“Stylish, fashionable, clean,Tommy Hilfiger, Gap ….”When did these words start being associated
with consignment stores or, as they are now affectionately called, resales shops?
When hard-working,
fashion-conscious people started looking for good deals on quality merchandise.
“Children outgrow their
clothes so fast, sometimes before they get to wear them,”says Sandi Draughn, owner of
Kidstyle children’s consignment shop in Kannapolis. “People are getting wise
because they can get quality merchandise for a fraction of the cost because a lot of
consignment shops cater to those who look for quality clothes.”
Shoppers are happy because the
dark, cramped, dusty throw-away stores of years past have evolved into bright specialty
shops operated out of some unique locations.
“Everybody has told me it
looks so good in here, with the hardwood floors and the antique shelves that have been
redone. This building was the mill office when it was in operation and it’s probably
older than some of the stores downtown,”says Katie Evans, owner of two-month-old
Katie’s Kloset on South Main Street. “Iwas just driving by one day and thought,
‘That would make a nice consignment shop.’ And some other people thought so,
too. So, that’s what Idid.”
Dale Newman, owner of Growing
Pains in Salisbury, says her repeat customers have been so pleased with her shop that they
bring friends and family.
“That says a lot, because you
don’t want to bring your mother-in-law to someplace you don’t like,”she
says with a laugh.
Shoppers are even happier because
inside the “wacky world of consignment”they can find labels like Rothschild and
Gap sometimes half as much as the original price.
“I have people who come into
the store and say, ‘Oh, man! I can’t believe all the name-brand designers you
have!’ “ Dale says. “We have Gap, Limited, Express, Levi’s, Jayne
Copeland. And moms come in here and see baby clothes by Carter’s and say, ‘This
is great!’ ”
And, for less than $100, Dale even
sells formal dresses that originally cost $300 or more.
“You’d be surprised at
the women who have booked a millennium party or cruise and come in here to buy a dress to
wear at the captain’s table because they don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars
on a dress they’re only going to wear once!”
So, why would bargain hunters buy
second-hand clothing when they can shop at a discount store and buy new for comparable
prices?
“The clothes and shoes in,
say, Wal-Mart, are very inexpensive,” Katie agrees, “but you can come here and
get quality, name-brand shoes and clothes for cheaper than you can get new there. Ihave
Pendleton wool suits that regularly run from $160 to $200, for $30. And the people who
wear that kind of clothes take good care of them.”
“The people who shop
here… find a challenge in being able to go to JC Penney and see a Carter’s
jumper for $20 and then come here and buy the same jumper for $3,”Newman says.
“Anybody who knows quality stuff can shop here.”
And, admits Evans, resale shops
are some of the few places hard-to-find items, like women’s plus-size clothes or big
and tall men’s suits, can be found when retail stores no longer carry them.
“We’re one of the only
places I know to find a coat after Christmas or something cool to wear to Florida during a
winter vacation,” says Dale.
Store owners say they are able to
offer customers quality merchandise because they only accept from consignors who present
the best merchandise for sale.
“We’re very selective
about what we accept,”Draughn says. “Consignors come in by appointment only. The
clothes they bring have to be clean, undamaged, fashionable and stylish. They can’t
be 10 years old!”
The owners agree that operating
consignment shops is fun but can be difficult. They have seen fellow store owners go out
of business, even within the past year, as a result of an overabundance of consignors
versus a limited number of those who buy consignment.
But those who have been lucky
enough to maintain say their business has not only supplemented their income, but helped
create solid friendships and special memories.
“Consignment shop people all
work together,”Katie says. “If I have a consignor who was ugly to me or someone
who writes a bad check then changes their phone number, I’ll tell the other shop
owners.”
“But the people I felt
closest to are the people who are smart with their money and buy a $200 or $300 suit for
$35,”Katie adds, who also admits to being a “tight wad.”
Dale agrees. “It’s not
for the money, but for meeting people. You’d be surprised at the people who come in
here just to have a cup of coffee.
“It means a lot when someone
can come in here and buy something and have 50 cents left to buy a loaf of day-old bread
and go to the park and feed the ducks and their kids can remember it forever.” |
Lifestyle