Vintage Blues: Fabulous Findz Lost, Second Hand Rose Withers

Consignment going out of style? Maybe not.

co-owner Mindy Meyer cited two reasons for closing up shop, neither one having to do with the health of the business. She explained that her business partner Judith Quarrington was moving to Washington, D.C., and that their lease was up at the end of June.

In fact, shortly after they made the decision a few months ago, Meyer said that they have had more people visiting the vintage clothing shop and saying how they just discovered it. "It is true how it takes three years to establish a business, and this was our third year," she explained.

Meyer said she didn't want to run the consignment shop herself, and they could not find a buyer for the business.

When asked, she said didn't know the reasons why , 141 Main Street closed, other than their 1-year lease was up in March.

"It was a hard winter for all of us, but business has definitely picked up this spring," she explained. There is also not a lot of walk in traffic, and most of the business is word of month.

Richard Vaillancourt, president of the acknowledged that Rose DeHart, owner of Second Hand Rose was struggling and gave her suggestions to improve her business. "The consignment business has a low margin for profit," he explained. Vaillancourt pointed to the need for businesses to move their inventory and suggested ebay to DeHart.

He pointed to , 199 Pleasant Street Street, as having such systems in place as well as being more specialized. He also said when people go into a children's shop, they are looking for specific items to buy rather than just browsing, as in the more general consignment shops.

Although the successful children's retail consignment store has been in business for 17 years, co-owner Sylvie Foulds commented that she thought this would be a tough year to open a business. She added that a consignment shop does not make any money in the first year. 

"When the economy first declined, there was an upsurge in the consignment business, then it dropped. We have a lot of rules and systems that keep us organized." The shop also attracts an many types of customers, from parents buying clothes to grandparents and child care providers looking to buy that extra car seat, stroller or furniture.

, 142 Main St., an upscale consignment shop for women and teens, has been in business for two years. Although owner Jane Nabokin acknowledges a slow winter, she said that business has since dramatically improved.

"I have regular customers coming back because I sell quality clothing at a discounted price," she explained. The store sells a lot of designer and trendy, almost brand new and even some brand new clothes. Nabokin also praised her consigners who are meticulous and will often dry clean the items before bringing them to her.

Nabokin said she plans to be in business for a long time.