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<\/p>\nHow to transition kids\u2019 closets from winter to summer & get a head start on fall consignment season<\/p>\n
If your mudroom currently contains:<\/p>\n
one random snow bootthree hoodieslast summer\u2019s sandalspants nobody claimsand at least one swimsuit that definitely doesn\u2019t fit anymore\u2026<\/p>\n
You are not alone.<\/p>\n
The seasonal kid-clothes switch is one of those parenting jobs that sounds simple until you actually start doing it. Suddenly you\u2019re surrounded by piles of too-small leggings, mystery socks, and jackets you forgot even existed.<\/p>\n
But according to Jen Stickle, co-owner of Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale, this whole process can actually become your secret weapon for making money back on all those outgrown kids clothes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a weird time of the year,\u201d Stickle says. \u201cWe still have some athletic pants out. We definitely still have sweatshirts out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of waiting until September and panic-cleaning closets before the fall sale, Jen recommends building a simple system now that helps you:<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how to make it happen.<\/p>\n
Want to hear Jen\u2019s full closet-transition system and pro consignor tips? Watch her full video below:<\/p>\n
Jen Stickle is co-owner of Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale in Erie and Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n
Step 1: Start With a Simple Reality Check<\/p>\n
Before buying a single pair of summer shorts, pull out last year\u2019s spring and summer bins and see what actually still fits.<\/p>\n
This is the perfect time to:<\/p>\n
Check sizesTry on swimsuits and sandalsSee what basics your kids actually wearFigure out what you truly need before shopping<\/p>\n
Jen recommends making a quick list for each child with:<\/p>\n
Current clothing sizesShoe sizesFavorite colors or charactersSummer activity needsSports gear needsItems grandparents might need at their house<\/p>\n
Because half the battle is remembering what you already own.<\/p>\n
And the other half? Realizing how much your kids have already outgrown.<\/p>\n
Step 2: Create 4 Bins (This Is the Game-Changer)<\/p>\n
Instead of making giant piles everywhere, grab four bins, baskets, laundry hampers, or even diaper boxes and label them:<\/p>\n
1. Keep<\/p>\n
Items that still work right now:<\/p>\n
SweatshirtsJeansRain jacketsAnything still useful during Erie\u2019s \u201c40 degrees in the morning, 75 by afternoon\u201d season2. Try Again in Fall<\/p>\n
These are the \u201cmaybe\u201d items:<\/p>\n
Slightly big pantsJackets with room to growDress clothes that might still fit in September<\/p>\n
Jen says separating these NOW saves huge headaches later.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want to sort it a second time,\u201d she explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n
3. Recycle\/Trash<\/p>\n
Anything stained, ripped, stretched out, or beyond saving.<\/p>\n
And Jen makes an important point here: badly worn clothes should not automatically be donated.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a dignity issue,\u201d she says. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to give stuff with holes to nonprofits.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
4. Save for Consignment<\/p>\n
This is where the magic happens.<\/p>\n
Good-condition clothes another family could use:<\/p>\n
Athletic brandsSeasonal outfitsJacketsShoes in great shapeHoliday outfitsTrendy kids clothing<\/p>\n
Jen says this is the perfect time to start building your fall consignor bin for Sunflower Sprouts Consignment Sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet a box, get a bin, or dump out a laundry basket and just start collecting all the stuff that is winter that they don\u2019t need anymore,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thinking about consigning this fall?<\/p>\n
Start that \u201csave for Sunflower Sprouts\u201d bin now! Fall 2026 Erie consignor registration is expected to open this summer, typically about three months before the early October sale.<\/p>\n