Used kids’ clothes are a hot commodity for Fairbanks businesses
Published Sunday, October 18, 2009
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FAIRBANKS — Dena Dougherty laughs as she refers to the neighborhood around her used children’s-merchandise business, Once Upon a Child, as “the recycle block.”
Within walking distance of the Gavora Mall store are a handful of other stores based on that approach to retail sales — Play it Again Sports, Designer’s Closet, Mommy & Me Consignment and others. In other parts of town, stores like Value Village and the Salvation Army Thrift Shop are operating.
The businesses all have something in common — they take used items and resell them at less-than-new prices.
The appetite for used children’s clothing, in particular, seems to be huge. When Once Upon a Child held its grand opening on Aug. 27, Dougherty said about 100 people lined up outside before the doors opened.
“It kind of seems like it’s built for success in a good or bad economy,” said Toby Dougherty, Dena’s husband and co-owner of Once Upon a Child.
Just across the street, Mommy & Me Consignment has offered maternity and children’s wear for four years. But co-owner Sheri Rourke said she’s seen more customers during the past year, when the economy began to struggle.
“There’s always been interest in this, but especially now,” she said.
But there’s more than just the lure of low prices attracting customers. In Fairbanks, merchants and shoppers say there simply isn’t much selection for children or pregnant women.
Nichole Gentz-Wilkins opened Bellies & Babies, a store that offers consignment maternity wear, after too many frustrating shopping trips. When she was pregnant, there didn’t seem to be many opportunities to buy clothing, so she set up her own shop.
“There weren’t any resources in town for that kind of thing,” said Gentz-Wilkins, who offers maternity clothes through an online store, www.belliesandbabies.net.
The newest addition to Fairbanks is Once Upon a Child, which is a franchise of a national company with about 250 stores. The stores offer used and new items for infants through pre-teens.
The Doughertys dove into the business hard, with a 7,500-square-foot location that is one of the five largest stores among the Once Upon a Child franchises. They say it’s been packed since opening day.
The Doughertys are firm believers in the resale concept — they also own Play It Again Sports, which sells used sporting goods. Toby said they were motivated to open a Once Upon a Child store soon after their 4-year-old son Jake was born, and they found themselves driving to Anchorage in search of a crib mattress.
“The struggles of finding things here were hard,” Toby said. “He’s kind of the main reason we’re doing this.”
Sarah Kvasnicka, who shops regularly at used-clothing stores, said she also was attracted to the approach after spending too much time looking online for basic children’s items. She managed to pick up a year’s worth of clothes for her 18-month-old son Alek during a stop at Once Upon a Child, at a cost of less than $100.
“It’s just saving me a lot of money and time,” she said.
Instead of scouring garage sales and looking online, Kvasnicka said one trip per week to a used-clothing store takes care of everything. She has another child due in February and has shopped ahead for items like clothes and a car seat.
And while adults might not always embrace used items, Toby Dougherty said kids don’t seem to have any problem with them at all.
“Kids are so great,” Toby said. “They’re always excited to get something. And If you can pay less for it, then why not?”
Contact staff writer Jeff Richardson at 459-7518.
Community Discussion
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They must be a hot commodity. Went looking through the Halloween stuff at Value Village this weekend. Looked around at other things and noticed a lot of really terribly used things with 9.99 price tags. I hope the people that are shopping there regularly know that Walmart is priced more reasonably.
I would rather spend money on a used item of good quality than the same amount on brand new items that are poorly made. It makes a difference. Glad we have more choices of secondhand merchandise now.
Great store and the sign out front is well worth taking a peek at. Under the word "child" is a sign that reads "now buying".
I shop Value Village twice a month (on paydays) and if you are really lucky, you can find some nice bargains. Most of their items are way overpriced, however; broken baskets for $4.99? Used, old kitchen items for $7.99? Used shoes for $15? I don't think so. Hope their managers hear this from more than a couple of bloggers. Also would like them to move the record albums down to where a short person like myself can actually reach them; they were better down near the floor that up at 5' high on the wall!
Value Village is priced for their various sale type days, like 99 cent Monday when a certain color tag no matter what the price sells for 99 cents. What really ki9lls me is when you get a Norstrom catalog and the stuff looks like second hand torn up jeans but has $159 price tag. Go figure.
I haven't been to these stores but have done quite well on Craigslist and Eielson for sale. I know how hard it is to find things for a reasonable price up here so I buy from others online as well as sell my used stuff once I'm finished.
Fairbanks Freecycle is a great online group where you may be able to find things you need - for free. When my grandson came to visit last winter (from much warmer NC), I needed size 2T boots, snowsuit, hat and gloves. I posted my need on Freecycle and had a half dozen replies offering outgrown items in excellent condition. I was able to outfit him for the week he was in town, without incurring any costs at all. Once they returned to NC, I gave the items to another family in need. The generous lady who provided the winter gear, also threw in some age-appropriate toys - which was an added blessing!
VV is way overpriced unless you catch a sale or a mistake. I go there on occassion, but now that Once is open, all the better YAY
It seems like a lot of prices are "kind of high" in some of the second hand stores, Walmart can look pretty good sometimes & their stuff is new. But the second hand stores can have very high quality goods, used
yet cheap when compared to the first run new price. Thoes are the real good deals, if you can find them.
Mommy And Me Consignment was opened first, is right across the street, and also sells used childrens clothing and toys....
Value village is insanely overpriced and they don't care.
Hundreds of people have formally complained to the management.First, they claim that part of their proceeds go to charity. This is misleading. Even if you point out to them that they want 6.99 for a used baby onesie (t-shirt) and you can literaly buy a brand new one for cheaper, THEY DON'T CARE.
As unwise stated - VV doesn't care, that's why I donate and purchase at the salvation army - at least that way it does go into the local community - not a corporation's wallet. Consumerism and capitalism may be alive and well but that doesn't mean I don't have any choices in the placement of my dollars.
I donate all my used baby clothing to salvation army. I buy from mommy and me and now once upon a child. I do not like value village, their toys are often broken and usually very dirty. I understand that they were donated that way but I definately don't want to buy items in that condition, let alone touch them.
once upon a child is a great store. we have traded in some of our better items for about 50 bucks, which we used at the store. and the clothing they didn't take is going to our friend with a baby. you must go there if you have a young kid...
Any used computer parts store in town?
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There is a shoe repair shop now. It is located south of the old Fred's store across the street --- set back about 200'.
1AKFox, is that place open? I thought that was just the old shoe repair shop which closed down in 2003 or 2004...
I think this is a new guy.
Old Steese South of the Old Fred's store.. there is little short road "Timberline(?)"
He has sign on the Front Side of the building.
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Also, fyi.. CBS 60 min had a Pig flu news story.. gossip says there is new info.
I did not check it out.. because I have to much CBS NEWS snoop ware disabled.
mh_ccl
The new guy is Charlie's shoe repair and you can reach him
at 459-0305.
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