Recycling in Style : County’s consignment stores give families a way to cash in on kids’ castoffs and replace them with flair at bargain prices.

Here we go again! Summer’s over, it’s back to school. Time to clean out the closets and drawers, get the kids ready for fall.

Oh look, those are the jeans your son wore three times before the big growth spurt. And there is that great two-piece outfit your daughter wore once before declaring she hated it. Aw, and the newborn-size Dior (from rich Aunt Mildred) that was too small for the baby when he was born.

OK, closets are clean and ready for the new wardrobe. Time to go shopping. Let’s see, $28 for jeans, $18 for a T-shirt, $14 for leggings--and we need three colors--plus sweaters, blouses, shirts, socks, underwear and the baby needs a jacket for $35?!

Is there any way out? Do you have to go bankrupt dressing your kids? Not necessarily, if you’re willing to spend a little time, drive a few miles, and carefully sort your rejects.

Ventura County is home to a number of children’s consignment stores. For those not familiar with the concept, consignment stores will take your stuff, sell it at a fraction of the original cost and give you a percentage of the sale. As a bonus, you may also find some great bargains in other kids’ outgrown or “I-just-won’t-wear-it-Mom!” rejects.

The consignment business is growing as California’s economy continues to limp along and the reduce-recycle-reuse concept gains popularity. Jenny Horst, owner of Kidz Stuff in Thousand Oaks, said, “We’re teaching recycling in school, why not teach the reuse of clothing, too?”

Each consignment store operates a little differently, but the basic concept is that you bring in clothing, furniture, toys or books and are assigned a client number. A price is determined for each item and is put out for sale. Prices are loosely based on original cost and the condition of the item.

After a predetermined “rack time,” the item is discounted. Some stores have rack times of two to three months, some rack times are seasonal. If your items sell, you get the agreed-upon percentage. If not, you may pick up your stuff or leave it for donation to charity.

“Everybody wins in consignment and I always check the consignment store first,” said Esther Benson, a client and customer of Children’s Consignment Co. in Simi Valley. Benson makes visits to the store about once a week, often taking her two sons. “If my boys earn a dollar, they want to go to “Linda’s” (Linda Westbay, owner of Children’s Consignment Co.), Benson said. “They know they can get a toy there for a dollar.”

Benson has had mostly good experiences in shopping consignment stores but warns potential customers or clients to get to know the store in which they are planning to shop.

“I know that Linda is very careful with what she puts out in the store. She even goes through the games to be sure all the pieces are there. But you have to be careful,” she said. “I recently bought a baby swing at a store where I don’t usually shop. I checked it at the store to be sure it worked. But when I got it home, I found it only worked on high.”

Each store has different standards governing what they will accept for consignment, but most will not accept stained or torn clothing. “If I wouldn’t put it on my kid, I won’t see it,” said Sonja Marotta, co-owner of Children’s Consignment Cottage in Simi Valley.

Most owners and customers see the consignment business as a service to the community.

“I like to give a good bargain as well as get one,” said Kaila Kaden, who owns Kids, Moms and More in Camarillo, and who recently received the Waste Watch Gold Award for the best reuse program in Camarillo.

To see just what kind of service the community is getting, we recently took a tour of children’s consignment stores in Ventura County. Most of these stores carry only children’s clothing, toys or furniture; a few carry other inventory.

In general, there is larger selection in the smaller sizes (six and below), than for older children, though we found many great deals for the elementary school set.

Anyone interested in becoming a regular consignment customer or client should seek answers to basic store policy questions: What merchandise does the store accept? When is it accepted? Is an appointment needed? What is the rack time policy?

The summary here reflects only what was seen on the day a store was visited. Merchandise changes frequently, so it is wise to make your own assessment.

CAMARILLO

* Kids, Moms & More

596 Mobil Ave., Suite I

987-2284

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Client list: about 450

Client percentage: 40% on clothing; 50% on other items.

Rack time: 60 days, with a 20% discount after 30 days.

Kids, Moms and More is a bright, clean and cheerfully decorated store with a wide assortment of merchandise.

The merchandise we found here was all in excellent condition and the prices were great. Some of the more notable bargains were a Baby Dior outfit at $12, Mickey Mouse rain slicker for $5, Patagonia pants for $8, Liz Clairborne girl’s blouse for $7, Baby Gap shirt for $4.

There were many other bargains in the “non-designer” categories, many below $10. There was an unusually large assortment of dresses.

Overall, this store was one of our favorites because of the variety, quality and pricing.

CAMARILLO

* Teddy’s Closet

2211 Ventura Blvd.

484-8373

Hours: Monday through Saturday . Summer: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Winter : 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Client list: 400

Client percentage: 40%

Rack time: 60 days, with markdown at 30 days

Teddy’s Closet is a small, well-stocked store with a good selection in all categories. Merchandise was in very good condition with some great bargains.

Of special note were a never-worn Guess skirt (with original tags) for $10, Esprit leggings for $2, Esprit dress for $4, Levi jacket for $5, Guilano boy’s suit for $15, Girl Scout outfit for $5, decorated girl’s denim jacket for $20.

MOORPARK

* Ritzy Rags Boutique

17 E. High St.

523-9090

Hours: Tueday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. , til 5 p.m. Saturday

Client list: 450

Client percentage: 40% on clothing; 50% for other merchandise

Rack time: three months, with 20% off after 30 days; sales every Friday and the first Saturday of the month.

Ritzy Rags is a large store, though not entirely devoted to children’s clothing. Condition of the merchandise varied from good to very good.

Among the more interesting items were two-runner ice skates ($10), Little Tykes turtle sandbox ($12), many rompers and sleepers at $1 to $2, karate outfits for $8 and $9, jackets from $8 to $9, one-piece ski suit for $12.50. Lots of merchandise in the $2 to $5 range.

SIMI VALLEY

* Children’s Consignment Co.

725 California Ave.

527-0120

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Client list: 600

Client percentage: 40% over $20; 50% under $20

Rack time: 90 days, with reductions at 30 and 60 days

A little off the beaten track, and a little crowded, Children’s Consignment Co. had some of the best bargains.

Clothes and other merchandise were in excellent condition and there was a good selection in all age groups. Some of the more interesting items were an I. Magnin faux mink coat (Size 2) for $15, a White Stag ski suit for $30, a Land’s End skirt for $4, Gitano jeans for $6, Gap shorts for $3.50, a Levi jacket for $10.

This is one of the best stores for combined quality and pricing.

* Consignment Cottage

SIMI VALLEY

2126 Winifred St.

520-7788

Hours: Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Client list: unknown

Client percentage: 40% for clothing; 50% for other merchandise

Rack time: not established

This new store (opened 11/93) is a little tough to find, but is clean, well-organized and has a great variety of high quality merchandise for all ages.

Of interest here was a genuine European buggy with lift-out bassinet for $150, Jessica McClintock dress ($19.95), Fisher-Price high chair for $28, three-piece girl’s outfit for $6.95, girls’ dress coats at $10 and $20, boy’s leather coat ($9.95), Little Tyke car ($25). The store also had a large selection of shoes, though most looked pretty “lived-in,” a half wall of blankets, a large assortment of jeans. Lots of infant clothes in the $1 to $2 range. The store donates 5% of profits to the Crisis Pregnancy Center.

SIMI VALLEY

* Kids’ Consignment Co.

1716 Erringer, Suite 102

527-2453

Hours: Seven days, 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Clients: 450

Client percentage: 50%

Rack time: 60 days, goes to sale rack after 30 days

This somewhat crowded store carries primarily clothes. The merchandise available is clean and in good repair, but does have a worn appearance.

The primary inventory here is clothes for play and warmer school weather. Little was found in dressy clothes or heavier school clothes.

Non-clothing items would benefit from a good cleaning.

SIMI VALLEY

Second Time Around

1662 Los Angeles Ave.

582-2490

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Client list: 3,000

Client percentage: 40% for clothes and shoes, 50%, if over $50

Rack time: unknown

Though there were some beautiful clothes in the window, the inside of this store had a definite thrift store look. Some furniture and supply items needed dusting or cleaning and a fair percentage of the clothing had a worn appearance.

On the plus side, the inventory was extensive in all age categories and there were many quality bargains to be found, especially in the smaller sizes.

THOUSAND OAKS

* Kidz Stuff

654 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

495-2711

Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Clients: 480

Client percentage: 40%

Rack time: for the season

There was a good selection of quality clothing in this store, even in the larger sizes. A Size 10 Jessica McClintock dress was offered for $40, boy’s Dockers for $4.29, a canopied Childcraft crib, mattress and all bedding for $300, a black cowboy hat for $13, and a half dozen pairs of skates.

Merchandise here is kept for the season. The summer season sale is late August. Fall and winter items are accepted after mid-August.

Kidz Stuff offers Crisis Pregnancy Center clients a 10% discount if they have decided to keep their babies. The same discount is offered to parents of foster children.

VENTURA

* From Crib to College

22 S. Catalina St.

648-6744

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Clients: 500

Client percentage: 50%

Rack time: 60 days, 50% discount after 30 days

From Crib to College was the clear all-round winner of our tour. The store is clean, bright and well-decorated. The furniture and toy items were all immaculate and the clothing was the best in overall quality and selection for all ages.

While first 30-day prices here are slightly higher, the overall value and quality of the clothing more than makes up for the price. The bargains are greatly increased by the 50% markdown after 30 days.

There were numerous items of special interest: a three piece dress-hat-purse ensemble for $20, a Mousefeathers dress for $30, several Oshkosh outfits as well as Gap, Gymboree, Little Me, Patagonia--many under $10. There were Weebok shoes, Gymboree shoes, Hush Puppies. And there was a Size 3 pageant dress with more beading then most wedding gowns for $60.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE

* Elephant’s Trunk

30859 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

(818) 707-1109

Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

Clients: 500

Client percentage: 50%

Rack time: 60 days, with reduction after three weeks

With high ceilings and plenty of light, the Elephant’s Trunk was another favorite on the tour. All clothing and merchandise were in excellent condition, with a nice variety in each size.

Notable items here were lots of like-new jeans, little-girl purses, a beautiful stroller for $60, pink suede Nordstrom shoes for $8, a gold sequined Jessica McClintock dress for $42, clothes from The Limited, Gap, Gymboree and a Bellini crib/junior bed for $300.