Rylie Dixon rolls along the aisles of Evans' new Kid to Kid store, pretty much oblivious to the world outside her stroller. A few feet above, the 9-month-old's mother, Mary Ann Dixon, pays a lot more attention. She's bargain shopping. Buying new clothes is expensive, the Girard, Ga., resident said, adding that hand-me-downs are usually in decent shape. "With little kids, it doesn't get worn," she said. The Kid to Kid resale shop, near the Omni Health & Fitness center at 4414 Evans to Locks Road, is the first to open in the Augusta market. The Salt Lake City-based chain has about 50 stores across the United States and Portugal. Its two biggest competitors - Once Upon a Child and Children's Orchard - have yet to locate in Augusta. That could soon change, based on the growing demand for used clothes, said Amanda DiFranco, the executive director of Michigan-based National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops. For the past decade, resale shops have boomed across the U.S., with an approximate increase of 5 percent per year, the association reports. "All resale is on the rise. There's no question about that." she said. "More and more people are shopping all the time. Once they discover (resale shops), it's like a new toy." Unlike the dozen or so consignment shops in the area, Kid to Kid pays for used children's clothes up front, co-owner Shannon Unger said. Ms. Unger and husband Joe, an engineer for John Deere, opened the Kid to Kid franchise earlier this month and now have about $60,000 in inventory. In addition to clothes, the 2,400-square-foot store contains items ranging from cribs to strollers. Kid to Kid's impact on area thrift stores, such as those operated by the Salvation Army, will likely be minimal, said Major James Hall, commanding officer of the Salvation Army in Augusta. "The history of the Salvation Army shows we do such a level of merchandising when it comes to clothing that it's not going to impact us in the long run," he said. Kid to Kid is "very, very picky" when choosing what second-hand clothes to buy, Ms. Unger said. Unsold clothes are either returned or given to children's charities, Ms. Unger said. First-time sellers at Kid to Kid have to make an appointment. This allows sellers to see first-hand how the process works, Ms. Unger said. She generally pays 20 to 45 percent of what she will sell an item for, she said, or make an offer for store credit worth 20 percent more than the cash offer. Boys clothes usually pay better because they are more in demand, she explained. Just be aware that selling your child's clothes might be harder than it sounds. "Moms seem to have an emotional attachment," said Ms. Unger, a mother of five children between 7 months and 16 years old. Dads, meanwhile, "just want it out of the house," she added. After the first appointment, Ms. Unger said drop-offs are accepted. Within 48 hours she could have an offer ready, and those clothes and toys can be on the shelf. After that, shoppers such as Lincolnton resident Barbara LeRoy will scoop them up. She has, after all, nine grandchildren. Reach Tony Lombardo at (706) 823-3227 or
[email protected]. What Kid To Kid Wants The new store will buy child and maternity products, including: Clothing: Must be in like-new condition, no more than 5 years old, freshly laundered. Sizes newborn to 14 and maternity. Toys: Brand names such as Little Tikes, Fisher-Price and Barbie Equipment: Cribs, cradles, bassinets, nursery decor, car seats, strollers, swings Reach Kid to Kid at (706) 364-6408.
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