Sunday, April 21, 2013

Denver's Largest Consignment Sale


My daughter and I attended the "Just Between Friends" consignment sale held in Denver, Colorado, this past weekend. They are part of one of the Just Between Friends franchises that was started by two Mothers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has grown to be one of the nation's largest maternity and children's consignment sale events that are held in many states all over the country. With over 90,000 gently used children's items at 50-90% below retail, the Denver event has become a twice a year shoppers dream!


Held at the large National Western Complex, located at I-70 and Brighton Boulevard in Denver, consignors bring their new and gently-used children's and maternity merchandise to sell. Shoppers can then browse and purchase these items at great savings. Anything not sold by the end of the sale is returned to the consignors or they have the option to allow Just Between Friends to donate the items to charity.  It is a win-win situation for all!


We attended the sale on the third day of its opening, yet there was still a wonderful selection of goods to be found! Shelves and racks of good quality baby and children's clothes, children's toys, furniture and equipment, tables full of children and parenting books, DVDs, toys galore and maternity clothes were available in neatly organized and clearly labeled sections.


These are just a few of the purchases we made, both at this sale and a previous one we attended earlier in the year.  As a grandparent, the sale enabled me to stock up on toys, books, and movies for my grandchildren to use when they visit as well as baby equipment I need when I babysit at a fraction of the cost I'd pay at retail. It's really a wonderful way for Mothers to sell what their children have outgrown and bought items to supplement what they presently need.  I wish Just Between Friends sales were available when I was a young mother!

Do you buy and sell at consignment sales? It's a wonderful way to save money!


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41 comments:

Claudia said...

I love consignment sales - I think it is my version of "the hunt." You never know. I especially love items where I can imagine their history.

Linda said...

Wow! It would be great if they had something like that here! It looks wonderful!!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I think events do a real service because so much baby and kid stuff is really pricey and not used for very long. However, this is an example of one person's Heaven is another person's not Heaven.

ellen b. said...

Wow! What a great resource for young moms and grandmothers!!
I do enjoy thrift and consignment shopping.
Blessings...

Michelle said...

Wow! What a great idea! I also could have used an event like this when my children were small.

Betsy Brock said...

that looks like my kind of place! i could happily get lost in there for a day or two! ha.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I'm a garage sale addict so I know I'd love that place. I love bargains and the idea of reusing stuff rather than tossing it out.

Lorrie said...

What a great idea for a sale. I wish something like that had been around when I was a young mother too. Children are expensive to raise (but well worth every penny).

The Gathering Place said...

What a great idea! Baby things seldom get worn-out and how fun to get something nice at a bargain price!

Kris said...

Wow, what a sale!! I bought most everything I needed at a gently used place near me. It was all like brand new, and in perfect condition. A good way to go, especially for the grand parents!!!
XO Kris

pam said...

Oh my word. I'm drooling over all those books. Looks like a wonderful sale.

Old Kitty said...

What a great way to recycle!! Love it!!! And look at the choices too!! I think this is a wonderful idea - it's like second hand shopping on a massive scale! I love this type of shopping as I always always come away with some gems!! The teapot set you got is adorable! Take care
x

Ann said...

That looks like some sale. I would have loved something like that when my kids were young.

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Morning Pat, Now I know what Consignment Stores are. I kept reading about people visiting these stores but did not know how they worked....it seemed people were able to buy amazingly reduced priced items.
Now this is right up my street, as I love a bargain and there were lots of bargains to be had.
You look like you had a wonderful day with your daughter.
Enjoy your week.
Best Wishes
Daphne

eileeninmd said...

What a great idea and it is a win, win for everyone. It is always a good idea to save money when you can. Thanks for sharing, have a great week!

Tracy said...

WOW... I don't think I've ever seen anything like that before. My sis in PA finds a lot of good things at consignment shop, and is able to sell some too. Kids grow out of things so fast, things like this are a wonderful idea! Happy Week, Pat ((HUGS))

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

I can see as a new grandparent that a sale like this would be a great place to pick up a few items to use when the baby comes to visit. Your sale looked like so many choices. Valerie

La Petite Gallery said...

That looks like a fun time.
Love a good sale.
yvonne

Snap said...

What a great idea! Anything you'd ever need for the little ones -- all under one roof -- and for a good price. Can't beat that. Just Between Friends is a winner. You got some wonderful things (love the tea set)! :D

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I love a good sale and this looks fantastic! Great find Pat.
Sam

My name is Riet said...

That is a great idea. Wish it was there when I had my babies. For granny 's it is also fine to buy much needed stuf for the babies when they come to stay. My DIL gave it to,friends and it went ro und to different friends when they had their babies.
Have a nice week Pat.

Nellie said...

Consignment sales are amazing sources of great bargains! Yes, I shop consignment sales, and this one sounds too good to let it pass without going.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Boy, that is one neat sale, Pat.

The Jr. Leagues in some cities have a sale that is a lot like this, only with a wider variety of merchandise. Then they donate what is left to charity, and the proceeds all go to charity. So it's a win/win, too.

But this is great if you want to make a little extra money and help other people get great products at a super price. I like this. I wish we had one nearby.

XO,

Sheila

Anonymous said...

I wish these types of sales had been available when I was a young mother too! Children outgrow equipment, clothes and toys so quickly...how nice to have a way to pass it on to others who need it...and at a reduced cost :D

Anonymous said...

That is a great event! I cannot believe how much stuff is there.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow--that is one huge consignment sale. The church where I use to work offers two similar sales each year--but they aren't nearly as large as the one you pictured..

I kept thinking of all of the work involved in having one of these --especially such a huge one... Wow... I'm impressed...

Hugs,
Betsy

Jenny said...

What a brilliant idea!

I love all the treasures you found!

So fun to think of you all stocked up for future Grandlittle visits!

podso said...

It looks like you had some good finds there, and yes we grandmas need equipment. That looks like an amazing and exhausting sale but well worth it for the bargains!

Happy@Home said...

What a great idea! So many of the things needed for raising baby are so expensive and often used for such a short time. This seems like a win-win situation if ever there was one :).

Vee said...

Now there's an idea! Glad that the prices are so good. Love the little dish set...did it go home with you?

Annesphamily said...

We had two favorite stores we use to shop at when the kids were small! We also sold items to them and we always had a little cash to spend! I always shop the thrift stores too! There are so many things you can buy for so little and they are always so nice!

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Wow, don't think I've ever seen such a large consignment sale! We do have a consignment shop near us that I love to stop in and see what I can find. Sometimes some really good bargains can be found! And I love a good bargain. :)
Have a wonderful week!

Sarah said...

Pat, this is a terrific idea. Austin has several good children's consignment shops. I've gone into some with friends who have grands, and some of the merchandise is brand new with tags still attached. I think young mothers often receive more than their child could ever possibly wear or things that a child outgrows before they could wear them. Glad you found some good buys.

Tanna said...

That is amazing!! What a wonderful idea! So glad you are enjoying so much great family time, too. ;) blessings ~ tanna

bj said...

This is wonderful...WONDERFUL...I wish it had been going on when my kids were raising THEIR kids...one has 4..the other...6. It got pretty darn expensive...
Why didn't I think of this ???:)

Paula's Postings said...

What a fantastic idea wish we had something like that.

Kathleen said...

It's a good idea. Sometimes baby things never get used, so it is good someone else can benefit.
Since my son has 5, everything is well used! The only girl's things got passed on to her little cousins.
Hope you aren't getting all that snow I keep hearing about.
We haven't had many good Spring days, temps way below normal. Maybe by the weekend we will warm up.

Yvette said...

Thanks for this post, Pat. What a terrific idea. I sent the link to my daughter - maybe it's held somewhere in New Jersey too.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

That is amazing! I like to buy at consignment shops but haven't really found a good one here in Florida. I would have gone NUTS there!

Debra at HOMESPUN: http://www.thehomespun.com said...

Crazy coincidence as I did not know about this franchise event until today when I read about it on my lunch break. And now I see it on your blog again after work! :)

Your BLOG shows it in person which is all the better! :)

Margaret said...

Hi Pat, Consignment stores are wonderful for childrens items! When my daughter was young we often would join my husband when his work took him to Victoria. I remember I knew where all the childrens consignment stores and parks were there! We had some great adventures and kept busy while he was at work. Just between friends looks marvelous!! And it looks like you found some great items Pat :) I can forsee tea parties with your darling grandaughter in your future ;) Margaret from B.C.