From One Mom to Another: Carly’s Toy-Swapping Story

by Mom It Forward on December 15th, 2010 | No Comments »

Once upon a time, there were three young, smart, bright-eyed entrepreneurs who had an idea, an idea that would revolutionize the world, or at least the world of mens' and womens' shirts. They named their idea thredUP.com, and it was good. People liked it because they could save money on clothing by swapping shirts or clothes they didn't like with others. But they wanted to swap their kids' clothes too, because they had lots of clothes and wanted to save money on kids clothing too by swapping. So the three young men decided to focus thredUP just on kids' clothing. Then the holiday season came on, and people wanted to include toy swaps as well. So the thredUP Holiday Toy Swap began.

But this is not just their story, for what story of children's toys and innovation is complete without a mother? This is the story of Carly Fauth, a mother of one gorgeous baby boy, and how she makes a difference by acting as thredUP's "Chief Mom." Says she about thredUP and parenting: "thredUP has definitely influenced my parenting. To be honest, I never really bought into the whole "hand me down" thing. It was too much of a hassle. It was easier to just buy new. But, thredUP has opened my eyes to how important it is to reuse and recycle. It not only makes me feel like I'm doing my part to look out for the environment, it has also saved a ton of money! It sets a great example for my son as well."

What is the Holiday Toy Swap? It is a means by which people can exchange boxes of slightly-used toys super-cheaply and all from home. First, one visits thredUP and browses boxes of toys by age and gender. One picks a box to receive and pays $5 plus shipping. The box is sent to their door. Then, that person lists boxes of their own children's gently used toys on thredUP. When another mom picks their box, they send it for free. thredUP mails them the empty boxes, schedules pick-up, and generates the shipping label. As Carly says, "it's a great way for parents to save some cash and...sanity, since everything is done from the comfort of...their own home!"

Carly's story includes a passion for telling other moms about this recycling opportunity, as well as years of involvement in social media, a marriage to her "best friend," a love of fashion and food, and a love of parenting. "Motherhood completes me," she says. "It softens my edges. It's probably the hardest thing I have ever done, but it's definitely the most rewarding," she says. She looks forward not only to the growth of her child, as we do to ours, but also to the growth of thredUP. "In five years, I hope thredUP is the #1 online community that parents turn to when they want to swap not only [toys], clothing, and other items, but ideas and advice as well! It would be great to see the Toy Swap not just an annual event, but a permanent part of the thredUP experience." Kids love play time, and using a variety of toys will help them improve their skills.