Spring cleaning sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Only here in Boston our spring means lots of grey skies and rain. I think Bostonians enter into huge Summer cleaning sprees, finally we can crack open the windows, turn up the music and find out what is hidden in the recesses of our closets. Now that you have a pile of clothing, toys and gear that your children have clearly outgrown, what do you do? Well, head into Growing Up of course. Here are some tips to make sure you get the most from your visit.
1. Sell Monday- Saturday
We buy Monday – Saturday from open to close. You don’t have to call for an appointment, we will always be there to look at what you have.
2. If you aren’t certain, give us a call.
If you have a big item for example, a double stroller, a sandbox or play kitchen, it is going to take a little effort on your part to get it into the car and over to our store. If you want to make double certain we will take it, feel free to give us a call to check before you lug it down. If you love technology, you could even snap a picture with your camera phone and send us an email!
3. In season is best but we take everything.
When reselling any clothing, whether it is for you or the kids, think about what you are currently shopping for. You will get the most from your visit by bringing in seasonally appropriate clothing. We buy for winter all year long but whatever the season, we buy more for the current climates then for stock.
4. Check your clothing before you bring it in.
One of the biggest reasons we turn clothing down is because it has a stain. Let’s face it, kids get stains on their clothes, no matter how much you try to keep them clean. Most of us just keep putting the same clothing on our children until they outgrow it, then we pack it away someplace, right. 6 months later we bring that big box down to Growing Up and don’t even remember what is in it. You probably totally forgot that some of it was stained or got a hole or lost a button.
To make it easier on yourself, double check what you are going to bring in. I generally sit down and make two piles, one to resell and one to donate. I quickly look for things that are stained, missing buttons or have holes and remove those from the resell pile. If something is really great or a brand you know that we love, like Hanna Andersen or Oilily, you can try treating the stain and rewashing it. We definitely don’t mind going through everything, but if you eliminate the items you know we won’t take, your visit will not take as long.
5. Check the dates.
With limited exceptions, we only buy things that were made in 2006 or newer. For things like car seats, cribs, and toys; this rule is for safety. For clothing, while there is no safety concern, the styles have changed. If you have a 10 year old child and find yourself with a box of clothing in 0-3 months size, we probably aren’t going to take it, but it would make a great donation for charity.
6. Allow Time or Plan to drop off and come back.
It’s difficult to say when we will definitely be busy and when we have loads of free time. Some days you can walk in and get one on one attention immediately, walk in and out with ease. Other days, you may have to hang around for a bit before we are able to check all of your things. It’s always a good idea to allow yourself and us time to sort through what you have brought in. If you never have time to hang out in the store, you can always drop your things off with us, leave your name and check back later in the day to pick up the items we didn’t take. Always check store hours and be familiar with when we are not taking things, so you don’t waste a trip.
All in all, we want your reselling experience to be easy and fun. With a few simple steps, listed above, you can take any of the stress out of the day.