It's better than a garage sale and Once Upon a Child say the buyers and sellers seeking out the consignment sales held twice a year by franchises such as From Yours to Mine, Just Between Friends, Munchkin Markets, Spoiled Little

Rascals and Go Fish. Henriette Roe of From Yours to Mine describes the sales this way on her site Twin Cities Kids Sales:

"Kid's Consignment Sales is a very fast growing trend in the Twin Cities Area and it's not hard to see why. The organizer(s) of the sale event brings together sellers, often over 100, and shoppers to one big sale. The sales events are usually only for two or three days in the spring and fall with season appropriate items. Some sales also offer a holiday sale around December that specializes in toys and holiday clothes.
Consignors (sellers) prepare their own items and make their own prices. They keep a higher percentage of their sales compared to traditional consignment stores and they don't have to go through the hassle of advertising and working their own garage sale, or posting their items one by one on Craigslist or e-bay.
Shoppers can find a wide variety of Kid's items all under one roof that are usually screened for quality. They don't have to drive around town to different garage sales where it's a hit-or-miss on what items they might find, and in what shape, as the sales have quality standards.
The average sale has everything from strollers, highchairs, bouncy seats, swings, excersaucers, cribs and changing tables, any kind of toy you can think of, to diaper bags, bedding, infant and kids clothes, and maternity clothes. Where appropriate for the season you can also find snow pants, winter coats, snow boots, and Halloween Costumes."

Check out the calendar of sales on the site for the four sales happening this week. What's been your experience either buying or selling at one of these sales? Call me at 612-673-7633 or email me at jewoldt@startribune.com.