The CCC Sale is held at the Oil Palace in Tyler twice a year, taking up nearly all of the 30,000 square feet of space. (Contributed Photo)

What started out as a small swap meet among parents has blown into one of the biggest consignment sales in the community.

Thanks to two stay-at-home moms, Laura Watson and Tess Murphy, the Children’s Clothing Consignment Sale — also known as CCC Sale — thousands of East Texas families have benefited from items at reduced prices.

“It’s East Texas families coming together to sell their stuff and thousands more… coming to buy things at a bargain,” Murphy said. “Then at the end, it all gets donated to local families and the dollars stay here. It feels like a win-win-win all the way around.”

It started in 2022 when Murphy’s daughter — then 9 years old — wanted a pair of Miss Me jeans, the mom knew she wouldn’t be able to afford the $60 price tag.

“We wanted our kids to be proud of what they wore,” Murphy said, “but we just couldn’t all afford some of the styles… and there really weren’t any consignment opportunities here in Tyler.”

According to Murphy, there was one place called the Nearly New Shop.

“It was mainly for older ladies like my mom and stuff like that… but they didn’t carry kids’ stuff,” she said. “We started talking and just came up with the idea of being like a big swap with our friends so that we could get some of those higher end clothes that our kids were going to grow out of really quickly.”

The idea took off and then grew every year.

“It’s become this really big, amazing community event where anyone who wants to participate can bring their items, sell them and keep 70 percent of the selling price,” Murphy said.

The remaining 30 percent goes to pay for the building, as well as marketing materials.

“If you sell or help with us, you get to come and shop the day before we open the doors,” Murphy said. “So, you get first shot at the things that are here.”

The semi-annual sale is held at the Oil Palace in Tyler during the spring and the fall season but it got its humble start at a former Knights of Columbus building on the Loop. Then for several years it was held at Harvey Hall until COVID and now it takes up 30,000 square feet of space at the Oil Palace.

“I love the fact that it’s homegrown,” Murphy said. “One of our little slogans is ‘by East Texas and for East Texas.’ Everything stays here. All the money stays here.”

People can buy items such as clothes, books, strollers, and toys at reduced prices anywhere from 50 to 90% off.

“For us, it’s really about stretching those dollars and giving some families opportunities to have access to things they may not have had before,” Murphy said.

On the last day of the sale, items go to half price to get rid as much as they possibly can. Whatever isn’t sold gets picked up by the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary.

“(The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary) makes sure to use these items locally,” Murphy said. “One of the organizations that they work really closely with — and we’ve gotten to partner with them as well — is the Fostering Collective. The Auxiliary really helps get those closets filled.”

According to the organizers, around 1,500 families have brought items to sell over the weekend. Once everything is set up and organized, nearly 40 women go through and inspect every single item to make sure they’re met with standards.

“We don’t ever promise that everything will be perfect,” Murphy said. “But as far as our business model, our goal is high quality at affordable prices and we work hard to maintain that high quality. And one of the things that we do is by inspecting all of the items.”

The CCC sale at the Oil Palace, located at 10408 Highway 64 East, kicks off on Thursday at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., then on Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be free parking and free admission.

“Just come on in,” Murphy said. “Bring your kids, bring your mom, bring your grandma, bring your van, bring your U-Haul… bring it all.”