Lee upscale resale boutique looking for consignors

John Scapin, completed renovations and remodeling of the new boutique.

LEE – A big sign in front of 190 Housatonic St. reads “consignment boutique, ReWear, upscale resale.”

The opening of the boutique is good news to people who love to shop resale as well as to women who want to sell clothing, accessories and jewelry they no longer want.

Last weekend, on opening day, bunches of lime green, orange, yellow, blue and lilac colored balloons bobbed up and down outside the shop, welcoming customers. A red flag with white letters that spelled out “Open” waved in the breeze.

Three models, Lauren (14) and Krysten (23) Scapin and Emily Aloisi (15, Lauren’s friend), held signs outside, gesturing to onlookers to come on in and have a look at the new boutique.

The signs had messages such as “Dress for Less,” “Look Better, Save Money, Shop ReWear” and “Get More, Pay Less.” Matt Bell, Lauren’s boyfriend, made the signs. Lauren and Krysten are daughters of the boutique’s owner, Deidre Scapin.

Multicolored triangle decorations festooned the front porch, which also displayed racks of clothing.

Free food on opening day

There were free hot dogs and other refreshments for customers. There were cake pops provided by the business “Cake Pop Girls” of New Marlborough. It’s owned by Noreen Johnson, sister of Deidre Scapin.

Opening day also saw a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the boutique. Dianne Starca of Lee won it.

The party atmosphere continued inside the new-to-Lee consignment boutique. As customers, including the curious, came in, Andrea Eichstedt, another sister of the owner, seated behind a counter, cheerfully welcomed them. Her cheerful demeanor and good-natured welcome made everyone feel very comfortable.

Mrs. Scapin moved the boutique to Lee from its previous location in Sheffield, where it had been open for almost two years. Apparently many of her loyal customers plan to continue shopping and consigning.

She had about 100 consignors in the Sheffield-based boutique and hopes to continue with that number and more.

The shop sales on the first day of business tripled the grand opening sales of the shop in Sheffield, Mr. Scapin said.

No grumps allowed

The first thing customers see when they open the door of the nicely-designed and organized boutique is a sign that reads, “No grumpy people allowed.” Lauren made it for her mom’s boutique.

It’s been hung in jest, but the atmosphere inside really is upbeat. Mrs. Scapin encourages it to be that way.

The boutique is actually a family affair. John Scapin, the owner’s husband, has been hard-at-work getting the boutique ready to open. He did a lot of remodeling including removing doors, converting bathrooms to display rooms and making openings in the walls.

Mrs. Scapin said when the opportunity to establish the business in its current location came along, she jumped at it. Formerly offices, the building had been empty for a while, she said.

The boutique is real and fun for the everyday woman, Mrs. Scapin said. She’s even introducing some men’s clothing to see if it’s a go.

Open weekends

ReWear will be open Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sundays from noon-4 p.m. and Fridays from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. It will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Mrs. Scapin, a Sheffield native and now a New Marlborough resident, was raised in The Berkshires and had a house-cleaning business before venturing into retail.

“I always shopped consignment,” she said. “I’d get such great deals and I also always wanted to have my own business.”

An attractive, slender woman with a friendly personality, Mrs. Scapin said the Sheffield boutique was very  popular and anticipates the new one will be, too.

Chic to recycle

“It’s a win-win thing” she said of consignment. “It’s chic to recycle. Plus, it’s helping the environment and your neighbors. It’s keeping money local. It’s so much fun.”

People bringing in things to be sold are paid 40 percent of the profit. The boutique gets the other 60 percent except with jewelry – that’s a 50-50 arrangement.

Anyone who has something to consign should call the boutique and make an appointment. The phone number is (413) 717-7461.

Mrs. Scapin will hold merchandise for 60 days. If an item hasn’t sold by then, the consignor can either take it back or it will be donated.

The owner said she loves costume as well as vintage jewelry. Pocketbooks and shoes will also be accepted for resale.

Mrs. Scapin selected the attractive colors for the boutique’s walls, which are sunny yet calming. The names of the paints she used are “Gold Finger”  and “Rapunzel,” and she  bought them at Lee Hardware Store.

Fair prices for all

“Our prices are good,” said Mrs. Scapin. “They are fair to both the consignor and the buyer.”

Mrs. Johnson, the cake pop business owner, also painted a colorful mural on the wall behind the counter in the new boutique. It has articles of painted clothing, purple arrows and a world globe.

After all the weeks of painting, remodeling and planning for the boutique’s new Lee location, and surviving the opening day, the owner, family members and helpers all celebrated by having dinner at the Morgan House.

Posted by Susan M. Wicker Guerrero on September 13, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry