Three hundred and fifty consignors will fill 1,500 feet of rack space with thousands of children's outfits this week.
Shoppers carrying baskets and totes can enter Gateway Antique Mall to check out the Boutique for a Week Kid's Zone sale Feb. 25-March 3. A pre-sale will be held Feb. 24 for new mothers and consignors. Patrons are admitted for free to all sale events.
"Shoppers come from all over Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama to purchase excellent quality merchandise at affordable prices," said Boutique for a Week owner Brittany Hicks, who hosts the Kid's Zone sales twice per year. "We take all brands of clothes. Popular children's brand clothing sold includes Polo, GAP, Gymboree, Mini Boden and Kelly's Kids."
Hicks said when parents buy children's clothing at the mall many other children end up wearing the same outfit to school. If parents bargain shop by going to resale events, they will find something unique for their children to wear to school, she said.
Aside from clothing, Kid's Zone also showcases baby gear, room decor, toys, strollers, high chairs and car seats.
"If I buy it here it may be used, but everything is in good shape," said Hicks. "I started consigning when my son Connor was a baby six years ago. It was such a neat way to clothe my children and get them toys without breaking the bank."
She said consignors must tag the clothing before dropping it off to be sold. Each item should have a white tag pinned on it with a brief description, consignor number, size and price. Consignors then hang the tagged merchandise on numerous racks at Kid's Zone.
"I bring everything my kids wore a year ago for a complete wardrobe turnover," said Hicks, who also has a daughter, Choley, age 4. "I buy their new wardrobes here. I can get them 50 outfits at the sale for the same amount as other moms pay for 10 outfits at the mall. The items are just as good as the mall at a fraction of the cost."
She said hosting two Kid's Zone events per year is better than setting up a full-time store.
"If you do a full-time consignment store the demand is not as high," said Hicks. "For a Boutique for a Week sale, shoppers will line up four hours before the sale starts. We were one of the finalists for the Chattanooga Times Free Press Northwest Georgia Best of the Best. We are the biggest consignment sale held in Northwest Georgia."