Six Places to Buy, Sell, and Donate Konmaried Kids’ Items

If you’re like me, you’ve been watching Marie Kondo on her Netflix show, Tidying up with Marie Kondo, and you may have your own box of “Konmaried” possessions to get rid of.

There’s something wonderfully calming about Kondo’s presence, and she manages to make the most mundane tasks (like folding clothes) seem soothing and tranquil. Every time I watch her show, I feel more relaxed, and I’m inspired to tidy up my own space.

My husband and I have a walk-in closet that may or may not be the same size as our bedroom. However, we have next to no organization, and I can barely find what I need to get dressed for work each day. Seriously, where are my no-show socks? I keep buying them and can’t find any. Not a single one. Let’s not even talk about the fact that about 50% of my clothing hasn’t touched my body in two (or maybe ten?) years. It’s time for me to make a change. While I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time as I’d like to going through my closet, I do have a moving box that I’ve added my Konmaried possessions to little by little.

Ironically, I seem to have too many clothes while my son has the opposite problem: not enough clothes.

My son is growing like a weed. He is just over two years old, and already more than half my height. When he was a tiny baby, he was low on the growth charts and his (former) doctor pressured me quite a bit to change from breastmilk to formula. I stuck to my guns though, eventually changed doctors, and my son has been very happy and healthy. Lately, it seems like he’s growing out of even the newest clothes in his dresser. Now, I like online deals as much as the next mama, but I sometimes feel guilty that my money is going to a corporation far, far away. I also can’t always afford to buy things new (or at full price), and fortunately, have found many ways to shop small and support our local economy.

Luckily, Marie Kondo’s new Netflix show is sweeping Vermont and the nation, inspiring people of all types to get rid of the items that don’t give them joy. I’m particularly interested in the moms and dads with kids who are slightly older than mine, and who might have a large stack of Konmaried kids’ clothes for my son.

Here are some places that you can shop for other people’s Konmaried kids’ items, and also get rid of some of your own:

Once Upon A Child:

Once Upon A Child, located in Williston, is a great place to find clothes for babies and kids (sizes preemie to youth 20) at bargain prices. I rarely have to buy anything at full price these days because Once Upon A Child usually has what my son needs. They have clothing, shoes and boots, books and toys, and indoor and outdoor baby gear. A few months ago, our diaper pail broke and I discovered that the company no longer makes the model we use. I drove to Once Upon A Child the next day and they had the exact same one – and for less than half of what a new one would cost me. One of my favorite parts of the store is the pajama rack, where I can easily find gently worn PJ sets for under $5. Another favorite part of the store is the onesie/bodysuit section, where you can get 10 onesies for $10. I love that you can mix and match sizes, so I can pick up a bunch for my son, add in a few for a friend’s new baby, and still get the $10 deal.

Once in a while, they have a “bag stuffer” sale, where you can pay a flat rate for any clearance items that fit into one of their special plastic bags. Once Upon A Child will also buy your gently used baby and kid items; just check their Facebook page before you head over to learn their buying schedule (they don’t buy on special event days or when they are overstocked).

Once Upon A Child’s headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but the Williston store employs local people to staff their store, and their store is locally-owned.

Boho Baby:

Boho Baby, which is located in Essex Junction, is a consignment shop that specializes in buying and selling gently-used children’s clothing. Their mission is to provide our local community with excellent customer service and fairly-priced products, while also supporting eco-conscious, sustainable, and local businesses. Boho Baby provides a unique shopping experience; you can find used items from higher-end brands like Zutano and Tea, but the majority of their items are priced between $2 and $5.

In addition to gently-used clothes, Boho Baby also sells new items from local businesses, like joggers and shorties from Maple Frosting, bows from The Tiny Bow Shop, booties from Zutano, and artistic goodies from Basin Reclaimed. The owner of Boho Baby, Lisa, was excited to tell me about some of their newest offerings: lovies from Summer North Goods, and booties and bonnets from Green Mountain Honey. For mamas and babies, she stocks all-natural, locally made skin care products from Sweet Organics.

Since my son could walk, he’s been most excited to check out their selection of learning toys and musical instruments, and I love how high quality and reasonably-priced the clothing is. During a recent shopping trip, I scored an adorable Tea dress for less than half retail price.

Relish Threads:

Relish Threads, located in Shelburne, is a shop specializing in children’s clothing and toys. They strive to provide a family-friendly shopping experience while stocking unique, hard-to-find items from around the world. The owner stocks clothing from all seasons, so you can shop for Vermont winter wear and spring break clothes at the same time. In addition to shopping at Relish Threads, you can sell your gently-used kids’ items there in exchange for store credit. One thing that sets this shop apart from the rest is their monthly events for moms, parents, and the community. Their February event will be on the 12th from 5-8 PM and their March event will be on the 20th from 5-8 PM. Be sure to check their Facebook page before heading over, though – they are closed for February break and sometimes for family hockey events.

Lil’ Vermonters Consignment Sale:

Twice a year, local company, Lil’ Vermonters, hosts a big consignment sale at the fairgrounds in Essex Junction. I love this sale because I can sell the things my son has outgrown or no longer uses, and I can also shop for new goodies at the same sale. I’ve been a consignor at this sale for a few years now, and I like doing it. The owner of the company is organized and both the buying and selling processes are streamlined and efficient.

Whether you’re shopping at the spring or fall sale, you’re bound to find more than what you’re looking for. Because it’s easy to get carried away with deals, I usually make a list of priority items before I go, and have a budget in mind. Because the pricing is set by the consignors, rather than by the sale organizer, you can find things at a wide variety of price points. If you decide to be a consignor, by the way, you make a 70% commission on everything that you sell.

Each time that I’ve shopped at the sale, I’ve found high-quality clothes, shoes, and toys for my son. I’ve also been able to get some great deals on feeding accessories, like breast milk bottles and pump accessories. I’ve found wonderful decorations for my son’s room for super-low prices. I’ve also shopped for upcoming birthdays and new births in my circle of friends. In the fall, they had over 29,000 items for sale; I can’t wait to see what’s in store at their next one!

Thrift Shops:

In addition to the more formal brick-and-mortar kids’ stores, I find that you can also score some deals on baby and kids’ clothing at local thrift shops. These are also great for donating clothing you no longer want. The United Church in Milton has a thrift shop with clothing, shoes, toys, and puzzles, and the Used Clothing Shop in Georgia has some deals, as well. As with any consignment store, the selection in these shops can be hit or miss, but if you’re there at the right time, you can definitely score some great deals. Goodwill, both in Burlington and Williston, has a nice selection of kids’ clothing too, although it’s difficult to predict how much will be available.

Facebook Marketplace:

Since having my son, I’ve done quite a bit more selling and buying on Facebook Marketplace. I prefer this method over other online marketplaces because you can usually see the person’s face and possibly know a little about them before meeting up to buy or sell. I’ve gotten some great deals on toddler boots through Facebook Marketplace and sold some things that my son had grown out of. Donating clothing this way is simple. You can find lots of name brand clothing for low prices, which is great since it seems like kids are only wearing some articles of clothing for a few weeks.

If you’re thinking of buying (or selling) on Marketplace, here are a few tips:

1. Meet in a neutral, public location, like a gas station or store parking lot.
2. Meet during the daytime only, and make sure someone else knows where you are and what you’re doing.
3. Make sure you know what kind of car the other person is driving.
4. Agree on a price before you meet. Haggling is generally ok, but a low-ball offer could make the sale a no-go.
5. Have exact change.
6. Be flexible when it comes to the meeting time. If you are buying (or selling) a baby or kids’ item, it’s possible that one or both of you could struggle to get out of the house on time.
7. Don’t take chances with your safety. If something doesn’t feel right (either online or in person), call it off.

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of where to shop for kids’ consignment items, but they are most definitely my favorites. What are your favorite places to shop for used and discounted kids’ clothes and toys? And where have you been bringing your own Konmaried possessions?