Today we’d like to introduce you to Alayna West.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I first became interested in owning a consignment sale when my youngest was an infant. Babies are expensive and I realized that I could save a lot of money by buying gently-used clothes and toys for her. I shopped at several consignment sales and thought it was really great that someone had organized these types of events and thought that I could do it, too! I mentioned to my husband that I thought I could do something like that and I’m pretty sure he thought I was crazy (and probably still does)! However, he was very supportive and we decided to pursue it. We purchased our first Here We Grow Again franchise in 2019 and just purchased a second! It is amazing to be connecting local families with the things they need at reasonable prices. Not only does it allow families to sell their kids’ outgrown kids’ items, other local families can purchase what they need!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We were one week away from moving into our space for our second sale in spring 2021 when Covid hit. We had to cancel everything. We were devastated. Not only were we out a lot of money, I had a basement full of other people’s items from our express tagging service. So we pivoted to an online sale and sold a lot of our express items that way.
A more general challenge is just being a business owner myself. I was used to having someone “above” me to ask questions to or take care of a customer complaint. Being the person who has to answer tough questions and deal with problems has been difficult for me, but I’m learning to be tougher and stick to my guns even if someone has something negative to say about it. I’m always trying to do what’s best for the future of our business!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Here We Grow Again is a seasonal pop-up children’s consignment sale. We typically hold two seasonal sales a year– a spring/summer event and a fall/winter event. At our events, hundreds of local families sell their children’s outgrown clothing, toys, shoes, books, and more. Anything you need for your kids, we have. Our events provide local families with a way to sell their items without having to meet up with strangers or hold a garage sale. Then, other families can shop gently-used items at up to 90% off retail! It is a win-win situation for both our sellers and shoppers! Our sales would not be possible without the help of our Team Members. Our Team Members are usually moms (although the dads help with the heavy lifting, too!) and they earn $20 in shopping credit for each 3-hour shift they work. They also get to shop the sale before everyone else to get all the best stuff! It’s a great way to get out of the house for a bit and get some much needed adult interaction!
Here We Grow Again is known for very organized events with the best prices in town. Our sellers earn up to 70% of total sales when they use our online tagging system and bring their items to the sale. If they are limited on time, we offer an express tagging service where we do all the work! Just drop off with us and we will price, tag, and take the items to the sale!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have a background in Occupational Therapy. I have a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management. I continue to work part-time at the Kansas City VA Medical Center while still running our business!
Pricing:
- Consignors earn up to 70% in sales
- Consignors who use our express tagging service earn up to 40% in sales
- Team Members earn $20 in shopping credit and shop first!
Contact Info:
- Email: olathe@herewegrowagain.com
- Website: www.herewegrowagain.com/sale/olathe
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herewegrowagainolathe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HereWeGrowAgainOlathe/
Image Credits:
Worth A 1000 Words My 3 Sons Photography
