Interview with Kim Michaux
Owner of OneofaKindKid.com, an online children's clothing outlet
interviewed by Mia Cronan, http://MainStreetMom.com 

1. Kim, would you please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about your business?

I'm Kim Michaux, mom to Katie, 12; Woody, 9; and Sidney, 3. My husband Bob & I have been married for 15 years. I have 2 businesses, OneOfAKindKid.com, an online children's clothing outlet, and The Lollipop Shop, a 2x year children's consignment sale in Richmond, VA. They are both family businesses in the true sense of the word ~ everyone pitches in, even little Sidney!

I started The Lollipop Shop 8 years ago and was tickled to make $50.00 and get some great clothes for my kids. Now we have over 500 consignors each sale and lines over 400 people deep on opening day. It actually led to my online business ~ I had several stores that consigned past season merchandise. When we moved to Roanoke, VA, I had all this great clothing in  my basement & was trying to figure out a way to sell it. I realized that no one else was selling boutique brand clothing at substantial discounts online, so I thought I'd give it a try. I knew that there was a need for it from the specialty store owner's side ~ they need an outlet for leftover merchandise. And I knew as a mom with champagne taste on a beer budget, I loved getting a deal on the brands I like! I hoped other moms would feel the same!

2. What first caught your interest starting your consignment business? I am an accountant but have always been determined to stay home with my children. I have worked odd retail jobs in children's clothing stores for years, mostly because I love children's clothes & I could work the hours around my husband's schedule. (& I got a great discount, too!:-) I had seen a similar sale elsewhere, so I can't claim to be original. There was nothing like it in the area we lived. Having worked so much retail, and having the only grandkids in the family, I had ALOT of clothing to sell & was frustrated by how little I received from a buy outright resale store. I thought it would be great if moms had a place to sell their children's outgrown clothing and buy good condition clothing at great prices.


3. Were you ever frustrated by the retail price of children's clothing, like so many moms?

Yes, mostly because I have very expensive taste! lol!

4. What should moms look for in consignment items?

Main thing is to check it carefully! Look at all the seams, zippers, snaps and look under a good light. Fluorescent lighting in stores is great for stain finding! It helps to be familiar with brands & how much they cost retail. In general, consignment price of a brand name item in great condition, hardly any wear, like new is around 1/3 of retail.

5. Are toys safe to buy? What about things like diaper bags and shoes?

All safe - but you have to use common sense - and use a choke tube, look for little pieces, etc. Don't give a toy meant for a 9 year old boy with a million tiny pieces to a 2 year old. That has nothing to do with used vs. new, it's just common sense.

We don't take ratty shoes or diaper bags, but we get plenty that have been used once or twice. The one thing I'd be careful with is car seats ~ check for recalls, and check condition carefully. Also, you need to be aware that we (owners) ask the people if they have been in accidents, but we have only their word on it - use your judgment. Same with other baby equipment. I'd always check the recall list - it's available online in several places. Most of the time there's some type of fix the manufacturer will send for
free.

6. Can you describe the process by which a mom would bring her used items
into a consignment shop to be resold? What happens after she leaves them
with a shop?

Your things need to be in good shape, washed, ironed, on hangars, not in a
big old plastic garbage bag:-) Ironing is worth the trouble - you can get
twice as much most of the time if your items are neat & pressed! Absolutely
no stains - it just doesn't sell. No one wants to buy someone else's
stained clothing. No matter what brand it is or how cute it is.

After you drop off & we have looked through your things, we price, list and tag them, then we sort them by size/gender. You have an account and all your things are listed and tagged to identify them as yours. When the item sells, we post it in your account. We barcode everything, so your account is on the computer in our store, but there are plenty of manual stores still.

7. If you could predict such a thing, what do you think the trend in retail products for children will be in the future, considering the economy, fashions, and overall lifestyle needs?

Fashion industry trend is twofold: luxe and adult style clothing. Miniature adult style in fabrics like real cashmere and leather. Most moms aren't going for it - they know what kids do in those clothes! lol!

I think consignment is very hot right now ~ and will continue to be. Most moms that I know hate spending a ton on clothes that their tyke will outgrow in a couple of months. We all have great outfits that our kids have worn once!

8. What are the biggest sellers (the best deals) to be found in a store such as yours?

The best deals are on the higher end things. As I said, the general rule of price is 1/3 of retail. That holds true except for the very high end dresses, sweater sets, etc. The outfits that cost over $75 new will top out at $30 even in excellent condition. So, the $150 Portofino dress will just not sell for more than $30 no matter how great it is & what great condition it is in.

The fastest sellers are anything Little Tykes, high end strollers & high chairs,  cribs, Gap, Gymboree and other high end department store brands like Tommy or Ralph Lauren. Specialty store brands sell very well, but mostly to the folks who are familiar with the brands.

9. Do you have any words of wisdom for our moms when shopping?

There are great deals on fantastic children's clothing in consignment shops - you just have to shop frequently! The big semi-annual sales that are popular right now have particularly good selection because they get everything all at once. (a completely unbiased opinion! lol!)

Main Street Mom would like to thank Kim for taking the time to be interviewed. I'm sure her information will be appreciated by all.
~ Mia, mia@mainstreetmom.com

Related Articles:

How Did Our Parents Manage It All?  
Every so often, I ask my mother how they did it all back in the 50's, 60's, and 70's when we were small. ..

Helping Your Children to Be Money-Savvy  
It takes parents' intervention to help children gain a full understanding of how money matters work...

Go Ahead and Waste It - It Was Free  
Free things are not really free when you consider that they do have value, they do serve a purpose for us, and if wasted, they never got a chance to serve their purpose.

Five Ways to Beat Penny-Pinching Fatigue  
Well, you've had enough. You're tired of just scraping by month after month, or of carrying a balance on one or more credit cards. It's frustrating to never see the light at the end of the financial tunnel.