Growing Kids Sale - What's New for the Upcoming Event

Dates, Times, Location

What's NEW

Drop-offs, Pick-ups,
Earnings Checks

Presale Shopping

What to Bring &
Items Not Accepted

Tagging Items

Pricing Info

Barcodes

Product Safety & Recalls

Join Team GKS!

GKS Reloaded
(Friday Restock!)

Printable Resources

Tell Your Friends

GKS Donations

The Staff of the Growing Kids Sale spends many hours brainstorming and tweaking policies and procedures, based on feedback from shoppers and consignors, to make each sale better than the last. It is important to us that everyone is aware of any changes being implemented, so please take a moment to read about the exciting changes for the upcoming event!

***NEW for FALL 2024 ***

DISCONTINUING HOME FURNITURE during RELOAD
We will continue to always accept any furniture that is appropriate for a child's room, but we will no longer be accepting home furniture such as couches, dining tables/chairs, sofa tables or entertainment centers. Click here for a full list of items we accept during Reload.

BLANKETS & BED SHEETS on HANGERS

We are requesting that all blankets (including receiving blankets) and bed sheets (including crib sheets, pillowcases, bedskirts & mattress pads) be folded on hangers (not in ziplocs). This makes them more visible to buyers, helping them sell better. Pin the tag to the upper right, just like on clothing. Bedding comforter sets may still be placed in bedding bags as usual.

REINFORCE SHOE TAGS w/ DUCT TAPE

This is an important reminder to please follow our shoe tagging instructions and reinforce your shoe tags with duct tape before zip-ting them to the shoes. Many shoe tags without duct tape pull off and end up in lost & found. Note that it needs to be DUCT TAPE, not clear tape, to work effectively.

PRICING TIPS & CAUTIONS
Families are looking for good deals, and sellers are looking to make $$...SO PLEASE PRICE REASONABLY!!! Pricing reasonably = more items sold = MAKING MORE $$!

What's reasonable you ask??? 25% of the retail price is a reasonable amount for used items at a consignment sale. (just multiply the retail price by 0.25). When pricing, think to yourself: "What would I pay for this?". Remember that most Walmart & bargain brands should be no more than $1-4 per item, because these are often only $5-15 new to begin with. GKS reserves the right to pull items from the sales floor that are considerably over-priced. Need more pricing help? See our pricing guide page!

PRO TIP: Hundreds of families shop your items on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. If your item hasn’t sold at full price by Saturday, you probably overpriced it, and unless you allow your items to sell at half price, you’ll be taking it back home and making less money!

REASONABLE PRICES = HAPPY SHOPPERS = SUCCESSFUL SELLERS!!!

PLEASE HELP US THIS FALL...CHOOSE TO DONATE!
It is a JOY to see local foster families getting to glean from those unsold items you no longer need, followed by wonderful local charities who put the items to good use! Additionally, it takes a lot of time & manpower to sort those items back into consignor number. If you do not REALLY need your unsold items back, *please* DO NOT mark them with a red “R” for return so we do not spend time sorting them. All earnings checks are mailed to the address on the consignor’s account, so donate your unsold items and skip the trip to pickups altogether! And don't forget...if you're letting the items be donated if they do not sell, you should definitely let them sell at 1/2 price on our final day so you make as much $$ as possible!

--- Reminders of Recent Past Changes ---

BRING CASH, or we accept cards for a 2% fee.
This isn't NEW this time, but we wanted to remind you to please bring cash with you to shop if you would like to avoid the 2% credit/debit card fee.

DIAPER DRIVE for 1-hour early entry @ Consignor Presale!
We started this last fall, and it was such an incredible way of our consignors coming together to serve children in our area, so we have decided to continue it this year! Our Consignor Presale hours remain unchanged (Wed 4-9pm), but any consignor who wears their armband and brings a package of diapers to donate will receive early entry at 3pm Wednesday! This spring our diaper recipients will be 1st Choice Pregnancy Medical Center & The Call Foster Organization.

MENS' teammate shifts now count toward LINE PASS eligibility!
We've had a Teammate "Line Pass" option for years, but now our "MEN ONLY" shifts have been added to the list of shifts that make you eligible for a Line Pass!
LINE PASS DETAILS:
If a consignor is signed up to help for two 4-hour shifts, with ONE of those shifts being EITHER a "SORTING SHIFT" or a "MEN ONLY" shift, they have the option of obtaining a LINE PASS. A Line Pass allows you to be first to enter when the doors open for the teammate presale! When you arrive, you'll simply bypass the line of teammates and come to the front doors to enter with the other Line Pass holders! To collect the Line Pass, you will need to bring a $30 cash deposit when you come to drop-off your items, at which time you will get your Line Pass. This deposit is fully refunded to you at the completion of your final teammate shift. And don't forget...all teammates who sign up for two shifts are also entered into a drawing to keep 100% of their earnings and pay $0 to GKS, so that's an amazing additional perk!

SHOE STYLES
We know some kiddos have large feet, so we accept all shoe sizes. But lately our shoe baskets have become overrun with adult-style shoes that do not sell and leave a lot of re-sorting at the end of the events. We will continue to accept all shoe sizes, but only shoes that are current-style appropriate for a child or pre-teen. All shoes will be inspected at drop-offs, and any women’s or men’s shoes that we deem are not a current child/teen style will not be accepted, since they likely would not sell. Here are examples of styles we will not accept:

Non-clothing items MUST BE SORTED BY CATEGORY in bags/boxes for drop-offs!!!
To allow sellers to continue a "drop & go" drive-thru system, WE NEED YOU to have all small, non-clothing items separated by category into disposable bags or boxes. The 10 categories are listed below under "Drive-Thru Drop-off Details". This helps us quickly get your items to their appropriate location on the sales floor. If you do not have your items separated, you will need to pull over and do that before you can drop-off. Please write the category on the outside of the bag or box. For items too large for bags or boxes, you may leave them un-bagged. If you do not know which category an item fits into, just make your best guess. THANK YOU!!!

PRESALE LINES
Arriving early on Tue/Wed presale days to get in line and be one of the first to enter is completely optional! We know many of you like to make a fun day of it with your friends, hanging out in front of the expo building, chatting and getting excited to shop! If you do wish to come early, please be aware:
To be fair to everyone present, chairs or other items that are left as “line placeholders” while the person leaves the premises is not allowed. Only those who STAY ON PREMISES may keep their place in line. Bathrooms are available on the stadium side of the Expo building. We will do our best to have a food truck on premises by lunch time if at all possible, but you may also wish to pack a cooler to bring with you just in case we can't work it out.
Thank you for adhering to the spirit of truly "being" in line in order to be one of the first to enter. Let’s keep having fun together, making good memories, building friendships, and respecting and being kind to one another!

3 OPTIONS TO GET YOUR BARCODES
Did you know there are 3 different options for getting your barcodes? Printing at home is most popular - it's very simple and it allows you to have your items completely tagged & ready before drop-offs. But for those who cannot print their own barcodes easily, we have a mailing service for a small $10 label/postage fee (deadline to order is Wed, Aug 21st), or you can wait until our drop-off days and come to the sale to have them printed for free, but then you will have to apply them to your tags there in the parking lot before you enter the drive-thru drop-off process (or pick-up the barcodes and bring your items back later). For ALL the details on all 3 options, please visit http://www.growingkidssale.com/barcoding.html.
Additionally, on the first day of drop-offs (Thurs, Aug 29th), we will be on-site early to print barcodes from 4pm-5:30pm so that you can have more time to pick them up and apply them to your tags before drop-offs begin that evening at 5:30pm.

BE SURE TO KNOW OUR
DRIVE-THRU DROP-OFF PROCESS:

We will continue our “Hybrid” drive-thru drop-off process. Please read these details to be familiar with the process before you come:

DROP-OFF APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDED, but not required
We HIGHLY recommend all consignors make a drop-off appointment in order to spread out drop-offs and serve everyone quickly & efficiently. However, we will have a non-appt drop-off lane for those who cannot make an appt or missed their appt. We will work those in as quickly as possible, but be prepared for a wait if you do not have an appointment. The DEADLINE to make a drop-off appointment is Wednesday, Aug 28th at 10pm. At that time, no more drop-off appointments will be made, so you will have to drop-off without an appt. If you are bringing more than one consignor number in one car, please sign-up EVERY CONSIGNOR NUMBER you're bringing for an appointment time (same or consecutive appt times are fine). This helps us block off enough time to work-in all of your items.

BEFORE YOU COME TO DROP-OFFS...

You must have all your items completely barcoded & tagged before you enter the drive-thru drop-off process. However, you may still come to get barcodes printed and finish tagging in your car before you enter the drop-off line. DO NOT take a clothing rack until your items are completely barcoded and ready to drop-off because we need those available for consignors who are actively dropping off.
Have your items loaded into your car in this order: hanging clothes & bagged shoes most accessible, bags/boxes in the middle, and large equipment/toys buried deepest.
Be prepared that you will help by unloading your clothing & shoes onto a rolling rack, but will then get back into your car for the remainder of the drive-thru process.
You must have all clothing separated by gender & in size order. Place special clothing items like Dress-up clothes, Adult Activewear, Maternity, Dancewear and Formal Wear together at the front or rear of the stack.
You must have all small, non-clothing items separated by category into disposable bags or boxes. Below are the 10 categories they need to be separated into. Please write the category on the outside of the bag or box. For items too large for bags or boxes, just leave them un-bagged. If you do not know which category an item fits into, just make your best guess. See example photo (click to enlarge).

Shoes
Infant/Toddler Toys
Girls Toys
Boys Toys
Gender-Neutral Toys & Stuffed Animals
Sporting Goods
Books/Games/Videos (including video games, electronic games, CD's and puzzles)
Clothing Accessories (including purses, backpacks, hairbows, hats, belts, mittens, etc)
Baby Necessities (feeding, diapering, health/safety, etc)
Bedding/Decor/Blankets

For large items such as strollers, bikes, play kitchens, etc. that will get large item claim tickets, simply tape the tag to the item for easy removal. You will drop-off these items last, so please load them deepest in your vehicle.
*** Please make sure to clean your equipment before you come...dirty strollers, highchairs, exersaucers, etc will not be placed on the sales floor, and will be returned to the consignor at pick-ups.
***If you bring a bed, pack-n-play or other item that requires assembly, you will need to exit your vehicle and assemble those yourself (we will direct you).

DROP-OFF STEPS

When you arrive to Kay Rodgers Park, read & follow the sign just inside the gate which will lead you to a parking attendant who will give you instructions for your first stop.
Your first stop will be to unload your clothing & shoes onto a rolling rack and roll it just a few steps from your car, but then you will stay in your car as you make the rest of the stops around the building to allow helpers to unload the rest of your items (this is where it is crucial that your items be sorted according to the instructions above!).
After all your items are unloaded, there is no need for you to wait on inspections to see if there are any returns! Any returns can be automatically donated for you. But if you prefer to take home your returns, you will need to park & walk inside to retrieve those after you finish the drive-thru process. If we have not finished inspecting your items by that time, you may have a short wait until your returns are ready.

NEED TO MAKE MORE THAN ONE TRIP?

Need more than one trip to fit it all in your car? You are welcome to make a 2nd trip to bring more large items & toys ONLY. All clothing, shoes & other items must be brought FIRST (at your appt time if you have one), and you can subsequently bring more large items & toys during any of our drop-off hours. Let the parking attendent know it is your 2nd trip, and she will direct you on how to drop-off so that you do not have to go back through the check-in process.