Laides, prepare to consign to your heart's content

A great list of this spring's consignment sales for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex:

Feb 2-3 McKinney www.triedandtruesale.com/
Feb 15-17 Lewisville www.bbconsign.com/
Feb 26-March 2 Fort Worth Just Between Friends
Feb 28-March 1 Grapevine Divine Consign
March 1-3 Coppell rockinghorsesale.com/
March 4-6 Plano Divine Consign
March 8-10 Dallas (Lake Highlands) www.threesistersconsignments.com/
March 9-10 Mesquite (the one formerly in Dallas) Just Between Friends
March 9-10 Arlington Just Between Friends
March 16-17 www.outgrowntreasures.com/
March 23-24 Arlington Divine Consign
March 28-31 North Richland Hills Just Between Friends
March 31 Richardson Mothers of Twins
March 31 McKinney www.sweetrepeatsmckinney.org/shopperschedule.html
April 11-14 Denton Just Between Friends

And, this year, I think I may just start doing some consigning myself. I'm still trying to work out consignment sale vs consignment store benefits.

Consignment sale confessions

I'm becoming a consignment sale junkie! I wouldn't yet call myself an addict - I don't get in line at 6.00 am, I don't have to be at EVERY sale and I don't haul away mountains of stuff. Perhaps, I should say I'm becoming a conisseur - I'm developing refined strategies, a critical eye, an ability to swoop & scoop with grace.

In reality, I only hit two (three, if you count that I went back to one!) sales: Divine Consign in Grapevine and Plano and the Rockinghorse Sale in Coppell. I do have one more in mind. This year I skipped the Just Between Friends sale because I found the one in Denton so small last time.

For Divine Consign in Grapevine, I arrived around 10 am on opening day. Good timing, no line, no mad rush, still plenty to look over the gear. This is the sale I also decided to visit again on 50% off day - just because it was close by and I wondered what would be left. Not a whole lot of high quality stuff. I did pick up a bag of toy cars for $0.50, a Fisher-Price Little People fire station for $2.00 and Little Tikes tool kit for $0.50.

Divine Consign in Plano was disappointing. Maybe I was late? But, I felt like the prices were higher and quality lower. I even saw some repeats from Grapevine. Won't make the drive there again!

The little Rockinghorse Sale in Coppell gave me the one big item I'd been searching for - table and chairs for Peanut. For $20, I got the cutest wooden giraffe and walrus back chairs for a matching table :-) Otherwise, its like a big garage sale, but just around the corner so I'll be back again! You can get in early to this sale on opening day with a $5.00 donation to the hosting church's youth group.


My hints for successful consignment shopping:

• have a shopping list and focus on those items first - there were specific toys I wanted, everything else I skipped until I had looked for those first.
• bring a few empty canvas bags to fill with shopping. Yes, some people drag an empty laundry basket around with them, but its not very practical.
• there seemed to be tons of clothes available at all the sales so look over the other stuff first unless you are desparate for clothes.
• if you MUST have a bigger item (stroller, beds, big plastic toys, bikes, etc) - you will have to be fanatical about being there first. Volunteer to get in on the pre-sales.
• consign something yourself to get in early without the hours of volunteering - most sales let you shop at the first night as well. I suppose you are a consignor even if you only put one item up for sale!
• peek around all the corners - both Divine Consign sales were spread over several unconnected rooms. One toy-filled and overlooked room was brimming with goodies because half the shoppers didn't even notice it!
• move your big items into the roped off hold area - or better yet, have someone take them there for you - and continue shopping
• I had Peanut with me. I also had lots of snacks and drinks for Peanut to keep her happy. She's a quiet, happy shopper so I knew it would be OK. If yours isn't, you'll be better off sans bebe.
  

Last two sales I know of for fall in the area both take place tomorrow!
North Dallas Mothers of Twins Club in Richardson and the
Metrocrest Parents of Multiples sale in Flower Mound.

Its almost Divine Consign time again

Soon, August will upon us and it'll be consignment sale season again! Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Divine Consign is already looking for volunteers for their events in Grapevine and Plano. Being a volunteer gets you into the must-attend-to-get-the-real-deals pre-sales.

At the pre-sale I attended for a spring sale, it was just madness. Imagine the good old Supermarket Sweep programs where a couple has like 3 minutes to run through the store to fill their shopping cart and everything in the cart is then free.

It was just like that minus the shopping carts - moms racing through with laundry baskets or strollers in tow. Grabbing toys, shoving clothes into the carts, wild-eyed and oblivious to each other. Not much was left dangling on the racks after that crowd came through there...

Giant Turtle moves into our backyard

Its Peanut's new/used sandbox! We filled up last night and Peanut quickly stuck her hands in. her papa was having as much fun with the sandwheel :-)

I'd been told about a woman who runs a consignment biz out of her home for these types of toys. I paid $16 for Peanut's Little Tikes turtle box, they retail for around $40 - 60. She had even replaced the eyes on it :-)

She has the whole collection in her backyard in Flower Mound - very close to Sprout's supermarket! Some of the outdoor stuff was quite faded from being out in the sun, but looked to be in decent condition. For the indoor toys like kitchens, workbenches, cash registers, etc, she often gets all the accessories from the manufacturer.

I just haven't figured out yet how to come to terms with having such big pieces of plastic filling up our yard! But, if Peanut enjoys them then it doesn't really matter what they look like. What I like about finding this consignor is that there is a bit of a recycling element to buying from her. We're helping to reuse something someone else has outgrown and then when we're done, we can trade it in with her and pass it around again.

Don't email her, she doesn't check her email -- call her if you want to make an appointment.

Judy Moore

972-539-4563 or 469 233 4050

ToysforTykes

( i think the photos here look better than the toys did in real life)

Pssst, this one is Just Between Friends

It seems like you can always catch a big consignment sale! Coming up is the franchised Just Between Friends sale. These events must a big business for the organizers. In this show, consignors get to keep 70%, ie, organizers get 30% of sales price + $10 consignor fee. Not too bad!

I never made it to the mega Divine Consign, but did check out the mini, local Rockinghorse sale. It was rather small and the pickings were slim and kinda scattered here & there. But, the location could not be beat - just down the street from us. Peanut did get a set of Megablocks for $2 and a few summer play outfits for $4 - $6 so it wasn't a complete wash.

Fortunately for me & Peanut, Just Between Friends has an event in Denton April 21 - 22. The energy required to get there will be minimal since its close by :-)

They also feature a First Time Moms early shop-a-thon.

More consignment sales -- Rockinghorse in Coppell

Rocking Horse Sale

It looks like if you are into consignment, there is no lack of choice! This one is in Coppell and being promo'd to the Finnish mama community.

Its close by so I think we'll check it out. I was even trying to sort out some clothes to sell, but its tough! Those little itty-bitty baby outfits are too cute and who knows we may need them again or we could pass along to Auntie M .... one day .... maybe ....

Living Hope Church
Coppell, Texas

Spring Dates: March 2-4, 2006

Come shop or consign with us!

We are celebrating our 18th sale!

Consignor price tags are being distributed now.

The mega-consignment sale - Divine Consign

By word of mouth from one our Gymboree mama's (no, not the mama of the boy Peanut bit)


This is evidently a mammoth consignment sale that takes place twice a year in Dallas.

From the looks of it - Divine Consign promises to be just that.



Note that "first time moms", ie, those pregnant or with a child under 1 year can get into the PRE-SALE. But, they are like the number three pre-sale group following the volunteers. Nonetheless, its the night before Divine Consign opens its doors to everyone else.

I've signed up for the pre-sale...more posts to follow.

Another hot consignment store tip was for Once Upon a Child in Flower Mound next to the new Sprouts supermarket. Once we visit, I'll have some more info.

Plus from Dallas Child - a 'how to' save in your shopping with garage sales, consignment shops and more. Here is thier list of area consignment shops:

Consignment/Resale/Thrift in the Dallas Area Please call ahead to verify information, as it is subject to change.

Shop: KidSwap
Drop Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri
Appointment Necessary? No
Percent to Seller: 40 percent
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: Name-brand, in-season clothes, cars and strollers. No toys!
Location: Dallas
Phone: 214/890-7927

Shop: Mudpuppy
Drop Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri
Appointment Necessary? Yes
Percent to Seller: 40 percent
Consign Cost: $10 per season
Items Accepted: Toys and clothes
Location: Fort Worth
Phone: 817/731-2581

Shop: Play It Again Sports
Drop Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon-Fri; 10-6 Sat; noon-5 Sun
Appointment Necessary? No
Percent to Seller: 50 percent
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: Sporting goods (exercise, hockey and baseball equipment)
Location: Dallas
Phone: 214/821-7737

Shop: Play It Again Sports
Drop Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mon-Fri; 10-5 Sat; noon-5 Sun
Appointment Necessary? No
Percent to Seller: Percentage varies depending upon item.
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: All Sporting goods
Location: Dallas, Carrollton
Phone: 972/3805-550

Shop: Purple Pony
Drop Hours: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mon-Fri
Appointment Necessary? Yes
Percent to Seller: 40 percent
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: In-season, excellent-condition clothing. No toys.
Location: Dallas
Phone: 972/422-4500

Shop: Runt Rethreads
Drop Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon-Sat
Appointment Necessary? No
Percent to Seller: 50 percent
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: In-season kids clothing (must be washed and on hangers)
Location: Mesquite
Phone: 972/686-7007

Resale Shops
Shop: Children's Orchard
Drop Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Sat, 1-5 p.m. Sun
Appointment Necessary? Yes
Percent to Seller: Based on condition of item; 30 to 50 percent of resale price
Items Accepted: Excellent condition baby items (clothing, toys, furniture). No car seats or mattresses.
Location: Lewisville
Phone: 214/488-2257

Shop: Kid to Kid
Drop Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon-Fri
Appointment Necessary? Yes, but drop off available
Percent to Seller: Based on condition of item; 20 to 40 percent of resale price
Items Accepted: Brand name not necessary. Toys and baby equipment, but car seats must be like brand-new.
Location: Allen and Plano
Phone: Allen: 972-390-1117; Plano: 972/781-2543

Shop: Once Upon a Child
Drop Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri
Appointment Necessary? Yes, but drop off available
Percent to Seller: Based on condition of item; 30 to 40 percent of resale price (20 percent more if store credit accepted)
Items Accepted: Baby furniture, toys, equipment and clothing
Location: Plano, Carrollton, Flower Mound, Garland and Mesquite
Phone: Plano: 972/618-5800; Carrollton: 972/250-6603; Flower Mound: 972/874-0779; Garland: 972/495-4662; Mesquite: 972/279-8048

Semi-annual Consignment Sales
Sale: Great American Wee Sale
When Held? April 2- 4
Percent to Seller: 60 percent (70 percent for volunteers)
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: Gently used baby and children's clothes, games, toys, equipment, maternity clothing and furniture. Clean, working, stain-free and in-style.
Location: Plano
Web site: www.greatamericanweesale.com

Sale: Just Between Friends
When Held? March 5-6
Percent to Seller: 70 percent (80 percent if five new friends consign)
Consign Cost: $5
Items Accepted: Gently used toys, videos, maternity, children's clothing and baby items.
Location: Dallas
Web site: www.jbfdallas.com

Sale: Just Between Friends
When Held? March 17-19
Percent to Seller: 70 percent (80 percent if five new friends consign or $25 sale gift certificate)
Consign Cost: $5
Items Accepted: Gently used toys, videos, seasonal maternity, children's clothing and baby items.
Location: Dallas
Web site: www.jbfconsignment.com

Sale: Lil' Lambs Sale
When Held? March 25-27
Percent to Seller: 70 percent
Consign Cost: $6
Items Accepted: Gently used toys, videos, seasonal children's and maternity clothing only. Toys, videos, furniture and baby items.
Location: Allen
Web site: www.fpcallen.org

Sale: Tried and True Sale
When Held? March 19-20
Percent to Seller: 50 percent (60 percent for volunteers)
Consign Cost: N/A
Items Accepted: Gently used toys, videos, seasonal maternity, children's clothing and baby items.
Location: Plano
Web site: www.triedandtruesale.com

Thrift Shops
Shop: ACO Upscale Resale
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat
Items Accepted: No mattresses, recliners or car seats
Location: Allen
Phone: 972/727-4751

Shop: Casa View Thrift
Hours: 9a.m-9 p.m. Mon-Sat, 1-7 p.m. Sun
Items Accepted: Everything
Location: Dallas
Phone: 214/324-5026

Shop: Genesis Thrift Store
Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon-Fri, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat
Items Accepted: Everything
Location: Dallas
Phone: 214/520-6644

Shop: Goodwill
Hours: 8 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Mon-Fri
Items Accepted: No mattresses
Location: Dallas
Phone: 214/638-2800

Shop: Goodwill
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon-Sat, 1-5 p.m. Sun
Items Accepted: Everything
Location: McKinney
Phone: 972/542-3721

Shop: Hannah's Hand-Me Downs
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue-Sat
Items Accepted: No mattresses or car seats
Location: Dallas
Phone: 972/642-1115

Shop: Thrift Mart
Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun-Sat
Items Accepted: Everything
Location: Grand Prairie
Phone: 972/721-1861