10 Tips for Shopping at School Uniform Consignment Events

At the beginning of the school year, many schools have some type of exchange program or uniform locker where you can purchase second hand items.  These can be a great opportunity to save a bundle and cut some expenses from your Back to School Budget.  You can look for items in your child's favorite brands and styles in the next size up to have on hand for the next growth spurt.  If you have a younger child that is still mastering the potty, you can pick up some inexpensive items to leave at school or in your child's backpack for emergencies.

Beyond, gender and size, here's a list of things to keep in mind when shopping at a uniform exchange program or consignment.

1. Check the tag and look for brands known for quality items.  Better made items have reinforced seams, while seams tend to loosen and may fray on inexpensive items.  
2. Check for excessive wear which is likely to show first on the hem or cuffs.
3. Check for stains.  If you find a stain, leave it behind.  Even on a white polo or t-shirt, some stains are so set in they don't come out even with the handy bleach pen.
4. But don't just look at the outside of the item.  Look for signs of yellowing under the arms. Ick factor!  
5. Check the color(s) for excessive fading.
6. Check the zipper and the buttons.  Make sure the zipper is functional.  Check that all buttons are in tact.  Loose buttons can be tightened if you're proficient with a needle and thread. 
7. Check for signs of wear or dry rot on elastics.  Remember to check the elastics in the waistband on items with an adjustable waist.
8. Check for signs of alterations.  With pants, check for indications that may have been hemmed.  I found a smart tip from Fruggalissa who recommends that you measure the inseam on your kids current pants beforehand and take a tape measure with you so you can check the length. This tip can also works for girls skirts and scooters.  If your daughter has to pass the fingertip test, measure the length from her waists to her fingertips and note her number for reference as you shop. 
9. Many retailers sell certain items as unisex.  Basic polos and t-shirts are a great examples. So don't be afraid to check out items from both racks when items are separated by gender.
10. Even if the sales rep or volunteer tells you that items have been laundered, it's common sense to launder all items when you get them home in your preferred detergent.

thredUP, an online consignment for kids clothing

I was super excited to come across thredUp. It's a US based online consignment store for children's clothing, and it's brilliantly implemented. The online store is bright, simple, and nicely organized. 

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If you have gently used items that you're  looking to sell,  take a few minutes to watch the video that shows you how the program works. To get started, you create an account online and they send you a big bag with a special envelop and instructions. You launder and inspect your items to ensure that they will meet their quality standards, then pack up a full bag once you've saved up enough items. They handle the postage via UPS or USPS, and email you to confirm when they have received it. When your items sell, you earn a credit for your portion on the sale. You can use the credit to shop or cash out using Pay Pal after 14 days or donate it to a group.




Think you might have some items to sell?  Check out their calculator tool to see what your items might be worth. They also have a feature where you can see what people are earning from the bag they sent in.

As a shopper on the site, they have smartly organized clothing by gender, size and category. They display photographs of the actual items for sale and you can use the zoom feature to browse the quality and details of the item.   The pricing is great. And as a first time shopper, I encountered pop ups that offered me discounts and free shipping. The only criticism I would offer is that I would like to see them add an additional category for school uniform items to make it easier for those of us with kids that wear uniform to filter through the vast inventory. 

Next time I am due to clean out my daughter's closet, I will definitely be signing up to get a threadUP bag for us to try out the program. I'll do a follow-up post to let you know how it goes.  If you've tried it out either as a shopper or as a seller, please share a comment below to tell us about your experience with the site. 

Skool-Kit.com, a UK based classifieds for school uniforms

It's like Craigslist for school uniforms, sporting goods, instruments and and other items kids use. Skool-kit.com is a site based in the UK that helps match buyers and sellers.

Sellers can place an ad for £1 which includes option to upload an image of the item. Ads are listed for 30-180 days. To have your item "featured" is an extra 50p. The site suggests a pricing model based on the original cost and the current condition of the item. It also offers suggestions to make your listing descriptive. Buyers and sellers are encouraged to work out payment options and shipping costs amongst themselves. Sellers that multiple items to list can purchase a membership for 6 months for £10 to list up to 15 items.

Items for sale are organized into the following categories:

• School Uniforms 
• Musical Instruments 
• Sports Equipment 
• Sports Clothing/Footwear 
• Books 
• Dressing Up Items 
• Out of School Clubs (Scouts, Brownies) 
• Other Items (Holiday /Ski Accessories) 

Check out the site at skool-kit.com or follow them on Twitter at @skoolkit

Uniform Consignment in Denver

I connected recently on Twitter with @UniformConsign. After checking out their website, I wanted to learn more.  I exchanged a few emailed with Kim Vigil, the company's owner to conduct this virtual interview.  I also think its worth noting that she offers highly personalized customer service to local customers in the Denver area, they have expanded to partner with schools in El Paso Texas and Birmingham, Alabama.

Q) What motivated you to start this local business?

A) Uniformconsignment.com is a  family owned business based in Denver, Colorado that wants to make the buying and selling of school uniforms a simple and less expensive process. We are committed to our schools, the children, and their families to help provide quality garments at all times. We understand that it is hard to make it to the uniform shop during their hours, especially if they are across town from your home or workplace. We support our children, and any type of clothing swap that happens at the schools, but we wanted to provide an alternative since, let’s face it, most of us get up early and stay up late to keep our families running!

Uniform Locker Program at LCTA

I first learned of the Uniform Locker program at my daughter's local school during Kindergarten Prep orientation week. The PTA had sent a flyer to the parents in the K-Prep materials that the Uniform Locker would be open on the school playground after school pick up one afternoon that week.

Re-Uniform UK

I just happened upon this video of a school uniform recycling program that appears to be run by the Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council in the United Kingdom. These folks are taking the local school uniform exchange idea to new levels.

Items are donated to the program at drop off points in the schools.  The items are them laundered and packaged by employees with learning disabilities "helping them live independently through employment".  They are returned to the school and offered for sale for around 5 pounds per item. The program mentions it is opening a storefront retail location and may expand to include additional items such as sports equipment and musical instruments.

You'll have to click to see this video (3:44 run time) because I can't embed it here (its not on YouTube), but it will make you feel good.  Recycling + opportunities to improve the well being of the disabled + and helping families save money on school uniform items. Warm fuzzies all over;)

Share with the Class

As I mentioned, I'm the Mom of a Kindergartner at a public school with a uniform dress code, and I'm learning things from that perspective. And I fully acknowledge that I don't know it all.

To that end, I invite you to share your experiences, advice and lessons learned, even if your opinions and perspectives differ from mine. Here are a few ways you can get involved: