New Once Upon A Child Store Opens in Wilson, Offering Sustainable Shopping Options for Families

The recent opening of Once Upon A Child in Wilson represents a significant development for local families seeking affordable children's products while embracing sustainable shopping practices. Located at 2101 Tarboro St, the store officially opened on October 30, offering parents a destination that combines financial savings with environmental consciousness through the resale of gently used children's clothing, shoes, toys, accessories, and equipment.

The Wilson location is owned by Rease Newton, a former educator and mother of three who frequently traveled 45 minutes to the nearest Once Upon A Child store before recognizing the need for such a resource in her hometown. Newton operates the franchise alongside her parents, Tom and Tonya Allen, bringing a family-oriented approach to the business. This ownership structure highlights the franchise's accessibility to small business entrepreneurs while maintaining strong community connections.

The store's opening weekend featured extensive celebrations from October 30 through November 2, including a bounce house courtesy of Bounce-N-Style, raffle giveaways from local businesses, and special events each day. The grand opening offered $25 gift cards to the first 25 customers on October 30, along with face painting, a petting zoo, and traveling goats from The Painted Farmer. Additional events included a mobile coffee cart from El Cafecito, superhero appearances, costume trick-or-treating, and food sales from William's Creations.

What distinguishes Once Upon A Child from traditional consignment stores is its immediate payment system for items purchased from consumers, eliminating the need for appointments and providing instant financial returns for families. The store operates as part of Winmark – the Resale Company®, a national franchise network focused on sustainability and small business formation. Through its website, customers can access store information and learn about the buying and selling process.

The environmental impact of this business model cannot be overstated. By facilitating the reuse of children's items that might otherwise end up in landfills, Once Upon A Child contributes to waste reduction while providing affordable options for growing families. The company ensures all products meet mandatory and voluntary safety standards, with staff trained to identify and remove recalled items immediately. This commitment to safety, combined with the financial benefits for both buyers and sellers, creates a compelling value proposition for the Wilson community.

With over 435 franchised stores across the United States and Canada, Once Upon A Child has established itself as a leader in the children's resale market. The parent company, Winmark Corporation, reports that its franchise brands have collectively helped recycle over 2 billion items since 2010, demonstrating the substantial environmental benefits of the resale industry. The opening in Wilson represents not only a business opportunity but also a step toward more sustainable consumption patterns in the community.

The arrival of Once Upon A Child in Wilson provides local families with practical solutions to the financial challenges of raising children while promoting environmental responsibility. By creating a marketplace for gently used children's items, the store addresses both economic and ecological concerns, offering parents the opportunity to save money while reducing their environmental footprint. This dual benefit makes the store's opening particularly significant for a community described by owner Newton as hardworking and family-oriented.