Consignment Stores Stretch Shoppers' Savings

Shoppers looking to stretch their dollar to the max are the driving force behind consignment shops such as Moda Repeat, The Green Room Boutique and Cutie Patootie’s Children’s Consignment Boutique.

All located in Macomb, these stores cater to savvy shoppers looking to get the most for their money, whether it be in brand or quantity.

“People are afraid the quality is not the same, or somebody used it,” said Inessa Nevelev, the owner of Moda Repeat. “They say, ‘I don’t wear used stuff,’ and I always tell them, you don’t know when you go to a regular store if someone wore it before you, if they tried it on, wore it for one night and brought it back. You don’t know.”

Nevelev, who owns a second consignment store in Pontiac, opened Moda Repeat in Macomb Township last year. 

Primarily a consignment store selling women’s, men’s and kid’s everyday wear, Moda Repeat also offers alterations and dry cleaning.

“A lot of people, when they buy stuff from us, need it to be altered,” Nevelev said. “A lot of times they come here just for alterations and then they will look through our stuff and others come here just to sell their things, but need them to be drycleaned.”

Nevelev said because the store receives about 200 new clothing items each day, if a customer does not see what they want one day, it is likely to be there the next.

But Moda Repeat is not the only consignment store in Macomb.

Dena Churchill opened Cutie Patootie’s Children’s Consignment Boutique in 2008 and last July, expanded to men’s, women’s and maternity wear by opening The Green Room Boutique.

“I like the versatility you can (have with consignment),” Churchill said. “You can integrate so many different things. If you want to try out jewelry or home décor, you can mix it up a lot.”

Both boutiques operate entirely on consignment, and Churchill said customers can rest assured that all items are clean and of good quality.

“We check everything over for spots and stains and we steam everything,” Churchill said. “With the drop-off system we have, we can ensure everything in our store is good quality.”

Customers will see a variety of name brand clothing and can expect the consignment price to be at least 70 percent off the department store price.

In addition to clothes, Cutie Patootie sells toys, handmade hair accessories, books, DVDs, stuffed animals, games and baby gear such as tubs, bottles and changing tables.

“And after shopping for their kids, moms can look for something for themselves (in The Green Room),” Churchill said.

Cutie Patootie and The Green Room are open Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Moda Repeat is open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-6p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment.

All three stores accept MasterCard, Visa and cash.