Children's Orchard Has Branched Out

Nice resale outlet, now with 2 locations, also has new items

TUCSON, AZ (Friday, April 09, 2004) - Talk about going the extra mile for your customers.
After Robert and Pat Kittrell opened a Children's Orchard children's resale store on the Northwest Side 2 1/2 years ago, people - politely - commented on the long trek to get there.
"We had a nice cadre of East Side shoppers," said Pat, a former pediatric nurse. "They'd say how they packed an overnight bag to come up and see me."
So the Kittrells searched for a spot on the East Side. The new store, just west of Park Place mall, opened on Feb. 7. Still, since merchandise does differ at the stores, some people go back and forth.
"We're finding a lot of our customers shopping both stores," Pat said one morning at the new location. "I've had customers describe it as much as a treasure hunt as a shopping experience."
Children's Orchard, which has stores across the country, offers new and used toys, games and clothing - like new swimsuits with built-in flotation devices - for kids from preemies to size 16. Big names like Guess and Gap line the racks.
Search through the clothes and it's hard to tell which ones are new and which are used, especially since some items still have the original tags attached. A pinkish-purple girl's top with floral, lace cap sleeves has its original $20 price tag on it. Children's Orchard price: $9.99. A Sing & Snore Ernie, in the original box and apparently never opened, goes for $11.99.
"Being part of a franchise, we have high standards and accountability," Robert said.
"It's amazing how many things are in pristine condition," Pat said.
Of course, the Kittrells won't accept anything less. Items the store doesn't buy can be donated to Casa de los Niños, and customers receive a tax receipt, she said.
People can sell their gently used children's items - but no car seats - and receive cash or store credit.
The shop's popular with grandparents looking to stock up for visits from out-of-town grandkids and bargain-minded parents. Thirty percent of Children's Orchard wares are new items, such as the plastic bibs with a lip to catch food ($4.99) and one of the big sellers: the cushy seat cover that goes over germy shopping cart seats ($39.99).
Since the store is constantly buying things, "every day is a new day," Pat said.
"It's never the same store twice."

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