Consignment Shop In Step With Economy

By Nancy K. Crevier

The sagging American economy and Liz Cooper’s desire to exit the corporate world where she had worked in human resources for 25 years dovetailed nicely, resulting in Ms Cooper seeing her dream come true with the opening of Great Finds & Designs Consignment Shop at 99 South Main Street this past May.

She has joined a number of consignment and resale stores along Route 25 from Newtown to Monroe, but is unconcerned that her shop will infringe on others’ business or bump down the number of shoppers she attracts. “We all offer something a little different, and shoppers like the variety,” said Ms Cooper. “It’s good for business that there are more consignment shops, and I’ve even referred some of my clients to other places when I think a piece might do better elsewhere. There’s enough business to go around,” she said.

“I have always worked with people, and I have always wanted to open a consignment shop,” said Ms Cooper, who had frequented and consigned at area shops for years. “When I decided it was time to open my own place, I did a lot of research on consignments and utilized the coaching services of Expanding Your Visions to get over the hump and fear of doing so.”

Everything just fell into place, once she made her decision, said Ms Cooper. “Bit of Tack, which was in this space, moved; a children’s store in Westport closed and sold off its retail display equipment; I was able to quickly get a license for the business; I met a manufacturer’s representative for home goods products who was trying to get rid of her stock; and I was ready,” Ms Cooper said. She made dozens of calls to friends and relatives, staffed a booth at the Newtown Middle School “Go Green” event — consigning is a form of recycling — and quickly had quality stock to fill the racks and shelves. She opened the doors to Great Finds & Designs on May 5, with a Grand Opening on-going since May 12. “I thought 700 hangers would be enough, but I have reordered hangers twice in a month and a half,” laughed Ms Cooper. “I think I finally have enough now.”

The store, the corner unit of the South Main Commons on Route 25, is packed with high quality, new or gently used consigned merchandise. “I think of it more as a boutique than a consignment shop,” said Ms Cooper. The shop is geared toward women between the ages of 25 and 65, but many women have discovered the store and brought in their daughters to browse for great buys from Hollister, American Eagle, and Abercrombie. Other labels that are often in the store on consignment are from Tahari, Rabbit Rabbit, Juicy Couture, Ann Taylor, and Talbot’s, said Ms Cooper. “It’s a great place to find one-of-a-kind pieces,” she said, as well as designer shoes and boots in all sizes.

Great Finds & Designs is selective about the merchandise it takes for consignment, said Ms Cooper. “I prefer very current styles for clothing, but I will take in excellent condition older, classic styles, or vintage pieces. Everybody has different tastes,” she said. Shoppers will find formal and casual dresses, jeans, dress pants, blazers, sweaters, tops, scarves, hats, and skirts in all colors and styles, from sizes 0 to XXX.

Shoppers will recognize the names of the shoe brands, with most of the shoes practically new, Ms Cooper said. The footwear covers the gambit, from Juicy Couture flip-flops to Steve Madden stacked heels.

If a purse is the accessory that makes the outfit, clients of Great Finds & Designs will be pleased. From floor to ceiling, one corner in the shop is devoted to bags of all shapes and colors. Purses by Coach, Dolce & Gabana, and Dooney & Bourke recently nestled among other well-known brand names, with nearly 90 percent of the purses being new merchandise.

The home goods at Great Finds & Designs appeal to a broader customer base than the women who shop there for clothing. Many men have found their way into the shop to purchase furniture pieces, framed pictures, and even gifts for their significant others, Ms Cooper said. In June, the store received several Tiffany-style table lamps that have been well-received by her customers. Furniture consignments are generally small- to medium-sized pieces, but because she simply loves to help people, Ms Cooper is willing to let clients post, for free, photos of larger furniture that they wish to sell.

With the clothing and household goods, the policy of Great Finds & Designs is a 50/50 agreement. For the first three weeks that an item is in the store, it is priced at the full price agreed upon by the consigner and Ms Cooper. The next three weeks the item is priced at 20 percent off, and if the item has not yet sold, it is offered at 50 percent off the initial price for the following three weeks. The only items that are never marked down are furniture, jewelry, and large framed pictures.

“The client can then choose to pick it up, or give me permission to pass it on to charity,” said Ms Cooper. Moving items along every nine weeks or so allows her to have a continuous turnover of newer merchandise.

The exciting thing about being in the consignment business, said Ms Cooper, is the fact that merchandise is continually changing. In June, household items included everything from antique table ornaments to cookie jars, candles, makeup bags, collectibles, and three Windsor-back bar stools. Several of the side tables and dressers serving as display units were also for sale, and a variety of jungle-themed items that had come to the shop were set up in a special tropical exhibit near the checkout counter.

Along with a wide selection of vintage and current costume jewelry, Great Finds & Designs also carries handcrafted earrings and necklaces made by a local artist, and charms suitable for Troll or Pandora bracelets. “There is something here for everyone,” said Ms Cooper. “Walk around one way, then go the other way and you’ll see things you didn’t see before.”

Business has been great at the store, Ms Cooper said, thanks in part to the down economy. “This is the market in this economy. People are doing more consignment shopping because of it. I have people in here that say they have never been in a consignment shop before. I’ve heard from so many women that this is their new favorite store. It’s constantly growing and changing. Consigning is a terrific way to clean out the closet and make a little cash, too,” said Ms Cooper.

So far, the business has been extremely rewarding for the new entrepreneur. “I’m meeting women I never would have met before. This is my second phase of life and I love coming in here every day.”

Great Finds & Designs Consignment Shop is located at 99 South Main Street (Route 25) in the South Main Commons. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm; and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm. Consignments are accepted by appointment only. No children’s clothing, toys, board games, or stuffed animals are accepted. A maximum of 20 items at a time are accepted from individuals. For an appointment or more information call 426-0600.