The Children's Orchard

Resale shops prosper with weak economy
Kenya Huppert, co-owner of The Children’s Orchard in Parker, looks at a rack of Halloween costumes last week. The resale shop is a good resource for struggling families with small children. Photo by Chris Michlewicz.
By Chris Michlewicz
Published: 09.17.08
www.thechildrensorchard.com

It’s painfully apparent that times are tough for small businesses in Parker, but one sector has experienced upward sales trends and is reporting large increases in the number of shoppers.Resale shops are prospering in a time of uncertainty for many locally-owned stores, and owners in the industry point directly to the poor economy as the primary reason. Budget-cutting consumers are turning to resale stores to buy lightly used children’s clothes, toys, books and strollers on the cheap."We're on a tight budget anyway, and there was no way we could have bought new things for our kids that we are able to get here," said Shawnette Erdos, a Parker resident who has been a loyal shopper at The Children’s Orchard for four years. "The value is so tremendous buying really good stuff cheaper than I can get not-so-good stuff at a Wal-Mart."Moms and dads are shying away from large retail chains in droves in favor of resale bargains, but are not compromising quality. Erdos has purchased a Columbia jacket that would normally sell for around $100 for roughly $20 at The Children’s Orchard.
Kenya Huppert, co-owner of The Children’s Orchard at Dransfeldt Road and Plaza Drive in Parker, said her customers have found a reliable resource for clothes that children quickly grow out of and toys for which they grow too old. Gap brand name jeans that sell for $30 in retail stores can be found at a third of that price. Many moms buy clothes at Huppert’s shop, then sell them back and get cash or store credit."The nice thing about this kind of business is people always need to save money when they can. In a bad economy, you can't really be hurt in a business like this, so it's not like having a specialty gift shop when people stop spending on stuff like that," she said. "Your kids always outgrow their stuff, you always need clothes for your kids."Tumbleweeds for Kids, another popular resale shop in Parker, has reported similar sales increases. Owner Mindy Pfannenstiel said she noticed a jump in sales about a year ago, and because of higher gas and food prices, things have not slowed down. She estimated that business has gone up by 25 percent since last year, and spiked even higher during back-to-school shopping season.“These are people who are trying to survive with their kids,” said Pfannenstiel, who welcomes about six or seven new customers into her shop daily. “This is one of their ways of cutting back. They still want name brand clothing, but for way less.”Saving money on necessities can make a major difference for those struggling to make ends meet."I know some moms whose husbands recently lost their jobs and they've been really stressed out on how they are going to afford things, and they had never heard of Children's Orchard," Erdos said.Books, games, cribs, Easter dresses, educational videos and ski pants are all available at discounted prices at The Children’s Orchard, and some customers say it’s “like finding a treasure” when they discover a quality item for a low price.“Our prices across the board are lower than what you would find at a typical retail stores,” Huppert said, adding the store is selective when buying back used clothes and toys. “We have ski pants, Christening dresses and formal party dresses, Halloween costumes, things that people don’t want to spend a lot of money on because they sometimes are a one-time wear outfit.”Resale shops have a dual positive impact because they support struggling families by offering inexpensive items and buying back old clothes.Erdos, who runs an in-home daycare business, has recommended resale shops to other moms, especially for clothes and birthday gifts.Huppert said it’s disheartening to see other locally-owned shops close and said it’s important to support small businesses.At a glance:Resale shops reporting higher salesGood resource for back-to-school shoppingToys, clothes sell for third of retail price