Consignment Shop Has No Shortage of Treasures

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Stuff! Consignments at the intersection of Limestone Drive and Wellington Road in Gainesville is a convenient place to buy or consign second hand goods. Business owner Meighan O’Toole said her store has been successful with no shortage of items to sell or customers to purchase them, since she opened her doors in 2009.

“There’s no shortage of stuff. My friend (upon seeing the size of the store) said, 'Oh my God, you’ll never fill it;" however, O’Toole said it was not long before she had a waiting list for consigners.

She attributes the constant influx of items to a combination of people’s love of shopping and their desire for new things.

“People are constantly acquiring new stuff, or their décor changes. People have given them gifts that they don’t want,” said O'Toole. "We're just a society of acquirers. People collect things, and then they decide not to."

At Stuff! Consignments people can buy or consign women’s and children’s clothing, household items, purses, jewelry, accessories, decorative pieces and seasonal items for the home. Consigning is the similar to selling, except that the store takes a percentage of the profits.

“We offer 60 percent to the consigner,” said O’Toole, “which is a generous amount.”

If the merchandise does not sell within the first month, the consigner can choose to take it back or allow it to be sold at a reduced price. Merchandise that is not purchased or reclaimed will be donated to charity. However, O’Toole provides her consigners with an account, making it easy for them to check the status of their inventory on her website.

While the second hand market has grown in recent years, O’Toole believes cosigning has a risk-free appeal for all involved. Where pawn shops and resale stores have to take a risk on an item, consignment shops do not. This allows the original owner a larger profit margin.

And while she admits cosigning can gain popularity in a slow economy, she believes it is a practical business in any economy.

“It’s a timeless business. People are always looking for a bargain, have things they don’t need or want anymore,” O’Toole said.

Once people realize they can make money in the process of cleaning out their homes, O'Toole warns it can become addictive. Yet, it is a healthy addiction, keeping people from clinging too closely to items from the past.

O'Toole also describes Stuff! Consignments as,"a fun place to shop." Apparently, many people agree. Stuff! has dozens of regulars, who come into the store to browse and check out new merchandise. O'Toole believes they like the idea of finding that special something at a bargain.

“It’s stress free. (Most people, who shop here) don’t really need anything. It’s just fun to look what strikes their fancy. They don’t know what they are going to find. People will spend hours in her; it’s like a treasure hunt. Some people come in several times a week," O'Toole said.

And despite the perception of consignment shops as being akin to antique stores, O’Toole said contemporary items move more quickly off her shelves.

“Things that sell really well are designer handbags, Pier 1, Pottery Barn- things that are current,” O’Toole said.

Yet, she gives most items a chance, knowing every shopper is different. Nor are the biggest ‘on trend’ items the ones that will bring in the biggest profit. Often times, she gets too much inventory of a popular item, like "Twilight" books will bring down prices.

Currently, her shelves are filled with various Christmas decorations. This is a are a good match for her shoppers, who are looking to add more red and green to their own homes for the holidays without breaking their holiday budgets.

Although O'Toole did not plan on starting her own consignment shop, fate intervened, and she knew she needed a profitable job close to her home. Having worked for a not for profit consignment shop at Fairfax Hospital for several years, she was familiar with the business.

O'Toole thought her shop could fill a niche in Gainesville, which did not yet have a consignment shop. Moreover, she realized she would also be serving the community in a time of recession by helping people earn extra income or helping them to buy needed goods at a bargain.

She appreciates that Gainesville and Bristow residents embraced her store  its initial year, and helped it to grow its customer base. Now, she has the satisfaction of having turned her skills into an independent business, and to be one of the few independent retailers in the western Prince William county.

With the progress of her business, she is considering expansion to a larger store or secondary location. However, until then, there are multiple treasures to be found at Stuff! Consignments, where is no shortage of beautiful, unique and quality merchandise nor shortage of friendly customer service.

Shoppers are invited to visit Stuff! Consignments, during their regular business house. Those who would like to consign can contact the store at 703- 753-2330 to make an appointment.

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