I visited my first maternity consignment shop today and overall, I was impressed.  I’m not a huge fan of shopping in general. I’ve always wished we could all just wear uniforms (clearly, I don’t have much appreciation for fashion). Luckily, I work from home so I can spend a lot of time in ‘comfy things’.

While I considered shopping online for used maternity clothes, we don’t have a car and given I like to try things on- that didn’t seem like a viable option. So, a-consignment shopping we went.

Consignment Store

Here are my tips for how to have a successful consignment experience:

Don’t settle. If you don’t love something, put it back. Don’t buy it just because it’s a good deal. I almost did that with several items (it’s only $9!). Without a little discipline, I would have ended up spending way more money and not liking half the things that I bought.

Give yourself lots of time. I spent an hour shopping when normally I’m in and out of a store in 20 minutes. It takes time to sift through the racks looking for deals, so make sure you allow yourself enough time.

Dig. I found all the items I bought where they shouldn’t have been (in the wrong size sections, tucked away in a pile on the shelf etc.).

Have a plan. Ideally, it would be good to know what you are looking for. Then if you’re dealing with a large store you can just stick to the sections you’re interested in.

If it smells, put it back.  I tried on a few things that smelled a little ‘funky’. That didn’t lend itself to a positive shopping experience, so back on the rack they went.

Do a search online.  A lot of consignment stores have Facebook groups where they advertise new items, sales or other information. The store I visited allows people to put a hold on things that they see and like on Facebook.

Visit often. People are bringing new items in daily so try to make regular trips for the best finds. Just while I was in the store, two women dropped off clothes.

I managed to get a great pair of jeans, a long shirt and a brand new t-shirt all for $36! And, I must say, it was a much more enjoyable experience compared to my first mall maternity store trip. That day, I bought one pair of jeans for $70 and I left because I couldn’t find a shirt I liked for under $30. Yikes.

Consignment Finds!

Happy Hunting! I’d love to hear about your consignment experiences and any stores you love or ideas.