Odenton Consignment Shop a Must for Local Fashionistas

Debra Hoffmaster and Alexis Davis were friends and neighbors for years before they decided to ditch their careers and do something "fun"—open a consignment shop where they would sell up-scale women's clothing and accessories.

Davis is a former accountant and Hoffmaster is a former government policy director. They recently opened —an upscale shop of lightly-used or sometimes even brand new, clothes and home furnishings—on Piney Orchard Parkway.

"We wanted to do something fun," Hoffmaster said. "Our kids were grown and we were done with all of that and that part of our lives."

The women, who as neighbors in Severna Park became good friends and raised their kids together, spent many Saturdays shopping at consignment shops for fashionable outfits to wear to work or for play. They both loved the cozy atmosphere of the shops and the thrill of the hunt for a bargain.

Hoffmaster remembers the adrenaline rush she got when she found the perfect little red dress with pearls sown around the neckline in a local consignment shop a few years ago.

"Red is my color and it was just a perfect fit for me," Hoffmaster said. "It was an Ann Taylor dress that was hardy worn and probably cost over $100, but I got it for around $30 and I still have it."

While local business officials do not keep figures on the number of consignment shops in the county, the number of resale stores opening nationally in the past two years has grown 7 percent, according to figures kept by the National Association of Resale Professionals, an educational, networking and advocacy group based in the Detroit metro area.

Bob Burdon, president and CEO of the Annapolis/Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, said there does seem to be an “uptick” in the number of these types of shops opening in the county. Both Oasis and another shop, Eye of the Beholder in Crofton, opened in March.

The growth in consignment shops is a measure of how the value of the dollar has changed since the recession, Burdon said.

“People recognize that what they have in their home is of value,” he said. “Twenty years ago, people had garage sales when they wanted to get rid of stuff, but these days there is no need to set everything up on your lawn or driveway to make money.”

Claire Louder, president and CEO of the West County Chamber of Commerce, whose offices are located right next to Oasis Consignments, agreed.

“People are downsizing and looking for ways to cut corners,” she said. “Much of the merchandise in these stores is hardly used and some of it is even new with the price tags still hanging on them.”

Burdon said the negative stigma attached to shopping at consignment or resale stores has disappeared over the years as consumers became more comfortable with buying quality used items on websites such as eBay.

“Consumers have realized that everything they buy does not have to be new,” he said.

Hoffmaster and other consignment shop owners are quick to point out that their stores are not thrift shops run by nonprofit organizations. Those stores, they said, are typically are not as selective about the merchandise sold in their stores and do not share in the profit of the sales as consignment shop. Items in consignment shops must pass the store owner’s inspection including being cleaned, pressed and having no broken zippers or missing buttons.

Hoffmaster said she and Davis spent a year researching the market and scouting out locations before picking out a space in a small strip shopping center just over the railroad tracks on Piney Orchard Parkway. They brought their business plan to Jay Winer, owner of the shopping center where there is a veterinarian as well as the popular and restaurants.

"Mr. Winer's wife once had a consignment shop so he was familiar with how the business worked," Hoffmaster said. "He really helped us get started and wanted us to succeed."

First, the women had the store renovated and the walls were painted a pleasing medium shade of purple. Next, they brought in clothing racks and an old armoire where they showcase designer purses. To create the boutique atmosphere they admired when they were shoppers, there is plenty of space between the racks and the store carries a light and open feel.

"This is not an overwhelming store with racks stuffed with merchandise," Hoffmaster said. "We work really hard to select our items to sell."

When Davis and Hoffmaster floated their consignment shop idea to friends, some believed it was too risky to open a retail store during a recession, Hoffmaster said.

"But this is the kind of store that does well in a recession," Hoffmaster said. "People are thinking differently about how they spend their money."

Hoffmaster and Davis also provide customers with the one-on-one attention that are a signature of high-end department stores.

"Alexis is very good with dressing someone from head to toe," Hoffmaster said. "She can really put together a great outfit."

Like the recycling movement, it's cool to shop at consignment stores now, she added.

"And it's a great way to pump up your wardrobe without overspending," she said.