Published 7/28/2025
Upcycle Project
PORT HURON-What do you do with that expensive stroller once the kids get too big for it? How about that expensive snowsuit that your baby only wore twice? Two local moms came up with a creative solution for dealing with outgrown clothing and gear in a responsible and fun way that can put a few dollars back in parents’ pockets. Kind Kids is a Blue Water Area-based consignment project aimed at upcycling children’s clothing and gear while also creating a network of parents and caregivers who value community and responsible use of resources.
Two Moms with an Idea
Kind Kids started when two local moms, Claire Huntoon and Marleigh Dell, reconnected after being childhood friends. The pair ran into each other at a story time at the Main Branch of the St. Clair County Library System, and continued their friendship by meeting up at the YMCA of the Blue Water Area. While their children were at the Child Watch, the moms exercised and got to talking, as moms do. They came up with the idea for Kind Kids while working out, and quickly turned their idea into reality with the launch of their business.
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Huntoon credits Dell, who owns MJ Bakes, as a natural entrepreneur. Dell shared her idea for a consignment model, and Huntoon was on board. The idea is a little different from traditional consignment shops and mom-to-mom sales. The business model uses short-term use of spaces for pop-up shops. The sellers have options for their level of involvement, and they don’t have to be at the event to sell their items.
Sentimental Attachment
Sometimes it’s hard to say goodbye to those tiny little outfits that your baby looked so adorable in, or those toys that were so cherished but now sit at the bottom of the toybox. It’s easier to just keep the memories and say goodbye to the actual things when you know that they are going to someone else who will make new memories with them. Making some money with the consigned items makes it easier to part with them, as well.
Huntoon said that when she was sorting through her own pile of things to sell, she got a little emotional. She said, “Our kids’ tiny belongings carry little memories, smells, laughs, or tears because memories are attached to things sometimes, and it helps bring them to mind. I love the idea that those items can be used again by another family!”
More than Money
While there is certainly money changing hands with buying and selling, part of the motivation behind the venture is to make parenting affordable, sustainable, and community-centered, according to Claire Huntoon. She said that the pop-up sale “provides a space where families can upcycle children’s clothing and gear – reducing waste, saving money, and passing on kindness. Our goal is to make a positive impact on the planet, support growing families, and foster a culture of kindness and generosity through every resale.”
Everything parents do teaches their children something about their values. Huntoon and Dell hope that “by reusing children’s clothing and gear, they reduce landfill waste, support family budgets, and teach the next generation to value kindness, sharing, and togetherness.”
How to Get Involved
Huntoon said, “We encourage the parents who participate in our sale to prioritize items to sell that they would like to buy for themselves from their collection of outgrown clothing, toys, and kids’ gear.” Items should be in good condition. She said the consignment model allows people to participate in the process by pricing, tagging, and selling their clothing while earning up to 70% of their sales total. Huntoon said that consignors do not need to be present at the sale to participate; they can come shop and collect their earnings at the end, and consignors will have access to our inventory system and the work needed to sell is quite simple once you log in. To take a look, go to https://www.mysalemanager.net/reg_mobnewconsignor.aspx.
Unsold Items Can be Donated to KIDS in Distress
Consignors have the option of taking back any unsold items or letting them go to be donated to Kids in Distress, a local non-profit that provides clothing and resources to kids in need.
First Pop-Up August 21-23 in Downtown Port Huron
The first Kind Kids Pop-Up Sale will be August 21-23 at Blue Water Allies at 1519 Military Street. Thursday, August 21st, is a presale for volunteers who help with the set-up of the sale. Friday, August 22nd, is the full-day public sale, and Saturday, August 23rd, is a half-day, half-price sale. Sign up by August 15th to consign items. More information can be found at Kind Kids’ Facebook page or Instagram page.
Story by Jennie McClelland for BlueWaterParent.com
