Lee’s Summit Mo consignment event prepares for its largest sale ever

Posted by jennW in Community, Featured, GSD Online, by Community Residents

Shoppers look for deals in the boys section during the Fall 2009 Sale

Though the weather’s still chilly, area families are preparing for the Just Between Friends spring/summer sales event February 11-15 at the Pavilion at John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit.
Coming off a year of tremendous growth and recognition as the JBF Franchise of the Year, the Lee’s Summit children’s and maternity consignment event is preparing to host its longest event ever, with five full days of shopping, including a new 25% off sale. The additional sale days will provide local families additional opportunities to shop and save on spring and summer clothing, equipment, toys and more.
“The fall sale was bigger than we could have imagined. The new location was great, the number of consignors was huge, and the selection was better than ever. But the growth came with some challenges—longer lines, sorting issues, late nights. So, this year, we are adding days, upping logistical support, and increasing the number of registers to make the spring sale the best event yet,” said Amber Weissenbach Post, JBF Lee’s Summit franchise owner.
The upcoming sales event will feature new and gently used children’s and maternity items, including spring and summer clothing, swimsuits, toys, books, furniture, baby equipment, software and electronics, and bicycles. Items are inspected to ensure a high standard of quality and to maintain the right balance of items available for purchase.
Post expects more than 600 consignors participating in the event. Consignors register for the sale online, and then prepare and price their own merchandise and make at least 65% of the selling price. A higher percentage can be earned by volunteering four or more hours at or before the sale. Post sees a high retention rate in volunteers, many of whom have participated at the sale for several years in a row.
“I have become addicted to the JBF sale,” said Heidi Moentmann, a returning consignor and volunteer. “The deals that I get from shopping JBF allow me to buy more items for my kids—items that I normally wouldn’t be able to purchase brand new.”

New and gently used clothing, toys, baby gear, homeschool materials, and more from over 600 consignors make the twice annual sale a great resource for families

The JBF consignment event is open to the public from Thursday February 11^th through Monday February 15^th. This year’s event will include 25% off and special holiday activities for the kids from 1-4pm on Sunday and a 50% off sale on Monday.
The sale also benefits three local charities with monetary donations from shoppers and unsold items donated by participating consignors. This year, three local non-profit organizations will receive donations from Just Between Friends: Mother’s Refuge, a residential care facility for teenage mothers; Midwest Foster Care; and Baby Grace, a mentoring program focused on meeting the needs of teen moms. In addition to donated items, $2,000 was donated to Midwest Foster Care from the spring 2009 sale.
As a foster parent herself, Moentmann feels strongly about JBF’s partnership with Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association.
“I love the fact that JBF donates their left over items to MFCAA. Foster parents are lucky to have resources like MFCAA that we can count on. Most of the time when we take on a new child, they often come to our home with nothing. A lot of things that people normally buy little-by-little, we are required to get all at once when that child comes into our home. MFCAA takes the donations they receive and help foster families provide for their foster children. It is a wonderful circle that helps many people and children,” Moentmann said.
Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc. is the largest children’s and maternity consignment event in the country. In 2009, the organization boasted a 38% increase in consignors (38,000+), a 23% increase in shoppers (260,000+), and is projecting national sales of $10.5 million, a $3.7 million increase from last year. JBF has been featured nationally on CNN, Good Morning America, CNBC’s “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” and ABC News. For more information about the Lee’s Summit Just Between Friends consignment sale, or to register to consign or volunteer at the spring sale, please contact Amber Weissenbach Post at amber@jbfsale.com or go to http://www.jbfsale.com/leessummit/.