Is this a good idea?

[_Scottie]

You could name it CTR- Clothe the Righteous.

That is actually BRILLIANT!!

[_krose]

I've shopped at the store here in Sandy, and have also sold them baby furniture and some other items. The distinction between them and DI was substantial. If you do it like they did (keeping in mind that it's been several years since I've been there) it should be a success, especially in the UC. What made that store more appealing was the location in a nice strip mall with nice stores around them (Spoons & Spice and an upscale toy store - also, the NickleCade didn't hurt, I'm sure), and the fact that they didn't have the widespread clutter (and outright junk) of DI.

[_solomarineris]

I'm going to abuse my mod powers for this post that should be in the Off Topic, but I need as much input as I can get here.

I'm quite seriously looking at opening a Kid to Kid franchise in Spanish Fork.

For those of you that don't know, Kid to Kid is a used children's clothing retail store. Parents can bring in old clothes, which we will buy or purchased the used clothes.

The concept is to make it a bright, colorful place. I know for me, whenever I leave DI or Salvation Army, I feel like I need to take a shower. We want to make sure that Kid to Kids don't portray that. So, a very large part is mental. Make people want to shop at my store instead of the bargain stores.

I have a partner that will be 50/50 with me. He is fronting the money needed to get the SBA loan.

Advice? Please? Especially from those of you that live in Utah.

Too bad I'm not living close to you, IT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA. Don't stick only with clothes though, include toys & gadgests. Couple months age while renovating my house, I gave away 25 bags of childrens clothes, some worn maybe twice, Toys that I had to throw away, because of missing parts were probably over 5K worth, I did save some of them.
Do it!

[_Scottie]

I'm going to abuse my mod powers for this post that should be in the Off Topic, but I need as much input as I can get here.

I'm quite seriously looking at opening a Kid to Kid franchise in Spanish Fork.

For those of you that don't know, Kid to Kid is a used children's clothing retail store. Parents can bring in old clothes, which we will buy or purchased the used clothes.

The concept is to make it a bright, colorful place. I know for me, whenever I leave DI or Salvation Army, I feel like I need to take a shower. We want to make sure that Kid to Kids don't portray that. So, a very large part is mental. Make people want to shop at my store instead of the bargain stores.

I have a partner that will be 50/50 with me. He is fronting the money needed to get the SBA loan.

Advice? Please? Especially from those of you that live in Utah.

Too bad I'm not living close to you, IT IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA. Don't stick only with clothes though, include toys & gadgests. Couple months age while renovating my house, I gave away 25 bags of childrens clothes, some worn maybe twice, Toys that I had to throw away, because of missing parts were probably over 5K worth, I did save some of them.
Do it!

Can I buy some clothes from you???

[_Seven]

Hi Scottie,
I shop at thrift stores frequently and have some tips.
My favorite one sells only top name brands with clothes from Baby Gap, specialty boutiques, Gymboree etc. The clothes and toys are in almost perfect condition. If the outfit isn't super cute//top quality/stylish, don't accept it. They sell some new items as well.
The furniture is the top of the line (no Wal-Mart or Target pieces) and they don't sell plastic crap.

The toys are very well made and the kind you only find at specialty boutique shops or online. (solid wood, made in Germany, antiques, etc.)

It also has a very organized presentation and doesn't cram the clothes together on the racks. Try to keep the racks simple and well spaced with nice hangers. (preferably wood hangers) I always end up with a bag full of items from how easy it is to find what I am looking for.
When I walk into this store, it feels like I am in a really nice boutique. There is a vintage feel to it with the antiques and fun hats they have on display. They also have a mini library with many beautiful used picture books.

Do you remember that really cute bookstore from the movie "You've got Mail?" That's the style I would go for if I were to decorate my own kid store. (it's my dream to own a bookstore like that!)

A few months back I was looking for a Mexican outfit for my daughter's school event and this store had a special section of pioneer clothes and misc. cultural items for any themed party you can imagine. We found her an entire outfit for Cinco de Mayo.

Many of the used baby/kid stores (like "Once upon a Child") smell like the church nursery and gross me out but
this one smells clean and new. There is a shelf of homemade soaps and scented packets and they also sell scented candles that smell really good.

It's all about presentation and picking the right items to sell. Don't let your store become a DI dump. This store is more expensive than the other thrift stores in town but it's the only one I shop at now.

[_Scottie]

Hi Scottie,
I shop at thrift stores frequently and have some tips.
My favorite one sells only top name brands with clothes from Baby Gap, specialty boutiques, Gymboree etc. The clothes and toys are in almost perfect condition. If the outfit isn't super cute//top quality/stylish, don't accept it. They sell some new items as well.
The furniture is the top of the line (no Wal-Mart or Target pieces) and they don't sell plastic crap.

The toys are very well made and the kind you only find at specialty boutique shops or online. (solid wood, made in Germany, antiques, etc.)

It also has a very organized presentation and doesn't cram the clothes together on the racks. Try to keep the racks simple and well spaced with nice hangers. (preferably wood hangers) I always end up with a bag full of items from how easy it is to find what I am looking for.
When I walk into this store, it feels like I am in a really nice boutique. There is a vintage feel to it with the antiques and fun hats they have on display. They also have a mini library with many beautiful used picture books.

Do you remember that really cute bookstore from the movie "You've got Mail?" That's the style I would go for if I were to decorate my own kid store. (it's my dream to own a bookstore like that!)

A few months back I was looking for a Mexican outfit for my daughter's school event and this store had a special section of pioneer clothes and misc. cultural items for any themed party you can imagine. We found her an entire outfit for Cinco de Mayo.

Many of the used baby/kid stores (like "Once upon a Child") smell like the church nursery and gross me out but
this one smells clean and new. There is a shelf of homemade soaps and scented packets and they also sell scented candles that smell really good.

It's all about presentation and picking the right items to sell. Don't let your store become a DI dump. This store is more expensive than the other thrift stores in town but it's the only one I shop at now.

Thanks for the advice!

Yes, at the basic core, the idea is that I want parents to feel like they don't have to take a shower when they leave. I know I always feel like that when I leave cluttered thrift stores.

I don't have a ton of floor space, so I'm not sure how realistic a "specialty" corner would be, but it certainly is a great idea!

Thanks guys for all of your suggestions.