What Your Kids' Winter Gear Is Actually Worth at Nest & Sprout

A straight-to-the-point guide to consignment pricing for snowsuits, jackets, boots, and more

One of the most common questions we get before someone brings in a bag of outgrown winter gear: "How much will I actually get for this?"

It's a fair question. 

And the honest answer is: it depends on the brand, the condition, and the category. 

But we can do better than "it depends." Here's a real look at what preloved kids' winter gear sold for at Nest & Sprout last season  and what that means for you this year. I’ve started to love data, and sharing it with you is my attempt in helping you understand the realities of clothing resale. Sometimes expectations are too high and too low. 

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First, how to sell us your gently used winter gear

When you bring winter gear to Nest & Sprout, you have two options:

1. Consignment — 40% to you. Your items are priced, listed, and sold through the shop (in-store and online). When something sells, you receive 40% of the selling price. No upfront payment, but typically a higher return, and an option to choose cash

2. Buyout — 30% to you. You can choose store credit to use that day or another day. We're a bootstrap kind of retail business and cannot offer cash purchase prior to item sale. We take on the risk. The tradeoff is a lower percentage because we're paying you before the item has sold.

This is our standard consignment process. We will start accepting winter gear July 21, 2026. For small drop offs, you will not need an appointment. I'll set up some open hours for when I'm there for review - but otherwise, I'll take small boutiique items anytime without an appointment. 

But if you have a lot of items, I ask that you do book an appointment so that we can slot out the time to dedicate to your items and the space. Space is truly our biggest struggle. If you have a unique brand or item, an appointment might also be a great chance to chat with Bailey about the product, the pricing of the product, and the like. 

there is a need for play condition snow gear, if it's stained but still functional bring it in and tell us the story. Many families need multiple sets for childcare, family, or the like and finding a second unit for the season is a must. 

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What winter gear actually sold for last season

These are real selling prices from Nest & Sprout between August 2025 and February 2026 — not estimates, not aspirational numbers. What things actually sold for.

Snowsuits

Preloved kids snowsuits are the hardest to find.  They're high-need, hard to find in good condition, and parents are willing to pay for a brand they trust. Many snowsuits are worth at least $200-400 new. 

 

What makes the difference in price: condition is everything. A MEC snowsuit in great shape sells for significantly more than the same suit with worn cuffs or pilling

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Jackets and Coats

Preloved kids Jackets have the widest price range of any category because they range from "a Columbia puffy that looks brand new" to "a George zip-up that's had two winters." Jackets are also something that just seem to sit until they find the right person. And in winter we have a variety of coats come through the doors from dress jackets to puffy to full on ski/snow.

Down versus synthetic is another reason for some of the massive variability in jackets.

One thing worth knowing: fleece jackets from any brand top out around $15–$20 a piece. 

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Winter Boots

Preloved Kids Winter Boots move well when they're from a brand people recognize and trust. Sorel and Bogs in particular have a loyal following in Prince George — parents know them and seek them out. For the unbranded boots, we price them at a standard $5-10. 

Boots wear visibly — soles, lining, toe scuffs. The condition call is usually pretty clear on footwear. This year we are going to step up our game and do more water testing on play condition boots. 

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Stonz, Booties, and Mittens

Stonz is worth its own mention. Booties, liners, and mittens from Stonz consistently sell in the $13–$40 range — strong for the category. We sold 32 Stonz items last season at an average of $20 each. If you have Stonz gear, bring it.

CaliKids, Kombi, and Kamik mittens typically sell in the $5–$15 range. Jan & Jul mittens and booties land around $10–$22 depending on condition.

Truthfully, we never have enough secondhand kids mittens/gloves - and often way to many toques. 

 

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What affects your payout most

• Brand. Premium brands (MEC, Columbia, The North Face, Patagonia, Reima, Jan & Jul, Villervalla, Stonz) sell for significantly more. A MEC snowsuit earns you 3–4x what a George snowsuit does.
• Condition. We use condition tiers — Great, Good, Fair, Play — and price accordingly. Great condition items earn noticeably more than fair condition items from the same brand. Pilling, staining, broken zippers, and worn cuffs all affect the tier.
  • we do have tools to help you repair jackets where needed, and can work together to bring things back to life
• Season timing. Winter gear sells best August through January. Items brought in late in the season may carry over to the following fall, which delays your payout on consignment.
  •  In general, most of winter buying is done after the first dip in temperature below -15C. After that, most items are for random growth spurts, town visitors and preparing for the next year
• Completeness. Snow sets with matching jacket and pants sell better than orphaned pieces. Boots with liners intact sell better than boots missing them.

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What we don't accept

Being transparent about pricing also means being transparent about what doesn't come in. We don't accept:

• Items with staining, heavy pilling, broken hardware, or significant wear

• No-name and fast fashion basics (Shein, Temu, unmarked brands)

• Items that are out of season for intake (summer clothing in winter, etc.)

• Snowsuits or jackets with non-functional zippers or velcro

This isn't gatekeeping for its own sake. It's what keeps the shop working for everyone — including you. If we only carry items that sell, the whole system moves faster and pays out more consistently.

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How to get the most from your consignment

A few things that make a real difference:

• Wash everything. Fresh-smelling, visibly clean items price higher. Items that arrive clean skip a step and go out faster.
• Check the zippers. One stuck zipper can drop an item a full condition tier. A minute of zipper wax before you bring it in is worth it.
• Be realistic about condition. We price to sell — not to hold. An item priced too high sits. An item priced right moves and puts money in your pocket.
  

And at the end of the day, we put the other 60-70% towards operating the store including marketing, staffing, leases, and having a place to buy & sell gear without running around town doing the marketplace thing. Yes, you can make more selling yourself - but you will have to find the right buyer locally. 

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Ready to bring something in?

Consignment intake at Nest & Sprout is by appointment for most items. You can book your intake appointment here or reach us at @Nestandsprout.ca on socials. 

Walk-in intake is available for small handfuls of winter, rain, and midseason gear starting July 21, 2026 — no appointment needed for those.

Have questions about whether something is worth bringing in? Send us a message. We'd rather you ask than make a trip for nothing.

Nest & Sprout is a locally owned children's consignment boutique in College Heights, Prince George, BC. We carry new and preloved kids' clothing and gear from newborn through size 16.