothing begins at newborn and goes all the way up to 12 years. Brands like GAP, Volcom, Hurley, True Religion, Gymboree, Zara and more are waiting to be snatched up from their site. They accept all seasons of clothing year-round and offer free local pickup in Calgary for items you want to consign. Washed + Worn offers two payment options for potential consigners – they will either buy out your items instantly for 25% of the resale price or offer you 40% of the consignment sale price or a 50% store credit once the item has sold. You can decide whether you’d like to have items that they don’t wish to sell (or items that haven’t sold within 120 days) returned to you or donated to charity.
Have you bought or sold your kids’ clothes at a consignment shop before? Do you have any great tips you’d like to share to make the process a breeze? We’d love to hear them in the comments!
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Category: shopping
