Bumps & Babies Fair This Weekend

Amy Bright is taking her skills to the moms.

Bright, a Duvall native and the owner of Amy Bright Photography, is one of 11 vendors at this weekend’s Bumps & Babies Fair at the Bitter Lake Community Center Annex in Seattle, a giant consignment sale featuring 7,500 items – and counting.

To its organizers, the sale provides one-stop shopping for anyone in need of gently used baby and kids clothes from newborn to size 10, toys, books, gear including strollers and high chairs, and maternity items.

Expect Bright to be selling all of the above – she has four growing kids: a 4-year-old daughter and 1-year old triplets.

“And nearly everyone at the sale either has children or is expecting,” she said.

Organizer Michelle Simpson, a Shoreline native who now lives in Seattle, agreed.

 “Anyone with small children, or anyone who is looking for great deals, will find something at the Bumps & Babies Fair,” she said. “There is something for everything, really.”

Simpson said that one thing that sets the Bumps & Babies Fair apart from other sales is that it is actually in Seattle. Other large sales are held throughout the year in Issaquah, Renton and Puyallup.

Because of that, the sale draws consigners – and shoppers – from all over the region.

“I think that once you start shopping at this kind of event, it’s almost hard to stop,” Simpson said. “People seek out any sale that is even remotely in their area and want to attend, so they can all draw from well outside their own area.”

There will also be 11 vendors offering everything from custom photography to homemade knit hats and waterproof stroller blankets. It is a unique and welcomed opportunity for them to display their work in person, instead of on a website or Etsy storefront.

Because Bright specializes in family photography, she is excited for the chance to network this weekend – and potentially gain some new customers.

“Memories fade, but photography reminds us,” she said simply. “We can buy things all day long, but none of those items is as special to us as a picture."

Among her favorite local places to shoot are the Hollywood Schoolhouse, the Skate Park Graffiti Wall, McCormick Park and along Main Street in Duvall.

“I like to tell a story of who my clients are,” she said. “I consult with them and find their true soul. Woodinville has a place to showcase just about every personality.”

Another unique aspect of the Bumps & Babies Fair is that consigners earn at least 70 percent of their sales – and can make up to 80 percent by volunteering during the event. That, in turn, creates a mutually beneficial experience, Simpson said.

 “You can find such a huge selection – and generally at much cheaper prices than the typical consignment shops,” she said. “Consigners are often motivated as much by the opportunity to clean out their house as they are by making money, so the prices tend to be pretty unbeatable.”

While the winter event was a learning experience – one of those lessons being that space heaters were necessary not to freeze inside the annex – Simpson deemed it a success. More than half of the 6,000 items sold, and 1,000 were donated on behalf of the consignors to Wellspring Family Services and Treehouse after the sale.

Simpson definitely is a fan of consignment sales – she has purchased most of her 2-year-old daughter’s extensive wardrobe from similar sales.

“And at the winter sale, I purchased about 50 items for just about $100,” she said. “You can’t beat that!”

Public sale hours are 5-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The annex is located at 13040 Greenwood Avenue North.

For those planning to attend, here’s a quick primer on what to expect: 
* All sales are final
* Sales tax will be applied
* Cash is preferred, but all major credit cards are accepted
* Bring shopping bags or even a laundry basket to carry your goodies
* Children are welcome, but not recommended due to crowds
* If you purchase a large item, such as a crib, be prepared to disassemble and move it yourself