Quick Update!

"Getting rid of clutter will reduce your housework by 40%" - Martha Stewart. Do you have clutter in your closet? Turn it into cash! Our spring consignment season starts TODAY!

NAPO... GO... what??

In a world of ever-increasing acronyms, these may not be so familiar: GO or NAPO. Allow me to translate! GO is the abbreviation for Get Organized, and January is officially "Get Organized" month. This is where NAPO comes in: the National Association of Professional Organizers. Whether you need someone to light a fire under your organization goals or want to tackle it yourself, it's likely you can make some money off of things you're ready to part with. Check out this video that a NAPO member and Bonnie Kallenberg, owner of Finders Keepers Consignment Stores made to tell you about consignment:

You've got stuff. You want to help charities. Now what?

Charities and fund raising efforts depend on people like you and are eternally grateful for your contribution. And you can give even more support by taking the time to sort through your items before you send them somewhere for donation/consignment. Collection sites spend a lot of time, effort, and resources disposing of items that aren’t usable. Look at each piece. Is it still truly useful? Is it current enough for someone to wear/use today? Is it (really) in good shape? Throwing out belongings might feel wasteful, but it actually saves the charity/organization time and money for you to screen your own items with a careful eye before you donate them.

Consignment stores have become a great way for charities to earn money from the resale of better merchandise. Keep this in mind: consignment stores are for profit companies, so the prices tend to be higher than thrift stores (because they don’t receive government funding of any kind to offset expenses) so customers expect good quality and only minimal (if any) signs of wear. Shopping consignment has become trendy, and these trendsetting shoppers expect stores to keep up. Look at each piece and honestly answer: would I buy this again today? If the answer is yes, then it’s likely someone else would buy it again too. If the answer is no, then decide whether a donation center could truly use it or if it should simply get tossed out. Don’t feel guilty! You’re actually doing charities a favor.

Finders Keepers Consignment Stores have set up accounts to raise money for multiple charities. These accounts earn more than regular consignor accounts, and receive 50% of the purchase price of every item. In 2010, Finders Keepers raised more than $10,000 for Haitian Relief Efforts alone. If you have things you’d like to sell in the name of a charity, bring your items in neatly (note: clothing wadded in a trash bag wrinkles within seconds and people won’t buy wrinkly stuff) and fill out our “pink slip” with the name of the organization that you’d like to donate the proceeds from your items to, or let a store representative know what charity you’d like to support and he or she will help you from there. That’s it! We will then screen the items for sell-ability. Anything deemed unsellable will be donated to the charities that we support, but we do not give tax write-offs and do not receive funding as a collection center, so a pre-screen by you in your own home will help all the way around.

Our three stores each have accounts set up for many different charities, and each have different consignment needs. Finders Keepers Fashions sells men’s, women’s, plus-sized, and maternity clothing as well as accessories: shoes, handbags, scarves, jewelry, etc. This store has a customer-demand for current and good-quality work-wear, suits, and wardrobe staples as well as fun and trendy pieces. Check your clothing for moth holes, tears, discoloration (particularly around the neck or under the arms,) spots, and stains. Shoes must be in new or nearly-new condition with no visible wear inside, and very minimal wear (if any) outside. The same rules apply at Finders Keepers Boutique, but this store has a high demand for funky and trendy merchandise, and doesn’t do so well with the basics or conservative wear like suits or sets. This location starts with labels like J. Crew and Banana Republic, and continues through couture fashion designers like Chanel and Prada. This store only carries clothing sizes 0-14, and also only sells clothing for women. Neither store accepts knock-offs or counterfeits of any kind, so please don’t bring them. Finders Keepers Furnishings sells furniture and home décor, and does best with contemporary pieces from retailers like Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel. They’re looking for newer import styles, neutral colors, and clean lines. Knick-knacks, do-dads, porcelain figurines, etc. do not sell in this store. A good rule of thumb: if it didn’t sell at the yard sale, it won’t sell here.

Learn more about our policies and the charities we support on our website: http://www.fkconsign.com/

Thrifty with $50 (from Creative Loafing's Fashion Issue)

I get the e-newsletters from Creative Loafing and I love to peruse the reviews of new restaurants or nightly haunts. So when an article title in last week's newsletter had two of my FAVORITE words: Thrift and Fashion, in the title, I cozied up on my couch with my laptop to see what the fine people at Creative Loafing had to say:

Thrifty with $50
Who says money buys taste? These six Atlantans shopped on a budget — and ended up looking like a million bucks.
by Bobby Feingold and Amber Robinson
 
Fashion dictator Karl Lagerfeld once said that fashion isn't for the poor. Or was it not for the fat? Anyway, we disagree. Some of the best-dressed people we know find their duds in the bargain bin, which makes thrifting an indispensable part of Atlanta's style. Anyone can drop a mortgage payment on this season's hippest clothes — and even when they do, it's not always a good look, Housewives — but it takes real panache to pull off a look for $50. That was the challenge we issued to some dapper Atlantans, forcing them to forgo Phipps for faded strip malls in funkier hoods. Our style mavens hit the pavement and proved you can pull off major style in Atlanta without dropping major cash. We're not Paris. We're not Milan. But we do have Value Village, damn it.

For the full article and pictures of the "thrifty with $50" outfits click here.

It's A Burberry Patch!

Now that I only work in the Boutique a few days a month, I always feel like I'm walking into a brand new store. And yesterday was no exception. Only I didn't have time to take a closer gander at the new merchandise covering almost every possible, hangable square inch of our little shop because even MORE consignment arrivals were pouring through the door!

One consignor brought in her 25 potential pieces and, with a wave of her hand, said: whatever you don't want just donate to charity. Well, there wasn't a single piece we were willing to part with! Several pieces of Burberry were among the oh-so-fun drop off, and I've posted some pictures below for you!

p.s. there were 2 signature Burberry scarves, but one of them sold before I could even take a picture!

The scarf that already sold was the same signature plaid, and was made of merino wool. But this Burberry cape is still available as per this post!

An adorable, red plaid Burberry scarf used as a decorative belt for this classic Burberry skirt!

My personal favorite: (if only I could fit into it) this quilted Burberry vest

It's a High-End Handbag Reunion

Now that I am only in the store a couple of days a week I realize how fast the turnover of inventory is. The Boutique feels like a whole new store every time I walk in. One shop tendency that continues to hold true is the waves and patterns of inventory that comes in. One day we might have every consignor bring in at least one piece of "Free People," or Anthropologie labels, or maybe it's a day of boots. The long and the short of it: Birds of a feather tend to flock together, even in things unfeathered.

I decided to come into town yesterday to take pictures at all three of our stores. Stephanie had called me the day before about a F*A*N*T*A*S*T*I*C Chanel quilted handbag that arrived on Tuesday, and I just had to see it for myself. It was all I hoped and dreamed, by the way. But I digress. Next to the most-perfect-Chanel-bag-ever was a candy apple red ankle-wristlet... also from the fine people at Chanel. I managed to close my mouth and tear my eyes away from the quilted sisters to stumble upon not one... not two... but three Louis Vuitton handbags. A couple of classics for the tradition LV fans (a speedy, in particular) and an oh-so-cute slouchy-denim number that puts the polish on any ensemble.

Since I was determined to pop into all 3 stores I didn't have time to style the bags, only to let them shine in all their glory - which they did and did well. BUT I couldn't help but take a picture of this adorable Marc Jacobs yellow floral handbag against Stephanie's yellow floral Maxi dress and also of a classic Burberry handbag against Carter's striped cardigan.


Oh Chanel! No such thing as too big... or too small

I had to do a close-up!

"I don't get it... ohh!!" So. Freakin'. Cute.

I did a double take when I saw them in the case!

Louis Vuitton: for the more classic fans

Another classic Louis Vuitton model

A more daring rendition!

Marc Jacobs: just perfect for summer!

Burberry Bliss: couldn't have styled for it any better!

I Walk the Line

We use music to take us away - to put words and tones to feelings that we can't describe on our own. There's an escape in a melody, inspiration in a harmony, and a tender cut in well crafted lyrics. I'm a firm believer in giving credit where credit is due - and I have no problem admitting when someone else's words find the soul of something better than mine.

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line
I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line
As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line
You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line
~ Johnny Cash
 

On Carter

Dress: Pucci - $168
Headband: (belt for dress) - n/a (priced with dress)
Booties: Just Cavalli - $55
Handbag: Bottega Veneta - $856
Necklace - $12