GumdropSwap for Quickly Outgrown Kids’ Clothes

Necessity is definitely the mother of invention, as one mother found out in addressing an economic crisis in an eco-friendly way. In early 2009, Gabrielle Fludd was unemployed, with a child who quickly outgrew clothing. Gabrielle noticed that consignment and resell shops had their limitations, and it gave her an idea for a new business that served families as well as enabling them to save money and support the environment as well. “I’ve been training for this job my whole life!” she thought as she launched GumdropSwap.com in Bridgeport, an internet site allowing people to swap their children’s clothing in for points (gumdrops) that can be used to buy clothing in larger sizes. Parents pay a small 3-month or 1-year subscription to join, reducing their clothing budget by buying quality clothing at greatly reduced prices. Damaged garments are repurposed into apparel, accessories and baby quilts. In the process, Gabrielle learned that local customers preferred to visit a physical location, so GumdropSwap is evolving into a web-based, by-appointment boutique for those within driving distance. She is considering securing a larger retail space in the restored Arcade Mall in downtown Bridgeport.

Currently, GumdropSwap is located at 115 Middle St. in Bridgeport. Appointments can be made by emailing [email protected] or calling 203.612.7833.