Kids’ Bargains Galore

You know how it is – you have a baby and suddenly you have a houseful of baby items you never knew existed.

You know how it is – you have a baby and suddenly you have a houseful of baby items you never knew existed. They are wonderful inventions but soon outgrow their usefulness, and all those precious and expensive baby clothes no longer fit. What to do?

A group of Tulsa friends had the same issue in 1997 and put their heads together to form the Just Between Friends sale. Wanting to save money and still dress their children well, they got together in a friend’s living room to “shop” from each other’s surplus items. The concept quickly grew and is now franchised and offered nationwide in large facilities. A twice-yearly children’s consignment sale in each location offers high quality gently used items for children and expectant mothers.

Amber Weissenbach is the new owner of the Owasso JBF sale and is looking forward to offering this great shopping opportunity in her hometown. Amber is a 1996 graduate of Owasso High School and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2001 with a degree in marketing. For years, she traveled to Owasso from Kansas City to consign her daughter Grace’s items because there was not a sale in her area. “It was worth coming home for the sale, I made a lot of money.” She bought the franchise for the Kansas City area and very recently purchased the Owasso franchise from her friend Donna Pepper, who is relocating out of state.

“It is so exciting for me to be back in Owasso. We’ve been back for about 18 months, Grace is in 2nd grade at Rejoice, and we are close to lots of family. The local JBF franchise becoming available was a dream come true,” says Amber. “It’s a real blessing.”   

This year’s JBF Owasso sale will once again be held at the Owasso First Assembly of God Church, located at the corner of 96th Street North and 129th East Avenue across from The Home Depot. Sale dates are April 1 through 4. “The location is easy to find, and there is plenty of room and parking available, so we are happy to be here again this year,” says Amber.

JBF consignors earn 70 percent, and anyone is welcome to participate. Online registration starts the process. Once you have registered at  www.jbfsale.com, you make your tags, determine your own prices, and drop off your items. Two weeks after the sale, you’ll get a check in the mail. How’s that for simple?  

There are additional benefits for those who volunteer, distribute promotional material or help the sale run smoothly. “Those who volunteer get to shop first, before anyone else at our pre-sale. Next are the consignors, then first-time moms with children under 12 months old, daycare owners and teachers,” explains Amber. “There are literally thousands of quality items to choose from, and they are all priced below-market.”

Merchandise is separated by gender and size and neatly hung up, and the entire sale is organized into categories. All items brought in are examined for quality, and the sale resembles a huge children’s store rather than a garage sale atmosphere. Admission is $2 on the first day only. On Saturday, the last day of the sale, most items are half price.

“Most of the items are sold because of the great discounts, but items that are left over can be picked up by their consignors, or donated to the Laura Dester Children’s Shelter in Tulsa,” says Amber.

Each JBF sale franchise gives consignors the option of donating unsold options to a local organization. The Laura Dester Children’s Shelter is a stopping point for many children who are in between being removed from their homes for whatever reason and being placed in a foster home. They may be at the shelter for up to 24 hours and need clothing, pajamas, shoes and toiletries. “It’s a great way to help a very worthy local cause, and is a service to our consignors as well.”

JBF hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, April 2 and 3; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

For more information, contact

Just Between Friends Owasso

(918) 371-7499 

www.jbfsale.com/owasso

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