Near-new children’s clothing, furniture, toys and maternity clothes will be offered for sale at the fall edition of the Children’s Clothesline project on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the former Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1702 W. 15th Ave.
The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
The building now comprises the west campus of the combined Emporia Presbyterian Church. The sale has been organized by Jill Sorsen, wife of church pastor Mike Sorsen, and Stephanie Thomas. The women are being assisted by Jill Leftwich.
Children’s Clothesline and similar sales are held around the country, the women said.
“We’re both from the South,” Sorsen said of herself and Thomas, “and that’s where we got our idea.”
The plan is a simple one: People with good, used or like-new children’s clothing, furniture and toys consign their items with the women, who operate the three-day sale at the church.
Consigners pay a percentage of their earnings and a portion of that goes to the church. Money earned from consigners who do not want to be paid for their goods is donated to the church’s youth program.
“It’s a great way to sell your children’s clothing now for a little money and shop for the next size up,” Thomas said.
Clothing and other merchandise must be in good condition, the women said, and likely to be worth more than the 50-cent items often seen at garage sales.
Consigners fill out 3”x5” cards with their names, item categories and pricing, which allows Children’s Clothesline to track payments.
“This is the stuff that you want a little more money for,” Sorsen said. “Anything that doesn’t sell goes to local charities. ... We usually have quite a few (consigners) who choose to donate.”
Late Monday afternoon, the basement of the west campus building was filling with display after display of new-looking clothing, Halloween costumes and other child-related merchandise.
JCPenney’s lent the women round silver display racks for the first Children’s Clothesline sale last spring, Sorsen said, and sold the racks at a discount for the fall project.
“This isn’t even a third of what will come in,” Thomas said, as setting-up continued on Monday.
Much of the clothing will be name-brand and boutique merchandise, according to a flyer printed in both English and Spanish.
“The last day is our half-off sale,” Sorsen said. “Anything that hasn’t sold and doesn’t have a yellow line through it is half-off.”
Consigners decide whether they want to sell at half-price, pick up their leftover items or donate them to charity. Consigners also are entitled to a private shopping time prior to the sale’s opening, Sorsen said.
For more information about the sale call Thomas at 794-6273 or e-mail Sorsen@Sale.org.
Children’s Clothesline Sale
Where
West Campus, Emporia Presbyterian Church, 1702 W. 15th Ave.
When
9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
LouToYou (anonymous) says...
I just consigned yesterday, and tonight I got to shop with the other consigners. Stephany and Jill are both very friendly. Lots of energy and excitment. A great way to meet new people. I will be back next time.
September 19, 2007 at 8:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
traceygraham (Tracey Graham) says...
This is one of the reasons I love Emporia.
What a great win-win situation for _everyone_!
September 19, 2007 at 9:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hjcary (anonymous) says...
I do something almost identical to this here in CO with several MOPS groups and it is awesome. The last two years I sold enough to cover the amount I spent so it was like trading my kids clothing for the next size up. Last year I made $125 and spent $97. The year before I spent about $20 more then I made so over the last two years I broke even.
September 20, 2007 at 2:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )