Where Back-to-School Pickings are Ripe

The Children’s Orchard offers new and gently used clothing at a fraction of the retail price.

The friendly staff of the Children’s Orchard (L to R): Amanda, Kyra, Ashley, Kari, Jennifer, Stephanie and Jodie.

If you’re looking to save a substantial amount of money on back-to-school clothes or have boxes of old, too-small clothes you want to get rid of, you may find a visit to Children’s Orchard (12307 E. 96th St. N.) well worth your time.

    Children’s Orchard was founded in 1980 as the nation’s first franchise of new and gently-used name brand children’s items. They both buy and sell new and used children’s clothing, toys and accessories. Children’s Orchard of Owasso is one of Oklahoma’s largest resale children’s clothing stores. “We offer a huge selection of high-quality, gently-used clothing, at prices up to 80 percent off retail, including brands like Gymboree, Children’s Place, Baby Gap and Justice,” says owner Kari Hendrix. “We focus on saving our customers money, and right now we have great deals for back to school.”

    Parents can also bring in their used items and trade them for cash or store credit. While Children’s Orchard displays clothing seasonally, they buy all seasons of clothing all the time. “It’s a great way for you to earn money for old items that your children can’t use anymore, without the hassle of organizing a garage sale,” says Hendrix.

    Hendrix bought the Owasso Children’s Orchard in March of 2011, and the store had a grand reopening last August with a new, more colorful, boutique-like atmosphere. “I’m so appreciative of the support we’ve received from the Owasso community – it’s been overwhelming,” says Hendrix. “We’ve been working to provide fantastic service and save people money, and in the last year and a half, our sales have grown by 60 percent. I am grateful to the community for that.”

    As Children’s Orchard buys all clothing all the time but ­displays it seasonally, they have a variety of special events throughout the year. On September 8, Children’s Orchard is having its annual Halloween costume sale. “This is a very popular event,” says Hendrix. “We’ll have hundreds of Halloween costumes, up to 80 percent off the retail prices.”

    September 29 is Children’s Orchard’s coat sale. “We’ll put out all the coats and jackets we’ve accumulated over the course of the year,” Hendrix says. “We have lots of brand name coats, many of which have never been worn, at a fraction of their original cost.”

    Children’s Orchard offers walk-in buying Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 4. If you bring in two small bags of clothing or toys (or three or four large pieces of equipment), Children’s Orchard promises to buy while you shop, in 20 minutes or less. Children’s Orchard offers cash or store credit with a 40 percent bonus.  

    Children’s Orchard is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, give Children’s Orchard a call or visit them on the web at www.childrensorchard.com.