By Lisa Carolin
After two years in business and more than 530 consignors, Shabby Chic owner Kris Vermilye says that keeping her shelves full of “awesome” inventory is easy. She says the hard part is keeping inventory at a manageable level.
“Yesterday I had a huge amount of furniture come in,” says Vermilye. “That’s part of the fun.”
The longtime consignment shopper transformed a martial arts studio into a retail setting back in the summer of 2011 at Oak Tree Plaza at 12855 Old US-12 near the Fletcher Road exit 162 off I-94.
“Business has been steadily growing with each month and year that passes,” says Vermilye. “My biggest advertising tools currently are my web site and my very active Facebook page.”
Vermilye says that she’s been a member of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce since before her business opened, and she also sponsors teams through the Chelsea Recreation Department and contributes to local fundraisers.
Shabby Chic’s most popular items are designer label clothing from the past two years followed by shoes and purses and home decor and furniture.
“Every item in the store is unique, and the inventory constantly changes with new arrivals coming in and expired inventory moving out, literally, every single day.”
Vermilye says that she has to request that consignors make appointments so that she can maintain control over the amount of inventory and make sure it is right for the boutique.
“We are in the mother quarter of sales right now,” she said about the fall season going right through Christmas.
She will be participating in Wine, Women & Shopping event on Saturday, Nov. 9 and expects it to be a busy day at Shabby Chic.
The store’s hours, as well as everything consignors need to know, is on Shabby Chic’s web site.
Vermilye sets up individual appointments with consignors and reviews all items, and she donates items that she doesn’t choose to sell to local charities.
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