Online Kids Clothing Swap Service Launches in Canada
Filed under: Bargains & Freebies, Daily Deal, Entrepreneurship, Family Finances, House & Home, Saving, Shopping, Weird & Wonderful, Small Business
Calling time-starved
and cash-strapped Canadian parents everywhere: there's a new way to shop for second-hand clothing that can only work in your favour.
Minitrade.ca is an online clothing exchange service for parents with kids ages 0-7 launching this week. Offering everything from clothes to Hallowe'en costumes, shoes and bathing suits, the Montreal-based service is offered across Canada and means you don't have to fight traffic or sort through racks and racks of clothing to find the good stuff.
Minitrade.ca's tag line is "Trading your kids clothing simply" and the service is meant to make quality, gently-used clothing available to parents who in turn have quality, gently-used clothing to give. Basically, once you send your children's used clothing to Minitrade, you'll earn shopping credits that will allow you to buy new and used clothing from the service's website. And shipping is free (unless you don't contribute clothing -- then shipping is free if you make a purchase of $50 or more).Founded by Montreal mom of two, Isabelle Doucet, Minitrade.ca was an idea hatched after her home became overloaded with her kids' hand-me-downs. "My basement started looking like we were moving," she says. After searching the web to see what could be done with the used clothing, Doucet noticed Facebook groups looking to swap kids clothes. "Then I thought there must be a better way to do this," she says. After a brainstorming session with her husband, Minitrade.ca was born.
Doucet gave the business a trial run last summer with friends, and she says she was surprised by how much clothing was received and exchanged and how easy the process was.
The service does sound simple but don't expect easy clothing credits if your kids have been hard on their clothes. The website specifies clothing can show no signs of excessive use (ie. no pilling, stains or wear-and-tear), and it has to have been bought within the past two years. Also listed as unacceptable is clothing from big chain stores like Cherokee or George. Plus, laundry instructions have to be clearly visible. But, if you send in clothing of a "prestigious brand" (I'm guessing brands like Ralph Lauren or Petit Lem), you will be awarded with extra shopping credits.
You will also require a bit of patience when it comes to waiting for all of the shipping back and forth to take place until the swap is complete. But, if you do sit tight, you'll likely end up saving two very important things: time and money.
RELATED LINKS:
How Much Does it Cost to Be a Fifth Grader
How to Save $$$ on Back to School Essentials
Extracurricular Sports for Kids This Fall: What You're Getting for Your Money
and cash-strapped Canadian parents everywhere: there's a new way to shop for second-hand clothing that can only work in your favour.
Minitrade.ca is an online clothing exchange service for parents with kids ages 0-7 launching this week. Offering everything from clothes to Hallowe'en costumes, shoes and bathing suits, the Montreal-based service is offered across Canada and means you don't have to fight traffic or sort through racks and racks of clothing to find the good stuff.
Minitrade.ca's tag line is "Trading your kids clothing simply" and the service is meant to make quality, gently-used clothing available to parents who in turn have quality, gently-used clothing to give. Basically, once you send your children's used clothing to Minitrade, you'll earn shopping credits that will allow you to buy new and used clothing from the service's website. And shipping is free (unless you don't contribute clothing -- then shipping is free if you make a purchase of $50 or more).Founded by Montreal mom of two, Isabelle Doucet, Minitrade.ca was an idea hatched after her home became overloaded with her kids' hand-me-downs. "My basement started looking like we were moving," she says. After searching the web to see what could be done with the used clothing, Doucet noticed Facebook groups looking to swap kids clothes. "Then I thought there must be a better way to do this," she says. After a brainstorming session with her husband, Minitrade.ca was born.
Doucet gave the business a trial run last summer with friends, and she says she was surprised by how much clothing was received and exchanged and how easy the process was.
The service does sound simple but don't expect easy clothing credits if your kids have been hard on their clothes. The website specifies clothing can show no signs of excessive use (ie. no pilling, stains or wear-and-tear), and it has to have been bought within the past two years. Also listed as unacceptable is clothing from big chain stores like Cherokee or George. Plus, laundry instructions have to be clearly visible. But, if you send in clothing of a "prestigious brand" (I'm guessing brands like Ralph Lauren or Petit Lem), you will be awarded with extra shopping credits.
You will also require a bit of patience when it comes to waiting for all of the shipping back and forth to take place until the swap is complete. But, if you do sit tight, you'll likely end up saving two very important things: time and money.
RELATED LINKS:
How Much Does it Cost to Be a Fifth Grader
How to Save $$$ on Back to School Essentials
Extracurricular Sports for Kids This Fall: What You're Getting for Your Money
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