Owning a consignment shop is more than just a way to make money for Mahomet resident Reagan Merkle-Litteken, owner of All Things Kids, Inc.
When Merkle-Litteken began the at-home consignment process in her home, she sold her children’s gently used clothes through Ebay or Craigslist so she would not have to send her two young children to daycare. As friends began to see her success, they asked her to sell their items on the internet, too.
With 33 consignors in August 2008, Merkle-Litteken decided to relocate the business from her living room to a storage unit, owned by her father, along Staley Road. Within the next year, All Things Kids grew from two employees to ten, serving 1,000 consignors. In 2010, they relocated to the current location at 2710 N Mattis Ave in Champaign.
“I never dreamed in a million years there would be this much work, manpower and business coming through us,” Merkle-Litteken said. “I remember buying a computer system, thinking, I really hope we can be in business for at least six months to pay it off.”
All Things Kids employee Kelly Nykaza said Merkle-Litteken’s personality continues to drive the success of the consignment business.
“She was the difference,” Nykaza said. “She’s so friendly, outgoing and willing to help people. She’s willing to make things convenient for (customers).”
As Merkle-Litteken developed her business, she wanted to keep her client’s needs in mind.
When parents did not have time to drop a bag of consignment items off in Champaign, needed help dressing children for a funeral, or if a mom had a new baby and toddlers at home, she made sure the All Things Kids team was available to deliver clothes.
The affable staff also shows care towards each other as they help each other through hard times.
“Once you’re on the All Things Kids staff, you’re a part of our family,” Merkle-Litteken said.
Although Litteken’s kids are now seven and 10, she has felt spoiled being able to find quality products in her store, other consignment shops and at garage sales over the years. Through All Things Kids, Merkle-Litteken is able to offer quality preemie boys and girls clothing up to size 12 in boys and size 2 for junior girls.
All Things Kids stocks clothes for all seasons throughout the year.
“I want to be the consignment shop where you don’t have to turn it in the light to see if there is a stain on it,” she said. “I want you to know you can go out there, and it’s good. When people check out with a whole bag, and it’s just $30, that makes me feel good. You know it would be at least three or four times that in a real store. People can afford to buy for two or three kids.”
All Things Kids also offers all sizes of maternity clothing, toys and strollers.
Consignors can bring 30 of their best items with no holes, tears or rips to All Things Kids for resale. The staff prices the items at approximately one-fourth of the new price. Toys must have all the parts and batteries to be accepted. Toys go through a recall check before being accepted.
All sales are split 50/50 between the consignor and All Things Kids. Credit can be used towards purchases at All Things Kids or redeemed in cash.
While helping community members save money is important to Merkle-Litteken, being able to donate items to local organizations has also been very rewarding. All Things Kids fills requests for gently used clothing from school social workers or teachers, Restoration Urban Ministries, the Center for Women in Transition and the NeoNatal Intensive Care Units at local hospitals.
“If we would still put it on our kids, we donate it,” she said. “You come across a pair of shoes, and think it they were washed, they’d be fine. Then a child has a pair of tennis shoes.”
To learn more about All Things Kids, visit them on North Mattis Street. Mention this article in the Mahomet Daily to get 20 percent off your next purchase.
