WINONA LAKE - Sellers already are tagging their items and shoppers are making lists for this year's Kids Market.
The consignment sale, to be held Sept.15 in Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake, features infant, children's and maternity items at garage sale prices.
The sale was started in 2000 by two mothers who came up with the idea of a one-stop consignment sale where parents could find good deals on clothes for their kids, and people in the community could bring their children's items to sell.
Since then, Kids Market has grown into a not-for-profit organization aimed at helping women and children in the county. Last year, Kids Market donated $4,500 to five local charities, including BABE, Beaman Home, Heartline Pregnancy Center, MOPS International and Project Independence.
The sale will open to the public at 9 a.m. At 3:30 p.m., the doors will close so staff volunteers can make arrangements for the 50-percent sale at 4 p.m. Shoppers are encouraged to bring a laundry basket or box to carry items. Cash and personal checks with identification are accepted at the sale.
Interested in selling items at Kid Market? Here's what to do:
n Decide to be a part of Kids Market Inc.
n Register as a contributor. To do this, you need a seller number. Contact database@kidsmarketinc.com to obtain a seller number.
n Decide what to consign. See the What to Sell page on the Web site for a list of acceptable and unacceptable items.
n Prepare items. See the How to Prepare Items page for detailed information on how items must be prepared.
n Drop off items. Prior to the sale, bring items in for inspection and drop-off. Each contributor will sign their seller agreement at this time. See the Drop-Off and Pick-Up page for more information.
n Shop early. In order to qualify for the Contributor Sale, a person must contribute at least 15 items. At item drop-off, contributors will be given one pass to the sale. No one will be admitted to the sale without a pass. This includes family members. If circumstances require a person to bring a child, the person must request permission to do so at the time of drop-off.
n Pick up items and the check. A contributor may pick up their check and any items that did not sell at the scheduled pick-up time. See the Drop-off and Pick-up page for dates and times. Any items not picked up by the specified times will be donated to one of the charities. Any checks not picked up will be mailed.
Contributing sellers receive 60 percent off the selling price for each item they sold at the sale. The remaining 40 percent is used by Kids Market to pay for rental of the building, supplies and marketing for the sale. The money Kids Market has left over after paying for the sale's expenses is donated to charity.
