As I'm getting older, and now that I've become a mother, I've done a lot of second takes when purchasing items. Especially when it comes to clothing. I haven't bought myself new clothing in a while. I've still got stuff from high school sitting in my closet!
Each time I see new clothing, I think "Do I need this? Why am I buying this? Am I actually going to wear this more than once?" I used to pick up clothing and go "yuuuup" and that was it. Now I think a lot more. More often than not, I put the item back where I found it, and walk away.
I'd rather go thrifting and find clothes that have been worn in and become comfortable, rather than stiff, fast fashion.
Fast fashion has made textile the leading pollutant in the world.
Why Did I Start This Business?
Let's go back to 2019 when I had Maisy. I took the extended maternity leave, which is 33% of average insurable weekly earnings compared to the 12 month which is 55%. It's a very big pay cut. Fortunately, at the time I was working with the hospital, and they topped me up for about 18-20 weeks if I can remember correctly.
When I was done my maternity leave with Maisy, I only went back to work for 7 months because I got pregnant with Harrison. Fast forward to July 2021, I opted to take the extended maternity leave again... this time, I didn't get a top up.
So, if you're a parent on maternity/paternity leave... you know that you don't make much money at all. Even though, being a parent is a full-time job, way harder than your regular job (IMO) and you get paid peanuts.
I started this business because I know how hard it is to afford clothing for your children. I was tired of driving all over the county to buy garbage bags of pre-loved clothing. Half the time some/most of the clothes we weren't able to use, either because the sizing didn't work, they weren't great quality, or it just wasn't our taste. No one's fault really. And, driving out of town to go over 45 kms was not always in the equation!
While I was pregnant with Harrison, I knew I had to do this. I started writing the business plan in the early months of 2021. I started taking courses and learning where to begin.
It's been a lengthy process, with bumps and hiccups along the way. But it's been a wonderful decision.
The Sweet Pea Shop has been so well received in the community, and I hope more people hear about this quaint little store I've created. All I want is to provide happiness, convenience and ease for parents while shopping for their kids clothing and gear.
How can we help be sustainable?
Purchasing secondhand is a great way to shop for clothing, especially when it comes to children's clothing. Our kids grow so quickly and sometimes use clothing so little that we need somewhere to purchase pre-loved clothing locally. There are limited options in the area, and sometimes driving all around town to buy clothing in bulk from a bag is just too much work.
Help us help you give items new life and save them from landfills. Plus, save money and make money while doing so!
We are here to provide ease and value to parents in the community. We want to ensure there is a local, easy and affordable way to shop and sell gently used clothing and gear for a wide variety of ages all in one location.
Consignment is a partnership between you and us. We would love to give you the ease of selling your preloved items in one location and having you earn a percentage of the sales.
Let us take the stress off of you. Start Consigning With Us Today!