Kids consignment sale offers more than low prices

Michelle Gates and Kristy Anthony – two stay-at-home moms with backgrounds in management and retail – recently started Sprouting Up, a consignment sale management group.

“We are stay-at-home moms who are kind of looking to supplement our income without having to put our kids in daycare,” explained Gates. “We wanted something that would be very flexible but at the same time would help the community by providing a service.”

Sprouting Up will hold its first kids consignment sale Saturday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Roxana Fire Hall.

“We thought one would do well around here,” Gates said. “This gives people the opportunity to buy really nice stuff at cheaper prices. They’ll be semi-annual. Our vision is to have one every spring and every fall.”

Gates said that 51 people have signed on to consign with Sprouting Up, which has already surpassed the partners’ goal.

“It’s been really positive. We’ve tried really hard to get the word out and people seem to be excited about it.”

Those who choose to consign with Sprouting Up receive a consignment package, which allows them to price the kids clothing and accessories they wish to sell, which Gates said is recommended to be priced at a quarter or a third of the original price of the item.

“There’s no haggling,” explained Gates. “It’s a little bit higher than a yard sale, but it’s nicer merchandise than what you would see at a yard sale. It will be set up almost like a Marshalls. We’ve built racks, and all the clothes will be displayed by size and gender. People can come in and just shop.”

Consigners will receive 60 percent of the sales, while Sprouting Up will receive 40 percent. Gates noted that a private pre-sale will be held Friday, March 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. to give consigners, event volunteers, daycare and preschool providers the opportunity to shop early.

Gates said more than 3,000 items of clothing will be available for purchase, along with strollers, toys and books. She added that shoppers should bring their own shopping bags to the sale.

Gates said there will also be a Thirty-One bags representative on-site, who will be doing free giveaways during the sale.

“We hope to get a couple hundred shoppers,” she added.

Sprouting Up has also partnered with Mary Rio of Clothing our Kids of Delmarva, to provide consigners the opportunity to donate their unsold items to the charity.

“We called her, and she was really excited about it. She provides clothes to local schools for kids in need,” explained Gates. “Anything left over after the sale, people have the option to donate whatever doesn’t sell to the local charity Clothing our Kids of Delmarva.”

Gates said that she and Anthony hope to grow the event in the future, to allow for more venues and more brand-name items that community members can purchase at lower prices.

“We just want to get the word out to the community that we have this really awesome sale going on and that it’s a great place to shop. We’re looking to add more — put a boutique in there for people who sell kid-related items or mom-related items,” she said. “And we hope to grow to have a couple hundred consigners and have more items available. We’d just like it get bigger and better.”

For more information, visit www.sproutingupsale.com or email, sproutingupsale@yahoo.com. Roxana Fire Hall is located at 39453 Zion Church Road, on Route 20, between Route 17 and Route 54.