Popular market offers affordable kids' stuff

The Kids Market is packed with people keen to snap up a bargain.

It's 8.20am on a Sunday morning at Highlands Intermediate and mums and dads are lined up outside the hall with their children.

The doors fling open 10 minutes later and people walk into a room of jam-packed tables overflowing with kid-related stuff - carseats, toys, books, bedding, baby clothes, lego, blocks, shoes and gumboots.

By 9am the hall is buzzing and it's hard to move as pregnant women pick out newborn clothes, reusable nappies and linen and kids spend their pocket money on pick-up trucks, books and puzzles.

Clint and Ishani Walker (2) drove to New Plymouth from Hawera to go shopping at the Kids Market, left.

Everything is pre-loved and at bargain prices, with some items selling for as little as 50 cents. Mums hold bags packed with clothes and dads lug portacots, bikes, dolls houses and bassinets out to cars.

The popular and well-organised market was set up six years ago by sisters Trudi Neumann and Louise Godfrey as an affordable way for parents to buy and sell essential gear for their children.

It runs once a month between 8.30am and 11.30am and hosts more than 40 stalls, rain or shine.

Trudi is standing on the steps at the front of the hall taking photos of the scene below with a big smile on her face.

Sisters Trudi Neumann and Louise Godfrey have been running the Kids market for six years.

She says the market has grown immensely during the last six years and has a certain future because there will always be a need for affordable kids' stuff. She and Louise started up the market wanting to get rid of their own stuff.

During the initial markets, 20 of their friends had stalls and after holding three markets, they all realised there was a need for desperate need .

It has grown to include community organisations who set up stalls to fundraise as well as local groups which entertain. The stall fee goes to the school as a fundraiser, which means the event is a win-win for all.

Trudi says when the first markets were held people attending would bring along $20, but these days they may bring up to $100, with many having saved up the money over the month. She says there is a huge need for the market in the community and those who benefit are grateful for its existence.

New Plymouth's Philippa Gray hopes to sell gear used by her three children during the Kids Market.

"There was a lady who had $100 and got around $500 of clothes and toys at the market. She is on a benefit with three kids. If it wasn't for this market she wouldn't know how to cope."

Stories like this are the reason why she feels passion for the market and what it gives back.

"It's a passion for us and when we see so many people benefit from it. It's quite a lot of work but we are driven. It's a real buzz.

"It's a huge effort for us but look at what we get out of it - it's a win, win for all."

Louise says the market has evolved over the years into an incredible community event.

"We never envisioned we would be doing it six years later - it supports the community in lots of different ways."

The event is also a social occasion for many who gather around for a chat after buying a coffee and some homemade biscuits the Waitara Playcentre stall.

Among the market-goers is Clint Walker, who drives up from Hawera to attend the market every month.

He buys virtually everything he needs for his kids at the market - from carseats to clothes and toys. He says he is impressed by quality of the gear for sale and the extremely low prices. He has three children aged two, three and 13 and usually goes home with about four or five bags, having spent around $40.

"It's a such a bargain and a lot of the clothes are really good quality and kids just grow so fast."

He says the organisers do an incredible job and he is grateful for their hard work.

The market is diversifying and next month will host a Walk in Wardrobe event on November 26. The pre-loved market will cater for teens and woman's quality clothing, shoes, jewellery and accessories and will host 30 stallholders with a range of sizes. The next Kids' Market is being held on November 12.

A Christmas market will be held on December 10 which will have a variety of new product stalls outside on the court area as well. Stalls cost $20. To book email kidsmarket@outlook.co.nz. The market also has a Facebook page @KidsMarket NP