Mom of eight opens low-priced kids clothing store

If you want to know the challenges of buying affordable clothing for kids, just ask a mom of eight.

Tenisha Ramirez – who has three stepdaughters and five children of her own – used to spend hours sifting through yard sales and thrift shops for children’s clothing. With kids ranging from 6 months to 19 years old, checking size tags was time-consuming.

So she figured she’d turn that challenge into an opportunity and opened This & That Baby and Kids Consignment store in November.

This isn’t a fancy children’s boutique. It’s tucked away in a nondescript business park at 5757 E. Clinton Ave., Suite 109, a few blocks west of Clovis Avenue (look for the Napa Auto Parts and head east).

The understated location helps keep rent and prices low, Ramirez says.

The store carries gently used clothing ranging from preemie sizes to sizes 10/11. Almost all the clothing is under $10, ranging from $3 pants for an infant to an $8 pink and white Easter dress for a 24-month-old.

The clothing gets checked over for rips and broken zippers three times and is washed before it is put on the racks.

“Because the babies grow out of it so quickly, it’s in really, really good condition,” Ramirez says of the clothing.

The biggest sellers are the bigger gear – bouncers, swings and large toy sets.

“That stuff goes way faster,” Ramirez says.

Smaller toys are also for sale like the popular Shopkins – tiny plastic collectables with smiling faces in the shape of cherries, avocados and other other items.

Consigners who bring in clothing get about 40 percent of the current value of the used clothing in cash or in-store credit. Appointments must be made by calling 559-753-8109, though the store is booked for the next two weeks.

The front section of the store features new items from local vendors, including hair bows, lip balm holders and blinged out cases for baby wipes.

This & That isn’t the only shop selling kids consignment clothing. Repeat Performance, 1429 N. Van Ness, sells children’s clothing, some baby gear and men’s and women’s clothing.

The shop sells “better labels” such as Justice tops for girls that normally cost $35 and boys’ clothing from various board shops.

Some of the consignment business has moved to special events like the Just Between Friends sale. The organization hosts twice-yearly sales in the Fresno area and Visalia. The next sales will happen this fall and include one in Hanford. Keep tabs on their website for specific dates at fresno.jbfsale.com.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 10:47 AM with the headline "Mom of eight opens low-priced kids clothing store."