Award-winning kids' sale event returns to Milford May 1 - 3

MILFORD – A children’s consignment sale event that was recently named the best such sale in two separate contests is returning to Milford bigger than ever the weekend of May 1 – 3.

The Next Size Up Kids’ Consignment Sale was named Best Consignment Sale in the Greater Boston area by voters at ConsignmentMommies.com, a national children’s consignment resource. The sale was also recently selected as the favorite sale of readers of a Marlborough-area parents’ newsletter, Macaroni Kid.

“We so appreciate these votes of confidence from our shoppers, consignors, volunteers and vendors,” said sale co-owner Tiffany Miller. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to run such successful events and to serve so many area families.”

Next Size Up has been operating sales in the spring and fall at the John Smith Sports Center in Milford for a number of years, after starting out in a smaller venue in Franklin. The biannual events enable area families to buy and sell children’s toys, clothing, baby gear, sports equipment, room décor and other items, and also gives local small businesses that cater to families a chance to connect with new customers. Since the events began in 2009, more than 1,000 area families have chosen to sell through Next Size Up.

The events also always benefit charities. For example, shoppers who bring at least two non-perishable food items for The Daily Bread Food Pantry to the half-price sale on Sunday, May 3, can get in 30 minutes before the official opening time. Consignors can also choose to donate their unsold items to Cradles to Crayons, a Boston charity that gives the items directly to families in need.

“Since our very first event, we have always made sure to include a strong charitable component,” said the sale’s other co-owner, Kristin Kane. “We always fill a car trunk with food for the pantry and fill a truck with toys and other items for Cradles to Crayons.”

Next Size Up is known for its emphasis on quality, using a team of volunteers to inspect every one of the items that comes into the sale. The sale event itself is a well-organized retail experience where goods are tagged and displayed by size, gender and interest.

The upcoming sale will be the biggest yet for Next Size Up with 250 consignors and well over 30,000 items for sale.

The spring sale will be open to the public with free admission 9 AM to 8 PM on Friday, May 1. More merchandise will be brought in before the sale opens again Saturday, May 2, 9 AM to 6 PM. Discount day is 10 AM to 2 PM Sunday, May 3, when many items will be marked 1/2 price. Anyone bringing at least two items for donation to the food pantry on Sunday can gain early admittance at 9:30 AM. Cash, Mastercard and VISA are accepted. Details at NextSizeUpKids.com.