I live in Miami but come from the UK.
In the UK we have a lot of “charity stores“
where people donate used clothing and furniture and books and stuff. It’s wealthy folk who tend to drop off stuff thats good quality and fairly new but they don’t have interest in selling themselves. imagine like a 3 year old Hugo Boss suit or a $1200 stroller that’s now worth $200, or a baby changing center or a inherited side table thats antique but not rare, or say a 10’year old set of once expensive golf clubs or kids books for $1 each
These stores sell items for $1-$200 generally at like 1/5th the cost new , so a lot of normal people shop in them.
Ifs a long way from Goodwill stores ( sad and depressing junk) or the Real Real ( luxury consignment ) , it’s almost perfectly in the middle. they are shopped in by middle to upper class, often looking for quality but also to recycle stuff and feel better about consumerism
Do such stores exist in Miami? or even the US en large ? I’d love to donate used stuff but also to buy good stuff at a sensible price
Try This &That in Coconut Grove - it's a nicely curated thrift run by volunteers and it supports programs for those in need.
I second this! Lots of kid stuff there too.
The wealthy people I know donate their high valued used clothing items and accessories to their cleaning people and they have a donation company come to collect bulky furniture. My aunt, for example, has a cleaning lady who has been coming daily for years. My whole family gives all of our donations to her because she sends the clothing to her family in Central America and her husband repairs broken electronics and refurbishes furniture to resell.
I would rather give her my old Coach purses than donate them to Good Will. The problem with Good Will type stores is that high end items get sold quickly because there are people who visit those stores daily to buy and resell on Ebay and other sites.
And the reality is that you’re in Miami where people hustle and scheme, two traits that are even more prevalent now that the country is facing an economic crisis. That mythical $300 Boss toddler suit was on a Good Will rack for one minute before it was scooped up and put on Ebay for $600. And it was a probably a fake from the Swap Shop.
Your best bet for gently used baby and children items will be Facebook Marketplace and other local social media groups, as well as speaking to other parents. Join a play group and talk to the parents. Many will gladly give away items their kids have outgrown, especially if they’re not planning on having any more children.
So true.
This is super insightful. Thank you. Wealthy folk in the UK don’t have staff in the same way.
Yeah we gave away most if not all of our baby stuff to our nanny, who also had a young child of her own. And I'm talking about like big ticket items from Nuna, Bugaboo, Stokke etc. I know she will actually use it instead of someone going to goodwill and trying to do a quick Ebay flip
Interesting. Would you have taken it to a for profit small business that would have paid you $100 for a Doona they sell for $250? And for similar rates for a whole bag of nice things. I’m guessing probably not.
Probably not because I can get a tax write off for a donation to a nonprofit. If it’s worth a lot I’ll just use Facebook marketplace and have the person pick up.
Maybe try Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace? Nextdoor has a lot of free stuff that people just don't want to haul to the donation places. I think salvation army also sells via eBay if I am not mistaken.
There's probably Facebook groups for moms donating stuff they no longer use, but I don't know what kind of Brand name items you are looking for.
If not used look for outlet stores like dolphin mall or sawgrass.
I know you said Not Goodwill but the calle ocho Goodwill receives merchandise from Brickellites, Grovers, Gablefolk, even South Miamians. Great finds await there. And the Hialeah Gardens Goodwill gets awesome furniture from the viejitos in Hialeah and Hialeah gardens. Solid, high quality pieces with decades of care.
I honestly don’t know of a specific store in Miami for used higher end goods. When shopping my baby I mostly used FB marketplace for brand name stuff and it was all cheap and good quality. Or there are websites like Depop, Poshmark, or ThredUp for thrifted brand name items/clothes as well. Also keep an eye out for the FB Buy Nothing group for free stuff I’ve seen people offer some pretty good quality baby stuff
Not really, rents are high here. the children’s exchange in south Miami is the closest, but you seem to not be interested in consignment store. Your best bet is OfferUp, fb marketplace and garage sales.
this consignment sale is amazing. 2x a year. Boca and Palm beach. I haven’t found any in Miami proper
here is another link
British ex pat here… been in Miami for 22 years. Sadly we don’t have this set up here. It’s nothing like the UK with well known charity thrift stores on every high street. Perhaps Salvation Army might have some of what you’re looking for.
I was wondering mostly because I wondered if there was a small business idea in it. Not really to make lots of money , more just because it seems like something that’s useful for buyers and sellers and the planet.
The moment you start a business you go bankrupt before the paperwork starts, we tried flea markers free every Sunday till the PD and city shows up because they don't like what you are doing. Then they harass you and file for stupid complaints.
Trust me, been there done that. Instead of bankrupt I walked, I mean RAN far away from Miami,The city of Miami, you know better known as Havana Mainland operated and run by the elected Cuban Mafia I think 75% which works in the city is Cuban.
Miami Beach is nice but NOT affordable at all.
Going further up north like MetroDade or non Dade it's easier Miami wants you to buy a permit to have tax collection Local Business Tax Permit Building permit Occupancy use (Fire department) All that alone will cost you ~$2500 And try finding some affordable buildings, the last one were the old buildings on 5th avenue all taken down in Wynward. Of the ones on 36th going to airport all gone.
All for that flashy bullshit, but still a bunch of crackheads on each corner.
Nobody gives a fuck about the planet that's a farce.
They vote protest green. Litter their cigarettes on the pavement... And the list goes on.
Maybe I’m well off and well connected ? People don’t give a fuck about the planet but they like getting a $1200 stroller for $400 , and people with a $1200 stroller are happy to dump off 5 things and get $500 to spend on dinner that night
I haven’t lived in Miami in a while so I might be a bit off about this but I don’t think so. My family and I just used to drive around to goodwills in well off areas. I think you just have to get lucky.
My mom really liked the goodwill in pinecrest I believe it’s on Dixie hwy..?
But they don’t have any that are branded / positioned in such a way that more folk would be tempted to frequent ?
Yeah true, it is a goodwill at the end of the day. I see that another commenter recommended a thrift store in coconut grove. I’d check that out if you haven’t already that sounds like it would be what you’re looking for.
And when goodwill has something really good it either goes the same day or they save it for their website. So maybe check the web frequently.
The Children’s Exchange is a “high end” kids consignment shop. There’s a lot of items on the level of Janie and Jack and Crew Cuts, but I’ve also found some Stella McCartney and the like there.
For furniture, I’ve had good luck on Facebook Marketplace.
I lucked out that many of my coworkers had children or are having children so we give each other used items. I also happen to be in a group chat with alumni’s from my highschool and elementary and they also offer baby supplies they’ve used and want to hand over to new moms. I think being part of communities or groups helps
Here we call them consignment shops. There aren’t a lot in Miami but for nice baby/children stuff there is the Children’s Place in South Miami
This is not a consignment store. That’s a store that doesn’t own the inventory it sells , and only sells stuff for fairly high asking prices in order for it to make sense as a biz model
In that case what you’re looking for does not exist in Miami, nor in most of the US. Generally, if someone is donating they will just do goodwill Salvation Army. If they want to make money the do consignment. Theres not a middle ground of donating but to a higher end place.
It’s interesting because this middle ground in the uk is about 10% of retail doors in many UK cities and towns.
Maybe you should open one up?
I’m sorry, I may be missing something, but how do these stores in the UK differ from thrift shops? Is it because the entire inventory that is sold in these stores are high-end gently used items? Or because there is a focus on furniture and children’s items? Just trying to understand; I’m all for reducing waste!
I will say that as far as bassinets, cribs, baby loungers, and other sleep-related furnishings, there seems to be a liability issue with those, I feel like places are less likely to accept them, maybe because of the rare occurrence of SIDS.
Not super helpful because i don’t remember the name but there is a child re-sale store across from the target in coral gables. On Ponce de Leon blvd….
Check out the Church Mouse. You’re welcome!
You can find your higher quality clothes on FN Market