Business & Tech

Libertyville Consignment Shop Thrives, Doubles in Size

Demand for deals on like-new items stokes ReNew Family Consignment's success.

People may be tightening their budgets during a tough economy, but they still desire luxury items, extras for their children and pretty accessories. Feeding that desire for quality merchandise at affordable prices has helped entrepreneurs Tricia Regan and Erin Heard create a successful business during a recession.

has done so well that the shop recently doubled in size.

Regan and Heard started the business in September 2009.

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“Erin and I saw our home values dropping like everybody else’s. We were wondering how we were going to continue to pay for our children’s expenses,” Regan said. Regan and Heard have three children each.

“We also wanted to contribute to the community,” she said. The partners researched other consignment shops locally and across the country and delved into the business.

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As a consignment shop, the business owners credit their success to the 1,500 consignors in their system. Consignors received 40 percent of the sale price and can either use it as store credit or receive a monthly check.

“It’s nice to keep things out of a landfill and to give people money for things they might throw away,” Heard said.

For some clients, the extra funds can make a big difference in their lives. Heard recalls a mother who was so thrilled to receive consignment credit that enabled her to buy hockey equipment for her son.

“Another woman received a check before Christmas. She was thrilled that she was going to be able to buy Christmas presents,” Heard said.

accepts home décor and furniture, women’s handbags and costume jewelry, seasonal sporting goods, musical instruments and special-occasion children’s clothing such as party dresses and suits.

Heard said that she was pleased to see so many little girls on Easter Sunday who were wearing dresses purchased at . Some of the upscale-brand dresses are as inexpensive as $14.

expanded into the space next door, at the Adler Shopping Center on Milwaukee Avenue, earlier this month. The additional space allows the shop to offer much more furniture, as well as more seasonal items, such as bicycles.

“It’s a transition to a new economy. People are becoming more thrifty. For many of our consignors, this is the first time they’ve done this,” Heard said.

Heard and Regan say they’re thrilled they’ve been able to contribute to the local economy, put cash back in the hands of their consignors and offer affordable deals to shoppers.


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