Local Resale Boutiques Offer Quality Clothing For the Right Price

Are you on a budget but still hoping to spice up your wardrobe this spring?

Downtown Lake Orion has just what you’re looking for.

and in downtown Lake Orion sell quality pre-owned clothing for children and women respectively. Both consignment stores are owned by Kristy Kowatch (Dina Glende co-owns Diva’s) and are located across the hallway from one another within the same building. Both stores have high standards for the clothing they accept from residents, reselling them at a lower cost.

According to Kowatch they take the season, quality, brand and current trends into account when considering accepting clothes from residents to sell in the store. Similarly, they will consider how much of a product they already have hanging around the store, before accepting more of that same style.

“I’m very particular with how they look,” Kowatch said of the clothes.

Kowatch noted that she mans Twice Blessed while Glende is the face of Diva’s. Both stores abide by the same standards.

“It couldn’t work any better because her love is the children’s side and I love this part of it,” Glende said.

How the consignment works

Members of the community looking to clean out their closets can bring in 35-40 clothing items at a time to be considered for sale. Kowatch cautioned that sometimes they are so swamped with clothes that they put signs up on their door notifying people that they are not accepting anymore pieces that day, or for the next week. 

If the store chooses to put out the clothing items that are dropped off for consideration, the person who dropped off the clothes will receive 40 percent of the profit.

“We have to make it worthwhile for people to sell them in here,” Kowatch said.

They keep track of sales electronically by scanning pieces of clothing, allowing people to be paid as soon as their article of clothing sells. In many cases people end up putting their money right back into the store, said Kowatch.

Kowatch noted that at Twice Blessed they are always looking for Gymboree and Gap products, Corky Coats and jeans for boys.

Giving back to the community

If Kowatch chooses not to sell some of the items that are dropped off, customers don’t necessarily have to take the clothes back. Instead, many people choose to donate the clothes through the stores. Kowatch noted that they donate about three van loads of clothes every week to the Baldwin Center in Pontiac. Love INC and local schools are also recipients of some of the donated goods.

“We get nothing for it, our customers get the tax write off,” Kowatch said. “We just like to help.”

What the stores have to offer

Diva’s carries a little bit of everything for teenage girls and women. There is jewelry, scarves, purses and shoes, amongst the racks of stylish shirts, skirts, dresses and more. Along with casual dresses, Diva’s also sells fancy dresses for homecoming and proms.

“A lot of things come in that are brand new that haven’t even been worn,” Glende said.

Across the hall at Twice Blessed, in addition to selling clothes and shoes for young boys and girls, they also carry a line called Christa’s Custom Bows. Christa Carene of Clarkston brings flower bows, tutus, pettiskirts and more to display and sell at the store weekly.

“This place has been a blessing for me. It’s been a whirlwind; it’s been wonderful,” Carene said. “My stuff just sells like crazy in here.”

Oxford resident Marilyn Hills shops in Twice Blessed frequently to buy clothes for her two young grandchildren who live up north and said that people are always commenting on how stylish they are.

“There are really nice clothes here and the employees are wonderful,” Hills said.

Likewise, Sue Beamer of Oxford, who owns , said she is always pleased with her experience at Twice Blessed.

“I’m getting quality things at very, very good prices and I feel really good about that because kids outgrow clothes so quickly,” Beamer said. “I really enjoy shopping here.”