How to Get the Most for Your Kids’ Winter Gear at Nest + Sprout

It’s that time of year — winter gear is officially on our radar! ❄️ At Nest + Sprout, we’re now accepting children's and maternity winter clothing for consignment and trade-in. If your kids have outgrown last year’s snowsuit, or you're ready to declutter the coat closet, we’re here to help you turn those outgrown items into something useful: cash or store credit.

But not all gear is created equal. If you want to maximize your payout, here’s what you need to know.

✅ What We’re Looking For: High-Demand, High-Value Items

These are the pieces that sell quickly — and pay out more:

• Snowsuits – especially sizes 3T and up

• Snowpants – youth sizes are top sellers

• Winter Boots – all sizes, toddler through youth

• Mittens, gloves, and accessories – always in demand

• Wool & Base Layers – including merino, thermal, and fleece

• Bunting suits & brand-name gear – Columbia, Reima, LL Bean, The North Face, etc.

• Maternity Jackets – especially plus sizes

These items are always needed in our community, and when they’re in good condition, they move fast!

🧼 Prep Makes a Difference

Want to boost your earnings and help your gear sell faster? Prep it like a pro:

• Wash before drop-off — coats, boots, hats… everything.

• Empty the pockets (goodbye, mystery mittens and tissues).

• Match the sets — gloves, suspenders, collars, snow pant straps, etc.

• Remove name tags, where possible.

• Label clearly if the size is missing or it's barely worn.

We try to clean what we can, but we’re a small shop — and dirty gear may get discounted or passed over.

💸 How Payouts Work

We offer two payout options depending on your preference:

• Buyout (Quick Pay): Get 30% of the sell price up front for accepted items in STORE CREDIT ONLY.  We don't have extra cash for cash buys, we can only offer a consignment or wait model. 

• Consignment (Wait + Earn More): Get 40% back (or up to 50% if you take store credit) when the item sells.

👉 Pro tip: Taking store credit gets you more — and it never expires. You can use it for new or preloved winter gear in the next size up.

🧤 We’ll Also Take "Play Condition" Items

Got that well-loved snow suit with a little extra character? If it’s still warm and wearable (and repaired or repairable), we’ll likely take it. These pieces sell best in the $5–10 range, and you’ll still earn a couple dollars per item. Many parents love finding these for daycare, backups, or outdoor play.

These are great items to donate to us - we'll clean, repair, and try to relocate - otherwise bundle up for a 'recycle'

⚠️ A Few Things That Don't Sell as Well

We’re all about transparency. Here's what we’ve found doesn’t move quickly:

• Baby-size snowpants and jackets (under 24M — sorry, they just don’t sell here!)

• Peacoats and dressy fashion jackets – that was last year, we've had plenty arrive this year so maybe it was overlooked last year?

• Box store brands that retail for under $30 – they tend to get deeply discounted even when new so we balance finding a price people will actually pay. 

• Foreign/unknown brands that don’t translate well to our local market

We’ll still consider these, but payout or pricing may be lower.

💬 Last Thing: Tell Your Friends!

If we stay Prince George’s best kept secret, your gear doesn’t sell — and we can’t pay you for it. So let’s spread the word:
👂 Tag a friend, share a post, or send them this blog — the more shoppers we have, the more your gear sells, and the more we can pay you.

Ready to Drop Off?

You can bring in your items anytime during shop hours at:
📍 Nest + Sprout – 3049 McGill Crescent, Prince George, BC
🕒 Open Tuesday to Saturday
💌 Questions? Send us a DM or email hello@nestandsprout.ca

Let’s keep winter gear out of the landfill and in use — together. ♻️