One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, a saying that holds a great amount of truth when it comes to consigning. Our society may not be as wasteful as it once was, if the number of consignment re-sale shops thriving in the Harrisburg area are any indication.
More people are donating their unwanted stuff instead of throwing it out. “It feels good to know you’re not filling a landfill,” said a regular consignor, Beth McKee.
McKee has long consigned clothes and household items. She frequents PassItOn, in Camp Hill’s Lower Allen Shopping Center, where she loves looking for antiques and products that are made in America.
Not only are the prices of antiques reasonable at consignment stores, but clothes, shoes, purses, home appliances, furniture, décor and more are affordable. You can get value items for less.
At Camp Hill’s Hello Gorgeous, 3730 Market St., owner Donna Ulrich believes in salvaging things, having started her business with 20 consignors in 2010. She now has more than 2,300.
“I never understood why people throw things in the curb instead of donating,” she said, noting her best trash pick was a Yamaha acoustic guitar in perfect condition.
Ulrich believes the key to her success is customer service, from greeting, “Hello Gorgeous,” when you walk in the door to fashion advice to keeping items organized and up to date with today’s styles.
Consigning gives once beloved items a second life in someone else’s life. It also puts money in the wallet to buy something new …or used. Consignors receive a percentage, most commonly 40 percent, while the store keeps 60 percent.
Rotating your wardrobe or giving your home a makeover has now become easier and affordable. No two consignment stores are alike; you never know what you’ll find.
Consignment stores have more control over quality than donation centers. They are more selective, accepting items based on season, quality, condition and brand – and shoppers prefer popular name brands, the latest styles and all reasonably priced.
“Face it,” McKee said. “We’re brand whores and people feel good that they can wear quality clothes without having to pay a lot for it.”
Patrick Wentz, owner of Thrifty Shopper, 24 N. Court St., Harrisburg, bought the store from its previous owner because his wife, Judith, loved shopping there. It’s a family run business: wife, son, mom, and aunt help run the store.
“I love the friendly atmosphere here,” Thrifty Shopper consignor Becky Kauffman said. “The owner always greets me by name and that is rare nowadays.”
A consignment store that sets itself apart from others is Hornung’s True Value, 223 N. 2nd St. downtown. A hardware store – everything from garden tools to paint – Hornung’s doesn’t consign clothes, but payment is immediate instead of a percentage of the resale value.
A family business with three generations working in the four stores around the Harrisburg area, Hornung’s accepts anything used – from antique toys to bicycles to VCRs, owner Pat Davis said.
Giving a second life to an unwanted item is economical, but it’s also charitable. Sellers can consign under a local charitable organization like the Humane Society or PA Breast Cancer Coalition and the consignor profits go directly to them.
