Orlando Sentinel, June 2006

Excerpts from article:

Consignment shopping is like a treasure hunt. The more you dig, the more likely you are to uncover bargains.

Some consignment shoppers confine themselves to just one favorite store. But think how much greater are your chances of lucking upon treasure if you expand your search -- which is why we recommend making a day of it.

Invite a couple of friends, plan a route that takes in several consignment shops and include a break for lunch. You never know what bargains you might unearth along the way.

For those new to the game, consignment shops feature deeply discounted clothing and accessories that are second-hand but not second-rate. The owners usually accept only current clothing that has been dry-cleaned or laundered and pressed, rejecting anything outdated or with stains, missing buttons and other flaws.

Small and personal, resale stores reflect the taste and personality of the owners -- who soon get to know the preferences of their regular customers, and tip them off when their favorite labels are available.

Before planning a consignment treasure hunt, consult the Yellow Pages for a listing of stores in the Orlando area. There are more than anyone could visit in a day, and many specialize in just one category of goods: designer labels, plus sizes, children's clothing, bridal fashions.

Check the days of operation, because most close on Sundays. And make sure the shops on your list specialize in the treasures you're hunting -- fashion, furniture, home decor, etc.

What's that? You're still not comfortable with the idea of buying previously owned items?

"If people have phobias about worn clothes, they haven't been in these shops," says a faithful consignment shopper.

"Everything has been cleaned, pressed, spot-checked. Some of the clothing has never been worn. It still has the original tags." She is eager to brag about her latest find, a good-as-new Brighton bag, marked down from $150 to $32.

A woman consigns new and nearly new clothes for many reasons: Weight is gained or lost, a color doesn't match, an event is canceled.

Rather than trying to return a garment months after it was purchased, she takes it to her local resale store. There she makes a deal with the owner to get a cut of 40 percent to 50 percent when it sells.

A resale-shopping spree could take in any number of stores. If, for example, you're hoping to luck upon some great women's fashions at the end of the resale rainbow, here's one sampling:

Start your exploration in Lake Mary, at the French Quarter Exchange, 101 N. Country Club Road. Owner Tamara Upson is originally from Shreveport, La., and brings a funky, New Orleans sensibility to her store.

A shoe buff, she has new and used styles, including some with designer labels such as Prada, Gucci and Lagerfeld. She also mixes resale fashions with overstock items from trendy boutiques in Shreveport, Dallas and Atlanta.