Consignment a concept for self-starters

Not paying for inventory a big plus

When Sarah Dougall does her accounting, inventory costs never put her in the red. She’s the owner of Made You Look, a unique consignment retail concept in west end Toronto that brings together a community of up-and-coming jewelry designers in a studio/ storefront setting.

Ten years ago Dougall studied jewelry arts at George Brown College, where she discovered a need for a professional creation facility for students once they graduate. “So I dreamt up the idea of a large jewelry manufacturing studio and retail gallery.”

Independent designers (the current total is 20) pay a flat monthly fee to produce jewelry in the studio space, and their creations are sold on consignment through the shop.

For Dougall getting into consignment retailing was all about selling things that are made with love, created locally and original. She has had such success with her approach, she opened a second location across the road from the original store in 2007.

Consignment was an ideal choice for Dougall given her tight budget and lack of retail experience when she started out. “I was able to run a store and have no money invested in products. It’s a great way to go.”

While she doesn’t design products herself, she believes the job satisfies her creative talents in other ways. “There’s still creative work involved, like window displays and merchandising. And a lot of designing goes on in my conversations with artists and customers.”

For Marcy Katz, owner of Galerie M, a furniture and decorative accessories consignment store in Montreal, the decision to get into the business follows a long and successful retail

Retail has been my passion since I was 16 MARCY KATZ

career. “Retail has been my passion since I was 16 and punching a cash register in a European market,” she says. When she graduated from McGill, she had a series of purchasing roles with several high-end retail operations.

With Galerie M she applied that experience to creating a new type of consignment shop that carries upscale furnishings. “I wanted to do something unique that combined many of the things I’ve experienced in my career. The whole idea was to give customers affordable luxury.”

What Katz likes most about consignment work is the pace of change.

“Inventory turns over very quickly and we’re showcasing new products every single week. Many of the pieces have interesting histories behind them. And buyers get lovely products they can enjoy in their homes.”

She also attributes success to the fact that people are more focused on reusing and recycling their valuables. “Attitudes have changed. People don’t like to throw things out. It doesn’t matter whether you have money or not or your background. We’ve had everyone in here from CEOs to newlyweds starting out.”

Consignment retailing was very much a family matter for Rhonda Davis. She followed her mother’s footsteps when she opened her Changes consignment clothing shop in Vancouver in 1997. “I named it after the store my mom established in Calgary years ago,” she says.

Davis admits to having a lifelong passion for business of any kind.

“I started lots of businesses when I was young, from co-ordinating babysitting services to dog walking and account collections.”

After working at the Swimco retail chain, she decided to break out on her own.

Consignment made perfect sense since banks weren’t interested in lending money to a young single woman, and inventory costs put a traditional store out of range.

“I started with a $20,000 loan that was co-signed by my mother and worked tirelessly,” she says.

Despite ups and downs, Davis believes she made the right choice. “For me it’s the autonomy and the vision. It’s having a speck of an idea and turning it into reality. And I really do enjoy managing people and teaching young women especially about being strong in business.”

An added bonus for Davis is that she has been able to connect with the community. “I have clients whose kids I’ve watched grow up. I also work with local artists to design jewelry to sell in the store.”

When asked about her future plans, she says, “I’ve managed to weather some big storms. That just proves my heart’s in this. This job was designed for the long haul.”