to think that a dedicated child & baby charity shop would make lots of money?

[PeasForTeaAgain]

I have a house full of of used clothes and toys that I would like to sell (just to get rid of!) and I would also like to buy 2nd hand stuff for growing kids. Why is this SO hard to do? Other than the NNS (always overbooked & never get a table!) is there a way?? Would anyone like to start a club?!

I'll join!
A swap-shop would be good.

I think I have seen a couple of these sort of shops in my area but they've closed down so i guess they weren't making a profit... Can you not just pass your outgrown stuff on to someone you know or freecycle it and likewise let it be known to people with older children that you are happy to accept hand-me-downs?

I'm lucky to have a friend with dcs the same age as mine but the opposite sex so we can swap outgrown clothes easily.

well mumsnet does have a buying and selling section.
maybe put stuff on there?
or use ebay?

We used to have a second hand baby/childrens clothes shop in a nearby town, was great-you could sell your out grown clothes or unwanted equipment and buy 'new to you' bits.Always found good bargains.

Shame there aren't more shops like that around-I guess car boots and ebay ruined it a few yrs back.

I've been toying with the idea of starting something similar up.

Everyone I know has older kids so I can't pass anything down. Freecylce good idea thanks. Will investigate... I still think a swap shop is the way forward, tho! Must plan that... Mumsnet freecycle swapshop board... brilliant.

mumsnet also have a "for free" section.

Posh I have been toying with same idea myself for ages. If we could get enough people to do it - then we could share some ideas, etc, maybe even do it for a children's charity...

yesterday, where is free section please? Can't find it...

tis here

thank you! Looks a bit like hard work though. I am going to campaign for my swap shop!

thankyou!

Some places do have dedicated childrens charity shop. Leicestershire have a service called Baby Gear, which takes anything baby and toddler related. It reservices all the electical stuff, cleans everything and then either puts it in one of it's shops. It's a fantastic idea, don't know why it isnt done everywhere, I've donated pretty much all my baby stuff (cot, steriliser, monitors etc) and it's nice to know it will be used again.

Bingo! Exactly what I am talking about. Thanks Squitch. Will look them up... I just dont want to bin it, but I can't walk the streets forever shouting "Baby clothes baby clothes" like a baby rag'n'bone man! Think I need a cup of tea

May be no use to you location-wise, but in Ealing there are two branches of FARA (a charity for Romanian orphans), one is entirely dedicated to baby stuff - have got some good bargains there! There's also a shop called Loop which buys and sells good quality second hand kids stuff - not for charity though.

there a children only charoty shop in Whitton (south west London) for the local childrens hospice. It does rather well I think.

thank you all, this is v interesting. am mulling plans over. Maybe a shop for Great Ormond St???

We've got lots round our way - one sells new/nearly new stuff. People take bags of gear in, come back a few days later after the shops been through it and then they offer a price for what they want to sell. I think they mark up by about 150% - Directly opposite is a charity store - not quite sure what they use the money for mind you - they're less fussy about stock but price at just above jumble sale prices - I've has some gorgeous stuff from them mind you and for pennies. I don't know how profitable they are but most of the families round here seem to recycle stuff through them and they have a fast turnover of stock.

Where is the FARA shop in Ealing?

The main one is on Bond St, the baby one is down near Ealing Green, where Carluccio's, Big Jim's Trims and the Baby-e shop are... hope it's still there, it was at Christmas time!

We have one in town. Not run for profit, but as a second hand shop/cafe/play area/drop in centre for families with young kids. It's backed by a Christian group, which covers overheads so the stuff can be sold on ultra-cheap (because it's in an area where that is needed). It's fantastic - has become the hub of the community.

We have a FARA shop in Barnes, SW London on the high street - it's great, I get loads of stuff in there. They have good books and toys too.

Purly Queen, just down a bit from Carluccios.

I like to combine the two

There's a branch of FARA in Clapham, too. Northcote Road I think.

Theres a babyswopshoponline group on yahoo groups (isn't yahoo groups shutting down??) and whilst its got 400+ members it doesn't seem to work at all. A load of people have set up local ones too but my local ones have 3, 6 and 9 members each which is crap!

Not sure if allowed to link or not but its here

uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/babyswapshoponline/?yguid=194479529

Its a great idea in theory though!

You could also try Freecycle (google it to find their site). Although you can't sell anything, hence freecycle but you might also find stuff on there for your DCs. I've got rid of loads of house stuff this way and is especially good for things you prob wouldn't get much for if you sold it or too bulky for eBay.