My Top Ten Tips While Shopping For Second Hand Kids Clothes 1. Identify the op shops in your area and visit as often as possible. Just remember it is opportunity shopping - eventually over time you can build a great wardrobe for your little ones.
2. Keep a list of what you need for your kids in your purse, as it helps to keep a clear head while you look at great items and it's easy to get distracted.
3. If you come across a fabulous find but it isn't the right size for your children - think of a friends or relatives child that might like to receive the item as a gift for a birthday or Christmas. (read my recent experience below)
4. Think ahead. You might find a lot of winter clothes through the summer months that you can store until it gets cold - the same goes for bigger sizes that will fit eventually.
5. Check the quality (apart from the obvious - stains, missing buttons, broken stitching etc) - check for a spare button on the side seam tag or at the bottom of the placket, turn the garment towards natural light and check again for marks that don't show up in shop light (and there are loads!).
6. Op shop online! Not eBay but other places - bookmark them and drop in for a look often. Here are some great sites apart from mine: charlipopkids (preloved section), monkeysundies, and my personal favourite "Little Kids and Big Kids Clothing Store" at oztion (all are Australian based).
7. Get creative. You've just found an item to die for in excellent condition but there is a nasty stain on it somewhere. You can simply cover it up with sequins, decorative patch, rosettes - anything. Completely change buttons on a shirt or dress if there are one or two missing, add a lace hem...
8. Know your labels. Some labels have a stronger resale value - then know your eBay and sell it when you don't need it anymore.
9. If it all sounds a bit too much, do this simple test. Know exactly what you spend (money, time, emotionally) on firsthand clothes shopping - count parking, queues, shopping with kids, food and maybe some rides/bribes. Then... jump online and secondhand shop during the evening with a cup of tea or glass of wine wine in hand - the children are asleep. Compare price, time, emotional expense - and add that up.
10. Know other sources - Trading Post, Brisbane Shopper or similar where you live, baby markets, garage sales that advertise children's items as well as bricks and mortar op shops and good old eBay.
My latest personal experience. I'm lucky I live in Wynnum (in Brisbane, Australia) where there are 11 op shops. But I also know where other nearby op shops are and I make it a habit to check them out - not every week, just every now and then. A quick flick through the racks of children's clothes - I zero in on fabrics and colours I like or dresses only etc. I found an Esprit dress in perfect condition but it was way too big for my daughter but not too big for my niece. One stunning dress by Esprit for a Christmas pressie. $4.50. In the 4 months that I have been checking eBay, Brisbane Shopper, online, and local op shops I have built up an amazing wardrobe for my kids.
It's not conventional shopping that I was used to, but it is so easy and fun. Reduce, re-use, recycle!
Catherine Bateson runs http://www.secondhandchildrensclothes.com.au - a website where you can buy second hand childrens clothes, designer and non-designer brands from (Australian) size 000-5 for boys and girls. The site doesn't sell anything over $15 (Australian).
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