SPANISH FORT, Ala. — With a new school year looming and families scrambling to stretch every last dollar, Jennifer Hammond is hopeful local residents will take the chance to “clear out the clutter and cash in” as her children’s and maternity consignment sale takes over the Gathering Place in Spanish Fort beginning this evening.

The sale, which runs through Saturday, is designed to help shoppers and sellers make the most of the bargain hunting experience in a sour economy, Hammond said.

“The economy is slowly getting back on its feet, but really, people are getting adjusted to frugal living, and this is an excellent opportunity to take a look at what’s taking up space and make a little money,” Hammond said.

And because The Savvy Mom Sale offers higher returns than traditional consignment operations, Hammond said she isn’t surprised the event continues to draw frugal customers time and again.

“It really is just a win-win for both consignors and shoppers because everybody gets great deals, and the consignors can turn right around and stretch the money they’ve earned a little further,” she said.

Indeed, the sale offers consignors a base return of 65 percent on all sales and the potential to recoup as much as 75 percent of the item’s sale value.

Volunteers who work four hours or those who refer at least five active consignors boost their take to 70 percent, while those who volunteer for eight hours earn 75 percent of each sale.

In addition, Hammond said her sale’s bar code technology not only eliminates the need for long lines but increases transparency by allowing consignors to track their sales online daily.

According to the National Association of Retail and Thrift Shops, 71.4 percent of respondents to a survey comparing fourth-quarter 2009 sales to those for the same period in 2008 said sales increased by an average of roughly 35 percent. Meanwhile, 12.8 percent said sales remained flat and only about 15.8 percent experienced a decline in sales.

For more information, visit www.savvymomsale.com.