By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Now in its 18th year, the Little Lambs and Ivy Consignment Sale offers parents the chance to offload their children’s clothing and other goods for spare cash. And shoppers discover that they pay roughly a quarter of the original market value for secondhand clothes. It’s a win-win.
This semi-annual children’s consignment sale takes place for the fall and winter season from Sept. 10 to 13 for the general public at the Machinists Union Hall at 121 Union Hall Road, Clarksville, Tennessee 37040. There is a preview night Sept. 9 for consigners.
Organizer Jeanette Smith says: “We have a wide range of brands. Some people have even found Lucky Brand boy jeans. There are Gap, Old Navy, Kelly’s Kids, smocked dresses.”
Jeanette Smith and Heather Drew sort through toys, clothes and shoes for the upcoming Little Lambs and Ivy Consignment Sale./Karen Parr-Moody
Smith said that because of all of the Clarksville residents who relocate here from different areas, shoppers might find some “rare” brands that might not otherwise be found here. Used clothes are usually sold at 25 percent of the original retail price (sellers price their clothes as they wish). Clothes retaining the original tags usually sell at a higher price.
The clothes range in sizes from newborn to 14. The sale will also feature infant equipment, maternity, shoes, toys and Halloween costumes.
The receiving time for sellers to consign their clothes is Sept. 4 through 6. This is by appointment only. Sellers can go to www.tnconsign.com to register for an appointment or email or call Smith at littlelambsandivy@gmail.com or 931-358-2979 (please, no calls after 9 p.m.).
There is a preview night on Tuesday, Sept. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. for consigners and 7 to 9 p.m. for consigners and guest with passes. Anyone who brings at least 15 items to the sale can receive consigner privileges.
Toys are organized by age at the Little Lambs and Ivy Consignment Sale./Karen Parr-Moody
From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 10 the sale opens to the public; all items are will be sold at the regular price on this day. From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 11 the sale will offer a 25 percent discount on all items except those marked “no discount” to the general public.
On Sept. 11, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., there will be a 50 percent discount presale for consigners only.
From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 12 the sale will offer a 50 percent discount on all items except those marked “no discount” to the general public. This same discount will continue the next day, Sept. 13, from 7 a.m. to noon.
Smith keeps the room well organized during the sale, with one side featuring girls’ clothing and the other side featuring boys’. Clothing is on racks as though it were a department store.
Within two weeks of the end of the sale, Smith will mail out checks to all of the consigners.
Photos by Karen Parr-Moody
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.