New Howell consignment shop keep feeling 'blessed' by response
HOWELL — The owner of a new consignment shop downtown said customers began showing great support before the store was even officially open.
Brandy Wimmer opened The Garment District Resale, 120 N. Michigan Ave., as a way to share her passion for fashion, interior design, good bargains and reducing waste.
Wimmer said her official opening day was March 1, but as soon as she took down paper that had been covering her shop windows the day before, customers wanted in.
"People were knocking on the window, so I just let them in," she said. "I've had numerous girls saying, 'You're open and I've been waiting.' I feel really blessed its been as popular as it has. It's been a nice surprise and it gave me some confidence this is what people wanted."
She said she went on "a buying rampage" to fill her shop with women's clothing, purses, accessories, jewelry, home décor and furniture in preparation for opening.
She has started taking consignments, and said her goal is to have "reasonably priced, cute and unique stuff."
"So far, these girls are rocking it," with consignments, she said.
She is accepting some designer items, but mostly she wants her store to feature affordable, unique and "funky" items. She is most interested in fashion about two or three years old, and some of the home décor items are more vintage.
"I've got a good eclectic mix," she said.
Some people know Wimmer as a vendor at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell Township. She said she has worked there on and off over the years and also rents space there to sell furniture and clothing.
She has worked as a social worker for Love in the Name of Christ of the Greater Livingston Area, known as LOVE Inc., which helps people with needs such as food, shelter, clothing, transportation and money management through a cooperative effort with various churches and other organizations.
Finding the right items for the season
With the season changing, she is looking for spring items for her store, including Easter dresses, and she's trying to plan for summer.
"I've been encouraging girls to bring in purses, because they are flying out of here, like Dooney & Bourke (handbags) have been really popular and they have been cruising out of here," she said.
"I could use some good shoes," she added.
A room in the shop is reserved for home décor, furniture and artisan-made pieces, such as charcuterie boards and wooden bowls.
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"Lamps seem to be a hit, and little pieces of furniture, like end tables, dishware and pillows," she said. "I keep rearranging because things are always coming in or going."
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A sense of community
In addition to selling items, Wimmer said, she wants her shop to create community.
"I just like talking to the gals. Certainly the intent was to establish relationships," she said. "Customer service is not like to used to be. I wanted to feel like I know my consigners and my girls, and it helps my store is small."
She also sees resale is a way to keep waste out of landfills and promote a more sustainable world.
"People are shocked, but to make just three T-shirts, it takes 2,139 gallons of water," she said. "And what a shame to toss things out that someone could reuse."
Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: New Howell consignment shop keep feeling 'blessed' by response
