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Original poster

Would a second hand baby equipment shop work?

28 replies

Katymac · 03/03/2006 13:23

I'd do equipment, toys & bedding etc but probably not clothes

How would I work out prices?
Would I need insurance? (apart from Public Liability/employers liability)
What haven't I considered?

OP posts:

melissasmummy · 03/03/2006 13:27

Katy, No help with your Q's, butI saw many of these in Australia when we went out in 05. Another thing they did was rent equipment by the day. So we hired a cot ($1 a day) and brought a cheap mattress. (stayed with IL's) They also had sterilizers, buggies, toys etc etc. Mainly hire, but some you can buy too. Nappies were also sold there. Worked v well according to locals.

I think, done right it would be a good idea.

bran · 03/03/2006 13:33

Katymac, to save capital you could have a selling on shop. Rather than buying up stock and then waiting for it to sell to get you money back you could take stock that other people want to sell and take a third (or whatever you think is reasonable) of the money when it sells.

I'm not sure about whether you need insurance or not, but I would think that a good price for things in good condition would be just over half the new price. Perhaps a bit higher than that for things that are in high demand (like Handysitts).

BonyM · 03/03/2006 13:40

When I lived in London there was a great shop in Fulham that did 2nd hand equipment - always seemed really populat, but they also sold 2nd hand clothes (mainly designer).

They used to rent stuff out as well - like the places melissasmummuy mentioned.

Do think it depends on whereabouts it is though. There was a shop in the neighbouring area to the one I live in (in Cardiff) which closed down after about 18mths.

Somewhat surprisingly (maybe) I've noticed that 2nd hand places often do better in "nicer" areas because you then get very good quality stuff and also, rich people love a bargain! .

FeelingOld · 03/03/2006 13:40

There is a shop near me that does new and second hand stuff.
They only sell certain items 2nd hand cos they told my friend that they don't do pushchairs/buggies cos apparantly they have to have been serviced by a trained person, don't know it this is true though.
They seem to sell quite a lot of stuff like baby gyms, bouncy chairs.

gomez · 03/03/2006 13:46

Lived near one in Edinburgh that lasted about 24 months and another opened and closed in Stirling within the year - never visited either so not sure what they did/didn't sell.

chicagomum · 03/03/2006 13:48

I'd second the benefit of a hiring shop but only if you are in a touristy area I guess. I think the second hand equipment market has pretty much been cornered by e-bay etc these days.

zippitippitoes · 03/03/2006 13:53

I think there are some rules regarding equipment which is why you don't get things accepted by charity shops

would you have to rent space or is it alongside developing the nursery?

cori · 03/03/2006 13:59

There is also a second baby equipment shop in Chiswick. Very popular, they sell clothes etc but think mostly designer. I agree can be more popular in wealthier areas. Otherwise people just go to car boot sales dont they?

littlerach · 03/03/2006 14:05

there's one in bath like ths.

You take your stuff along, they chooses which bits they think will sell, then sell it for you. If it hasn't sold in 6 weeks, they have the right to give it back to you, or donate to charity. Any money is split 50/50.

They are v picky about what they will take, as are always full.

Also will do a wish list, if you are looking for something to buy and they don'y have it in.

paolosgirl · 03/03/2006 14:14

We had one fairly near here, which closed as I was pregnant - typical! I think you have to be quite careful about the area, as I think more middle class areas tend to be more receptive to 2nd hand stuff, and I think you also have to be very strict in terms of what you will and won't take - maybe draw up guidelines, eg nothing older than say 3/5 years, or whatever.

Original poster

Katymac · 03/03/2006 14:16

Lots of lovely info - ladies thank you all

I think the nursery idea is a non-starter.....capitol costs

I could do stuuf I buy and also stuff someoneelse brings to sell & I quite like the rental/hire idea

OP posts:

MissChief · 03/03/2006 14:17

you could link to ebay? set yourself up as an ebay shop to be have virtual as well as high-street presence..ebay would also provide a good idea of prices people are prepared to pay..make sure you're not in an area where there are regular NCT type nearly new sales as they're often so cheap you might find it hard to get business.

LIZS · 03/03/2006 14:25

You might want to speak to Trading Standards too - there may be a safety aspect to resellling certain items, especially electricals and older soft furnishings (thinking how some items at car boot sales also need to be safety checked prior to sale).

Perhaps also a lease scheme for new or as new - you buy it in and then people can hire it for a % of the full price (and give a deposit)rather like wedding dresses. Might work for shorter term use items such as cradles, prams with carry cots and swings for example.

pol25 · 03/03/2006 15:19

It's hard to sell some things because they have to have a current safety standard but I know of a shop nr cambridge that did fairly well and ran out of a farm barn!
She used to sell more clothes than prams etc but I do think mums would love it. I used to love hunting for a bargain in there!

RachD · 03/03/2006 15:40

They have one in Teddington , which has been there for years.
Always jam packed.
Like bonym said -rich people (in teddington) like a bargain.

But as someone else said e-bay has saturated this market - I buy and sell loads on e-bay.

Original poster

Katymac · 04/03/2006 12:28

Thanks for all he info

Appreciate your opinions - I think I need to do a bit of research????

OP posts:

GDG · 04/03/2006 12:32

There's one in Wilmslow, Cheshire Katymac, and I know it does well. Due to the area though, a lot of the stuff is designer/very expensive to begin with so it sells well. I know it does clothes and a friend of mine gets a lot of designer stuff there for her ds.

BudaBabe · 04/03/2006 12:40

I have been to one near Chester with my MIL - bought a travel cot there for DS to keep in MILs when he was a baby. I thought it was a great idea.

They did equipment, clothes, toys, videos etc. Bought a lovely mobile for DS's room too.

twinsetandpearls · 04/03/2006 13:55

I agree with BonyM about them doing well in more affluent areas, I use two both of which are in such areas. A lot of childminders also use them to build up respources.

paolosgirl · 04/03/2006 13:57

Maybe also choose an area with a good mix of ages, so grandparents could use it to buy extra sets of things for when their grandchildren come to visit?

twinsetandpearls · 04/03/2006 14:31

That is a good idea as my Mum has also bought extra prams and car seats.

Mistymoo · 04/03/2006 18:02

Who'd buy a second hand baby?
Sorry....

egocentriczebra · 04/03/2006 18:04

Hate to put a dampener on this, but I've seen a lot of such shops come and go.

Where I am, North Norfolk, you can't give 2nd hand baby stuff away. I'm not kidding, I've put in ads trying to flog stuff for a pittance, then gave up & asked around if anybody could use it, & nobody is much interested. I don't know why because this is not a rich area.

There is a 2nd hand baby-stuff shop already in N.Walsham that doesn't seem to do much business.

brimfull · 04/03/2006 18:10

I'd like one that does clothes as I'm past the equipment stage.

DumbledoresGirl · 04/03/2006 18:30

There used to be a fantastic one near Rugby, but it combined second hand goods with new stuff as well, and the second hand stuff was hardly recognisable as second hand because it was so good. The toys were a bit more obviously second hand I suppose. It used to do good business from what I could tell, given that it wasn't even in Rugby itself, but out in the countryside in a farm. It was known locally as the baby farm!

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