Consignment shop marks 15 years of discounts
Published 9:15 am Monday, September 21, 2009
PROCTORVILLE — With three daughters Sherri Price understands the importance of clothes, clothes and more clothes.
“You know how girls go through clothes,” she said.
So when she was looking for a sideline, a hobby that would get her out of the house, she thought buying the consignment shop she had used as a consigner herself was ideal.
That was in 2001 and manning Another Ones Treasures off County Road 107 has proved a venture that has brought her much satisfaction.
The shop that sells women’s, children’s and men’s clothing opened up with Jamie Ferguson at the helm. When Ferguson decided to sell, Price took over. Now the shop is marking its 15th year at providing clothes at a discount price and extra cash for those bringing them in.
Consigners are usually those with an overabundance of clothes and looking for a way to make some money. Another Ones Treasures offers a 90-day consignment, which means that’s the time period the garments brought in will stay on the floor.
Price takes clothing in by appointment only from Monday to Saturday, sets the price and takes a 60-40 split on it.
Clothes that do not sell and are not retrieved by the consigner go to New Life Lutheran Church in Gallipolis, which picks them up at the shop for their clothing pantry. With Price putting out 200 pieces of clothing daily, customers are offered a wide selection of items.
Women’s clothing is the shop’s number one seller, making up at least 60 percent of its sales. That is followed by children’s clothing that bring in 30 percent of its revenue.
With a recession economists have called the nation’s worst since the Depression, consignment shopping and selling has changed its demographic.
“Before it was low and middle income, now people are watching their pennies,” according to Price who said that customers now range from low to high income.
“Sometimes the tags are still attached (to the clothes) because people don’t take the time to try it on and don’t take the time to take it back,” she said.
While men are less likely to shop consignment, there is a demographic that does, most often blue collar and construction workers.
“They need jeans and don’t have to pay out $40 or $50 just to wear them out,” Price said.
And consignment shops are a good place for teens to pick up homecoming and prom dresses at a discount, often those frocks are brand new.
“A lot of teens consign in order to make some extra money,” she said.
As she reflects on the past eight years, Price says buying the shop was a good decision.
“It gets me out of the house. I feel like I am doing something good,” she said. “I’m helping people and I love to meet people.”