Consignment broker Sandy Jarvis is another of Okotoks’ burgeoning generation of entrepreneurs.
The sign on her store in the mini shopping centre at the corner of 32ndand Milligan, currently reads Back on the Rack, but it will change to Repeat Consignmentas soon as the signage can be revised.
Why the name change?
“I didn’t want to inconvenience my current consigners and customers, but I wanted to let people know there is new ownership,” she said.
For those who don’t know, the concept of a consignment store is that consigners bring in gently worn clothing that is still sellable. Sandy markets them and they split the revenue. “Ideally the style of clothing is fairly current, however I do have a number of vintage and one-of-a kind items,” she said.
Consigners get 40 per cent of the selling price of the item, which they can use for in store shopping or be paid out in cash.
Sandy determines the pricing based on market value, research and her experience.
“I try to keep the pricing affordable so that people have a wide range of styles and prices to choose from,” she said.
Her roughly 600 consigners range in age from pre-teens to ladies in their 90s, “so there’s a little bit of something for everybody.”
They come from all across the region: Lethbridge, Vulcan, and Calgary as well as from Okotoks. True to her motto – “Restyle, Reuse, Repeat” – she encourages people wanting to become consigners to call her or drop in to discuss her program.
Prior to buying the store, Sandy ran auctions online from her home and was also consigner herself. She is entering the bricks and mortar side of the business with definite ideas about what a good consignment store should look like.
“I want to curate the store and personalize it,” she said.
Her customers come from all over as well.
“People visiting the shopping centre for other reasons often drop in out of curiosity,” she said. “People I’ve worked with previously have also spread the word.”
Her advertising has been minimal so far but that may change once the sign with the new name goes up.
The unique sales proposition at Repeat Consignment is an environment that is welcoming. During the current pandemic, many people come into the store just to see a friendly face and talk.
“I’m trying to curate a space that is welcoming to everybody, “ she said. “The unique sales proposition at Repeat Consignment is an environment that is welcoming. Many customers come in, hang their purses up and spend time chit-chatting and trying on things – sometimes just to lift their spirits. Maternity clothes are also big sellers.
“People who have their own unique sense of style will find unique items in our store that they can’t find at the malls and people who are ‘treasure hunters’ can add high end designer labels to their existing wardrobes at very affordable prices,” she said.
