When I was a new mom, the thought of a consignment sale made my heart race. I consider myself a savvy shopper but dusty tables piled with broken baby gear? Old clothes that had stains and rips in them? No. Thank. You.
The first time I came upon Rhea Lana’s of Chattanooga I expected the store to be a jumble of chaos to sort through. Imagine my surprise to find clean, sized, seasonally appropriate clothing. The toys were thoughtfully arranged into categories, and not simply jumbled into bins. I would come to find out that the staff of RL Chatt constantly sweeps the store during the sale; rearranging, resizing, and restaging items to help them look their best and for the best shopping experience possible. That’s great for shoppers AND consignors.
And in addition to feeling like I’m in a real store and not at a yard sale, RL Chatt is very picky about its offerings. Clothes need to be stain free, in great condition, and most are name brands! I know when I go in that I’ll find boutique brands like Kissy Kissy, Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines, as well as play clothes in fantastic condition.
One thing that I was not used to but have some to like is paying to shop early. Rhea Lana’s offers different levels of tickets to enter the sale early: Launch Party, Platinum Level, Gold Level and Silver Level tickets allow early entry and perks of their own. Why buy a ticket to shop? Well, obviously this gives you the best selection of items, and ticket numbers are controlled so the craziness is minimal.
Want another perk? Presale tickets are good for TWO adults to shop. Splitting the Launch Party ticket with a buddy gives you a friend to shop with, wine and snacks at the party, the best selection of gently used children’s goods, AND will only set you back $22.50 each (one Launch Party ticket is $45). Considering pre-sale shoppers have an average of $2500 over retail prices when they spend $500, this $22.50 is a drop in the bucket, my friends. To look at it another way, you’re saving an average of 80% off retail prices!
Ok, but do you really need clothes for your kids that badly?? Well, wouldn’t it be nice to find a new college football tee for them under $20? How about an extra pair of cleats (in the next size up) for that inevitable mid-season growth spurt? What about an extra ball cap because you know they’ll lose theirs on the bus?
And all those random school dress up days? RL Chatt’s got you! You’ll need crazy hair accessories, school appropriate Halloween costumes, Dr. Seuss themed outfits, spirit week outfits, 100th day of school outfit supplies, Christmas shirts, crazy socks…. Do I need to continue?
RL Chatt is so much more than clothes… think sports gear (helmets, bats, roller blades, helmets, etc.).
Think baby items such as highchairs, car seats & strollers, burp cloths and bottles, extra feeding utensils, plates and cups.
Think Halloween and play costumes for pennies on the dollar! Little Bobby doesn’t know if he wants to be Hulk or Captain America? Just grab them both because it’s still less than what you’d pay at Walmart.
Think kids motorized vehicles, playhouses, and bikes.
Think furniture- chairs, beds, cribs, bassinets, and toy storage.
Think books, toys, puzzles, and crafts to save for the holidays or special treats.
Expectant or New Moms are extra special to the RL Team and get to shop early for free by signing up at our website here. What’s the catch? There isn’t one! Being moms themselves, the owner of RL Chatt, Emily and her team know how overwhelming the arrival of a bundle of joy can be. Since the sale is a great place to grab extra bottles, burp cloths, swaddles and more, their hope is to make it a little easier to stock up on essentials. They’ve also got a big maternity clothing section, making it easy to literally outfit yourself.
There’s also a juniors and women’s section, with great, affordable options for you to treat yourself (or your teenager) with. Name brands like Lululemon, Seven for All Mankind, Halston and more are just waiting for you to add to your cart.
All in all, let’s just say the Rhea Lana’s of Chattanooga Fall Sale, should not be missed. Can you miss it? Sure. Are you going to pay for it (literally) but spending more than you need to (plus overnight shipping) on everything you and your family need this season? Yep. Consider yourself warned, mama.
See you at Rhea Lana’s!
Rhea Lana’s of Chattanooga
Presale Dates: October 20 – 21 (get your tickets here)
Sale Dates: (Open to the Public) October 22-26
5600 Brainerd Road #3
Chattanooga, TN 37411
(Former Convergys Building at Eastgate Mall)
