Discount Couture (video)

Sometimes you just want that Hollister shirt or Ugg boots, but don’t want to shell out the hefty price for them.

Plato’s Closet Montgomeryville to the rescue.

One day before its grand opening, owner Raina Gorman and her staff were finishing up their training and making sure all racks and aisles look appealing to the horde of shoppers expected tomorrow morning —and camping out overnight—for the grand opening.

Located next to Blume Salon near Routes 202 and 309, Plato’s Closet isn’t a regular consignment clothing store—it gives you cold hard cash on the spot for your gently used, brand-name clothing and accessories.

And most of the clothing and accessories are 70 percent off retail prices.

Take a Polo collared shirt on one of the racks with the price tag still on it for $50. Plato’s Closet price: $16.

There are pairs of Osiris shoes. Normally, they would sell for $75. Plato’s Closet price: $12.

True Religion is an up and coming popular brand of jeans for guys. Gorman said places like Bloomingdales and Macy’s price them at $150 or above. At Plato’s Closet, they are going for $25 to $40.

“We get all our inventory from our customers,” said Gorman. “They can bring in clothes they no longer use and get cash if it fits the brand, style and condition guidelines.”

Since June, Plato's Closet had been open to buy inventory from customers to stock its racks.

Plato’s Closet is looking for brand names like Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, American Eagle and True Religion.

“We want styles that have been selling at those stores over the last couple seasons,” she said. “Things [that] are very current.”

She said the store is “always buying.”

“We pay cash for cool clothes,” Gorman said.

The store bases payment on a point of sale system. Once staff input the brand, style and condition, they generate a price to buy and resell the items.

“You can go into Abercrombie, and the same exact pair of jeans in the store now, you can get for 70 percent off,” Gorman said.

It can be tough to buy clothes to wear frequently on a budget, especially in today’s economy.

“You can find a $40 sweatshirt and get it for $15. There are tremendous savings,” she said.

Plato’s Closet is not a place to just get rid of stuff.

“We’re a business, not a donation spot,” she said. “It’s got to be something that is a sure seller for us.”

Plus, it helps that her staff is young and in the know on the latest trends and styles.

“It’s a teen and young adult clothing store,” she said. “You can find an entire outfit and every accessory.”

Sizes for girls range from extra small to extra large, or zero to 15/16.

Sizes for guys range from extra small to double extra large, and waist sizes from 28 to 40.

“We have stuff for people in their 30s and 40s, too,” Gorman said.

Name a piece of clothing or accessory, and it’s at Plato’s Closet: shoes, scarves, swimsuits, neon shirts, jeans, purses, shorts, sweatshirts, dresses, skirts, the list is endless.

“Denim is what we’re known for,” said Gorman.

She expects denim jeans to go like hotcakes Thursday morning.

“There are a ton of things to match it up with: tanks, Ts, hoodies, shoes and purses,” she said. “We have things to accessorize with.”

Not everything at Plato’s Closet is customer inventory; there are also brand new items from vendors, including bracelets, jewelry, earrings, leggings, scarves and nail polish.

Plato’s Closet also sells used DVDs.

It’s safe to say the only things you won’t find at the store are undergarments. (And who wants gently used undergarments anyway?)

Behind the counter are rows of shelves with large plastic bins. Those bins are for the customers who bring in a lot of stuff to sell.

Gorman said the bins allow employees to process a buy while the customer is shopping.

“It depends on how busy we are and the queue,” she said. “We try to process on the spot while they are shopping in the store.”

Customers can also trade clothing for clothing instead of receiving cash.

Gorman chose to open her franchise in Montgomeryville because it is an untapped market.

“With all the retail so close, we fit in,” she said. “Willow Grove Mall and Montgomery Mall are close by, and we depend on the inventory customers that shop in those stores get when they are done with them.”

She called it a “one-stop shop.”

“You can spend a lot less time and money here than over at the mall from one store to another,” Gorman said.

Gorman has a very positive outlook on the success of her business.

“It’s a recession-proof business,” she said. “We are able to offer things others can’t.”

Employees Alison Lima and Michaela Petro were optimistic about the grand opening.

“I think it’s a really fun store with a lot of different, unique pieces,” said Lima. “If you are lucky to find that unique piece, it’s a special thing to wear.”

Petro said the store has really good prices on the same clothes you can find in the mall.

“I think it’s going to be a really big hit,” she said. “It’s going to be like Black Friday when it opens up.”

Check out Plato’s Closet Montgomeryville at www.platosclosetmontgomeryville.com, and like its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PlatosClosetMontgomeryville.

Plato’s Closet is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.