7 items you might not expect to find at a children’s consignment sale

Everyone knows that you can score a great deal on gently-used children’s clothing at children’s clothing consignment sale events. Obviously, it’s in the name. But did you know that these events offer fantastic deals on items for the entire family?

Children’s consignment sale events have moved way beyond selling baby and little kids clothes and accessories. Here’s a list of deals you might expect to find at a children’s consignment sale event:

Board games, puzzles, and homeschooling supplies — Consignment sales are packed with games and school supplies of all kinds. You can typically find classic board games, newer party/group games, and every type of puzzle under the sun. You will also find tons of options for the homeschooling family: educational books, learning games, workbooks, software, and even curriculum.

Older kids clothing — Did you know that most consignment sales have clothing for kids, sometimes all the way up to adult sizes? And typically the racks are packed and the aisles are empty. You do have to be more selective, as clothing in this category can be more “worn” longer than younger kids’ clothing (they are typically worn for a full year instead of a few months as with baby clothes), but you can find some great bargains. I’ve had great luck with boys shorts, pajamas, and girls tops.

Women’s clothing and shoes — Last year, I saw the “Junior” section at the Superkids Resale event and decided to go through a few racks to find something for my oldest daughter. I stumbled upon a medium Gap shirt and thought, “Gap doesn’t have a junior line.” Then it hit me. THESE ARE WOMEN’S CLOTHES. Cue A Whole New World from Aladdin and I went crazy. You will find tons of women’s clothing at these sales. Like the type of clothing real women wear, not just sixteen-year-old girls with no uterus padding. NAME BRAND women’s clothing for dirt cheap. I often walk out with as many pieces of clothing for me as I do for my kids.

School, sports, and scouting uniforms — Uniforms can be spendy if purchased new (believe me, after four years of school uniforms, I know). Most sales have dedicated racks with uniforms of all kinds, but also look through the regular clothing sections for hidden gems. My kids are required to wear Lands’ End uniforms for school, and I’ve found the items in the clothing racks at a fraction of the retail price. Keep an eye out for sports uniforms as well — there’s always tons of baseball pants, soccer cleats, martial arts stuff, and Boy & Girl Scout gear in fantastic condition. I’ve even found AWANA Club vests at some sales!

Dress-up clothing and accessories — Sales always have big racks of Halloween costumes, but also look in the fancy dress section (should be marked “Easter Dresses” in the spring and “Christmas Dresses” in the fall). You may find the perfect “princess” dress for your preschooler that’s actually a regular party dress for older girls. You can also find Superhero pajamas that will work as play clothes. You should be able to fill up your costume box for next to nothing.

Off-season clothing, shoes, and accessories — Most consignment events run twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Obviously, everyone is looking for items for the next six months, but sellers often sell goods during the opposite sale to clean out their closets faster. Look for Halloween costumes and winter boots during the Spring sale and shorts and swimsuits during the Fall sale. You’ll certainly find a better selection and probably lower prices.

Outdoor toys, bikes, and gear — Skip scouring Craigslist and get great deals on outdoor baby swings, plastic slides, small playhouses, and toddler push toys, trikes, and scooters. Also look for kids sports equipment, like baseball bats, gloves, balls, and yard game sets. Our outdoor play toys have come almost exclusively from consignment sales.

Ready to start saving? Check out our extensive list of upcoming consignment sales in the Pacific Northwest here and plan to hit one up in your area!

This post is underwritten by Superkids Resale. Superkids has two gigantic sales coming to the Portland area every spring and fall (East Portland and Vancouver). Make sure you “like” Superkids Resale on Facebook to get sale updates!

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