I was in college when Macklemore made shopping at Goodwill cool. But it wasn’t until I became a mom that I fully understood the economical thrill of hunting and looking for a come up at secondhand stores.
I can’t tell if my love for secondhand children stores is fueled more by the speed of my kids’ growing bodies or the speed of their constantly changing character interest. Either way, my kids look incredible, and I have become a bit of an expert at shopping and selling at secondhand children’s stores.
Tips for Shopping and Selling Secondhand Kid Items in Denver
Establish shopping goals before walking in.
Shopping for kid’s clothes can make the best of us throw caution to the wind. And that’s when we’re looking at full-priced items. When you start looking through adorable tiny clothes, maybe tiny clothes with your kiddo’s favorite character or in their favorite color, with a price tag that is less than half of what you expect… Well, it is easy to get carried away and pile up your cart. Go in with a goal and stay focused.
Expect and prepare for germs.
No parent needs additional sources of sicknesses. This tip goes for all shopping trips, but especially at a secondhand store. Bring hand sanitizer and, for good measure, take a trip to the bathroom and wash with soap after you’ve touched all the things. When you get home, immediately throw everything in the washer — make sure you tell your kids this is the plan while you’re driving home so they know they will have to wait before wearing their new threads.
Sell where you shop and shop where you sell.
It’s almost time to start digging through your kids’ closets as part of your spring cleaning checklist. It might seem overwhelming to add an extra step to your cleanup, but set aside the clothes they’ve outgrown to take to your local secondhand store. You shouldn’t expect to make a lot of money, but you can reasonably expect to rack up enough cash or store credit to offset the cost of sizing up your kids’ wardrobe when you shop secondhand.
Research the policies of the store before selling.
Each store has a different policy on what they will buy and when they will offer store credit or cash. You can usually find this information on their website, but you can always call the store and ask for information. Most stores use social media or have newsletters to share timely information about the types of items they are looking to buy so you can bring in items that best align with their list.
Where to Shop Secondhand in Denver
Denver has many kid-centric secondhand stores where you can buy and sell lightly used clothes of all sizes, shoes, toys, and equipment like strollers and bassinets. Here are some of the most popular.
Kid to Kid
Shoppers and sellers of kids’ clothes are welcome at Kid to Kid. Visit their website for useful information to help sellers select items that are most likely to be bought.
Locations
- Arvada: 7310 W 52nd Ave, Arvada, CO 80002
- Aurora: 15241 E Mississippi Ave, Aurora, CO 80012
- Littleton: 8601 W Cross Dr, Littleton, CO 80123
Once Upon A Child
A great option for sustainable shopping at an affordable price, Once Upon A Child caters to families across the state. Visit their website for details on what they buy.
Locations:
- Arvada: 8025 Sheridan Blvd, Suite M, Arvada, CO 80003
- Centennial: 8253 South Quebec Street #100, Centennial, CO 80112
- Colorado Springs – North: 6948 North Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918
- Fort Collins: 4519 S College Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80525
- Grand Junction: 2454 Hwy 6 and 50 Unit 111A, Grand Junction, CO 81505
- Greeley: 2000 35th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634
- Littleton: 8996 W. Bowles Ave K1, Littleton, CO 80123
- Longmont: 700 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont, CO 80501
My Kid’s Closet
Located at Southlands Mall in Aurora, you can find newborn to youth size 12. Find all of the information about their selling process on their FAQ page.
Location:
6235 S Main St, Aurora, CO 80016
