by Ardeana Hamlin
of The Weekly Staff
BANGOR — Green Puddle Jumpers, a consignment sales business established by Jenny Dunn and Kristen Preble in 2009, will hold its children’s consignment sales event Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25-26, at the Bangor Motor Inn Conference and Banquet Center on Hogan Road. The event will offer infants to preteen clothing, books, toys, bicycles, games, furniture and baby gear of all kinds. The goods are provided by consignors who receive a percentage of what they sell.
“Kristen and I had children and we had hardly worn clothing and gear. We decided to do this to help with our family income,” Dunn said. Preble, who is relocating to another area, recently left the business. The new partner in the enterprise is Tina Vanidestine of Brewer.
“I’ve been friends with Jenny and Kristen for years,” Vanidestine said. “Our husbands all work for the military. Jenny and I went to school together. I always helped with the sales since the beginning [of the business].”
“I had always wanted to have a boutique called Puddle Jumpers,” Dunn said of the impetus to start the business. “I added the word ‘green’ because it’s about recycling.”
Dunn said the sale was a success even in its first year. “It has definitely grown since then,” she said. She said there are 200 consignors on her books, though not all take part in the two events — spring-summer and fall-winter — Green Puddle Jumpers holds each year. “I never know how many will be there or what items we’ll have,” she said.
But one thing is certain, the sale has become a kind of treasure hunt for parents seeking economical ways to clothe and outfit their children. “A lot of the big stuff goes very quickly,” Dunn said.
For two days before the sale, Thursday and Friday, all items are sorted and organized into categories, and clothing is organized according to size. Items are priced and a card bearing the consignor’s name, the size, item description, including brand, color, numbers of pieces, etc., price and other information is affixed to each item. All items in the sale are gently used; clothing is clean, and toys and other equipment is in working order, Dunn said.
On Sunday, some consignors offer their items at half-price. At the end of the sale, some consignors opt to donate their unsold items to local small charities, such as those affiliated with churches, that assist local people in need.
“It’s a busy four days,” Dunn said.
But Dunn can always count on the support of her 9-year-old son, Aiden, who helps put things out on tables and who aspires to one day to be a cashier at the sale — as soon as his math skills are honed a bit, he said.
“I get to have a peek at everything,” he said. And sometimes he finds treasures, such as video games he likes.
Dunn said she is always accepting new consignors for her list. “They can go to greenpuddlejumpers@gmail.com or our Facebook page to sign up,” Dunn said. “It’s really easy.”
The Green Puddle Jumpers fall-winter consignment sales event will take place 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Bangor Motor Inn Banquet and Conference, 701 Hogan Road, in Bangor.