AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi,
Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services, and
Midas of Annapolis & Pasadena
A recent segment of the “Today Show” noted that soaring prices have renewed the public’s interest in secondhand shopping. The segment’s host cited a Capital One Research report stating that 93% of Americans bargain shop online while one-third of all clothes and apparel purchased were secondhand.
You could say Anne Arundel County’s resale/consignment craze blossomed for the first time between 2007 and 2010 during the recession with four such businesses operating in Severna Park alone. The establishment of the original Partners In Care Upscale Retail Boutique came first in 2007.
In August of 2009, Stacey Cassidy learned resale shops were the recession’s fastest growing businesses and opened Savvy Consignment in Olde Severna Park. Just five months later Betsy Hein opened Twice Around The Park off Ritchie Highway. In February of 2010 Chris Trivane opened Serendipity (later Replay Sports Consignments) and Cassidy opened Savvy Home in March of 2010. In spite of the recession, all four business owners benefitted from the area’s relative affluence.
Today, two of the four businesses survive – Savvy Consignment, still in its original location at 553 B&A Boulevard in Olde Severna Park and Partners In Care Upscale Resale Boutique (now relocated to Festival at Pasadena off Ritchie Highway). To get a feel for how they are doing in today’s superheated resale market, we visited both. We stopped off first at the Partners In Care Boutique and found it quite busy. Myriad shoppers of all ages were browsing racks of clothing and shelves of merchandise and lines of shoppers formed regularly at the checkout counter.
The boutique sells limited amounts of furniture and accessories but is primarily known for its quality clothing, jewelry, fine China and housewares. A group of volunteers referred to these days as “The Stagers” arrive every Monday morning to create beautiful displays combining clothing, China, glassware and art.
Some of the shoppers we observed seemed to zone in on just what it was they wanted or needed…and often it was clothes.
Others liked being inspired, especially by the display of hats and the teal blue summer dress with its complementary pair of shoes.
According to Partners in Care volunteers who man the checkout counter and work behind the scenes, the boutique has been quite busy with men’s, women’s and children’s clothes – particularly those with high-end labels – selling well. Brand-name housewares are also flying off the shelves.
PIC’s extensive collections of China have considerable appeal for collectors. In fact, just last week a customer who has a tearoom bought a number of China cups and saucers.
Items with tags for 25%, 50% or 75 % discounts are seen throughout the store. (Items bearing green tags sell for $2 apiece.)
The boutique, a source of funding for Partners In Care, is but a part of the programs and services that support the independence of older adults through the organization’s unique “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” Service Exchange/Time Banking program.
With the recent retirement of CEO Mandy Arnold, there may be a few changes according to Board member Kevin Ford. However, the Ride Share, Member Care, Handyman and Veterans Programs continue as before at the Pasadena offices and boutique and at additional PIC branches throughout the state.
You can follow the Partners In Care Upscale Resale Boutique’s latest sales at Facebook.
Moving on to Savvy Consignment, we expected the store to be busy on a Tuesday afternoon and indeed learned from the women behind the checkout counter that Savvy’s sales are booming and being busy is a constant state of affairs.
Entering the store, we were reminded that the consignment store’s owner Stacey Cassidy focuses on selling furniture and home accessories as well as clothing. The front part of the floor is dedicated exclusively to stylish vignettes of furnishings like those in the opening photo and those seen below.
Photos by Sharon Lee Tegler
Puzzled by the fact that we saw many tables and a number of super comfy armchairs, but that we didn’t see a single sofa as we normally would have, we inquired about them at the checkout counter. We learned that there were several sofas on the floor last week. However, so intense was the competition for resale couches, that they sold immediately.
We peered past the furnishings toward Savvy’s extensive collections of curated consignment fashions and weren’t surprised to see shoppers down every aisle. And no wonder, Savvy carries a number of high-end labels like Free People, Anthropologie, Lululemon, Lilly Pulitzer, and Athleta.
Cassidy has high standards and is very careful about the consignments she accepts, choosing only the best according to staffer Melissa Hahn.
Hahn went on to note that the store is a lot busier these days.
“People used to call to see which days we’d be busiest, and we’d tell usually tell them Tuesdays or which ever. Now we’re busy every day, all day,” she said. “We have almost 30,000 consigners now who bring us great furniture, clothing and accessories. So everything is selling really well.”
To become a consigner, one must pay a one-time fee of $10. Good quality men’s, women’s and children’s clothing is accepted.
While there, we observed customers of all ages, but many teens and young adults were in the mix. We ran into one young woman named Maggie Rodgers wearing a Sunset Beach North Carolina T-shirt, shorts and flip flops. She was looking at tops, holding up the cutest ones for further examination.
“A lot of my friends shop at thrift stores these days. It’s just a better way to get things,” Rodgers said.
Customers who favor high-end handbags will find many to choose from while those who like to dazzle, will want to check out glitzy summer dresses like the one seen below.
But, for specially selected high-end jewelry, handbags and other items savvy shoppers will want to investigate Savvy’s prized glass case.
Hahn and other staffers noted that some of the younger shoppers who come in mention that they like the idea of resale stores and boutiques because they feel reusing and repurposing and upcycling items that might otherwise be discarded is another way to preserve the planet.
To follow Savvy Consignment’s sales, activities, helpful hints, and comments, visit Facebook or Instagram.
Chris Gives Foundation Music Festival at Severna Park Taphouse on June 21st
The Chris Gives Foundation announced that its 2nd annual Music Festival, featuring bands Genghis Kahn and 8-Ball Deluxe, will be held on June 21 from noon to 10 pm at the Severna Park Taphouse at 58 W. Earleigh Heights Road.
There will be a silent auction, raffle baskets, door prizes, and a 50/50. Proceeds raised for the Chris Gives Foundation will fund critical auto repairs for needy families and scholarships or tools for students studying to become auto repair technicians.
The foundation’s president Robin Mohns noted that the music festival will be emceed by Larry Sells (while she and other Chris Gives Foundation board members will be volunteering at the Sells’ Katherine’s Light Foundation Music Fest at the same venue June 14th.)
For tickets visit Chris Gives Music Event | Facebook.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
And Midas of Annapolis and Pasadena, A family- owned business with four locations (Annapolis, Pasadena, Laurel and Wheaton). With 40 years’ experience and the backing of a national brand, they are committed to earning customers’ trust by offering the expertise, value and responsiveness drivers expect – “every time they visit us.”
