Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Just Between Friends Oaks. All opinions are my own.

Well it’s one of my favorite times of year again – kid consignment sale season.  And for those of you who follow me on the blog, the Just Between Friends Sale in Oaks is by far my most favorite local sale.  When I tell you this is the Holy Grail of kids consignment sales, I kid you not. Lucky for us not only is this one of the largest kid consignments in the country, but we are even more fortunate that is is held right here, close to home in the Greater Philadelphia area at the Greater Philadelphia Convention Center. The first time I attended the sale I literally gasped out loud when I walked into the convention center.  I had shopped many many local consignment sales in the past but not have compared to the size and quantity of items you will find at this sale.  Every time I write about it, I have to contain my excitement, as I cannot wait to share all that this sale has to offer with you.

First and foremost, here are the dates and times that you can shop this year’s Just Between Friends Oaks fall sale.  The sale is being held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Avenue Oaks, PA Hall A.

Once again I was fortunate enough to attend this year’s fall presale and of course it was nothing short of amazing.  The sale contains pretty much everything you will need to outfit your babies and kids from everyday wear to winter gear, sports and dance – Halloween, the accessories and equipment to go with it. While you are at it, you will find things to decorate and furinsh their rooms, pack the toy box and start your holiday shopping  and fill the shelves with crafts, puzzles and boredom busters galore!  Best of all, most of the items are marked 50-90% off the retail prices you would pay in store so not only are you getting some unbelievable deals, but you are also helping the environment by recycling usuable, quality items that your family can afford and enjoy.

Take a peek at some of these awesome items I spotted during my presale visit.  Please note that this is just a very small sampling of the wonderful treasures to be found throughout the sale!

Lots and lots of Halloween costumes!  Most I found were under $10!  That Belle costume right there was marked $3.50!  Costumes are great because they can be used not only for Halloween but also for Dress Up play as well as trips to Disney!

The fall and winter coats, boots and accessories are amazing!  Check out the gorgeous Burberry Coat and North Face Jackets that I spotted!  Lots of brand name boots (like the North Face ones pictured) too!  That North Face Jacket was pristine and just $15!

Not only did I find toys that were new in box, but I also found some great vintage toys that you can no longer buy in store – but you can certainly buy at JBF!  Check out that retired American Girl Doll Bitty Baby Pram.  How sweet is that?!

There are rows and rows of babies and toddler accessories galore! Not only are these great buys for the new parents but they are also great for Grandma and Grandpa’s house, babysitters and day cares!

To help make the most of your Just Between Friends Oaks Shopping experience, I’ve put together some tips to make this your best shopping experience yet!

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Before heading to the JBF Oaks sale, take a minute at home to start a list of wants and needs.  On this list, include sizes for each of your children and brand names they prefer.  Trace their feet on a piece of cardboard or heavy card stock so that you can take it with you to insert inside of shoes to be sure the shoes will fit them.  Check their bureaus and closets for items they may have outgrown or need.  Scribble down items that may be on their holiday lists as well.  You would be surprised how many new in box (or like new) items you will find at the sale! Also, if you are going with a budget in mind, use the calculator on yoir mobile phone to keep track of items as you shop.

2. Dress comfortably, wear sneakers or comfortable shoes and eat a meal or snack!

The convention center is huge, the floors are concrete and shopping is a lot of work.  Be sure to eat and dress comfortably so that you can bend and move easy when looking through items. Depending how long you spend browsing the sale, you may get hungry.  I always pack a protein bar or easy to carry snack in my bag just in case.  And just for an FYI – I logged almost 5,000 steps on my Fitbit yesterday during my time at the sale!  I’ll call that a win – both for me and my kids!

3. Consider Inviting your Significant Other, Relative or a Friend to Come with You

Not only is it more fun to shop with a friend but they may also find things that you miss!  You can both devise a plan for shopping before you go or shop together as you go along.  Either way your helper will be helpful with sorting through items and helping you carry your goodies after you find them!

4. Clean Out Your Trunk of Your Car Before You Go!

You never know what you will find at this sale – so be sure to have plenty of space in your cart to fit all of your treasures when you are ready to tote them back home!

5. Bring a shopping bag, wagon, beach cart, rolling tote or laundry basket with a rope or belt attached.

One thing is for sure – you are going to want to make moving your awesome finds as simple as possible. Having a tote or cart (such as a beach cart) with wheels or something you can pull will make getting around so much easier (and your arms and back will thank me later).  Large Thirty One Totes and Ikea bags also are great for holding bundles of items if you are ok with carrying them with you.

6. Take advantage of the 1/2 price deals on Sunday!

While you are shopping you may find that some items may be marked higher than what you would like to pay.  The nice thing about this sale is that on Sunday, the last day of the sale, many items will be marked down to 1/2 price.  Some of those items with the higher price tag that you were eyeing up may well be available for half price on Sunday!  It certainly doesn’t hurt to return and take a look!  You may be surprised at some of the gems you may find on the last day!

7. Consider Consigning and/or Volunteering at the Next JBF Oaks sale!

Consigning and volunteering definitely have their perks.  Not only can you make cash for your outgrown items, you can also afford yourself the opportunity to shop at the presale by also volunteering your time! By shopping at the presale you are getting access to the most items and deals available at the sale!  That means you get first dibs on everything the sale has to offer even before it open to the public.  Consigning with the sale is easy – and they even offer a valet tagging service for those who do not have time to tag their items themselves.  It is all definitely worth checking out and considering before the next sale!

All in all, I had a great day and put all of my tips above to great use.  This year my daughter happens to be wearing the same size as last year and wears a uniform for school so we did not need as many clothes as we usually do.  She did, however, have a spurt in shoe size and has been asking for a nice winter vest (like Mommy’s) and some new Under Armour gear for the fall!  I scored some great items – all for $41 total! And – my daughter loved it all! Check out of my under $10 finds!!

Under Armour Jacket – $8

Children’s Place Puffer Winter Vest with Hood – $5

 

Vintage Look Tie Boots (with Zipper up the back for easy off & on) – $8

Suede Booties – $5

Black Ballet Flats – $4

Khombu Boots $6

(These are a size larger than my daughter’s current size but I couldn’t pass them up for that price!  We will put them away for next year!)

Black and plaid Totes Snow Boots – $5

If you are looking for some great fall deals for your family, do not miss your chance to shop this week’s Just Between Friends Oaks sale!  Dates and times are listed above and more information and directions can be found HERE.

Be sure to come back and share all of your best finds with us! And while you are at it, share them on Facebook as well using hashtag #JBFWins for your chance to win $100 in JBF Bucks through this fun contest the JBF sale is running.

 

Happy Shopping!!