6 Tips to Make Thrifting Fun and Easy! 

Thrifting is All the Rage!

6 tips to make it fun and easy! 

Back-to-school shopping is here! With this particular venture of buying a lot of items at once, finding ways to save and be sustainable is key. 

One fantastic option is shopping at resale stores, which is an easy  “sell” as most kids love to go thrifting! It’s also a wonderful practice to model as part of improving our sustainable footprint and passing this value on to our children. 

Portland has many resale shops, including ones that specialize in children’s clothes. These shops hand-select their inventory by considering top-quality items, the season’s needs and customer favorites. You’ll find name brand clothing (and also unique or handmade items) at affordable prices so you can be sure your back-to-school budget goes further. And you can maximize savings even more by going through your kids’ closets with them and reselling their outgrown clothing, shoes, toys and books.  

Here are tips for reselling your kids’ outgrown clothing and finding the best pieces at resale stores this month: 

1. Clean out the closet. As you go through your kiddos’ closets and drawers to see what they will need this school year, put all outgrown clothing, shoes and coats into a bin. Make sure all clothing is freshly washed and shoes are cleaned before taking them to a resale shop.
2. Create a list. Write down the types of clothing you need, how many of each to get and the sizes you’ll need. Trace each child’s foot on a piece of cardboard for easy shoe checks at the store.
3. Make a plan. Check your local children’s resale shops’ websites to find the hours and days they take inventory. This way the store staff can go through your consignment items while you shop.
4. Look for items that do double-duty. If possible, look for shirts, pants, shoes, etc. that can work for at least two seasons (fall/winter or spring/summer). Here in the Pacific Northwest, items like rain boots and raincoats are necessary most of the year, so be sure to pick up a new set if your kids have outgrown last year’s rain gear and even a second set if they need one left at school. 
5. Take your time. Resale shops have a wide variety of items.  You may need to spend some time visiting a number of resale shops, having your kids try things on, and pairing outfits to find those resale gems they’ll love.
6. Take more than one trip. While getting your fall, winter and spring items in one trip might be convenient, it’s not always practical. Children outgrow their clothing and shoes very quickly – sometimes before the price tags are even removed. Also, resale shops tend to carry seasonal items, and they generally receive new inventory daily. Some resale shops even have online stores or use their social media platforms so that’s also a great place to cruise! 

Back to school is one of the busiest times of the year for a children’s resale shop. Shops are bustling with parents bringing things in as well as shoppers looking to score those must-haves. When you visit your neighborhood resale shops, not only will you be saving money but you’ll also be supporting a local business, helping other parents, and teaching your kids about sustainable practices that have an impact! It’s easy and really fun! 

Quick tips for consigning and reselling used items:

1. All items must be freshly washed.
2. All items must be free of excessive wear, stains and damage.
3. Most shops take 1 tub or 2 shopping bags at a time.
4. If you have large gear to consign, call first to make sure it’s something the shop can accommodate.

By: Carmen Ripley-Wilson

Bio: Carmen is the owner and founder of Beanstalk. She brings years of sustainable thinking and environmental awareness to the local clothing, toy and gear resale business. With her medical background, she truly cares about the well-being of families and their exposure to quality clothing, toys and gear. For more information, visit beanstalkpdx.com.