The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Fabulous Finds moves from Chelsea to Saline
Consignment store to sell women's clothing, accessories
By Terry Jacoby, Heritage Newspapers
PUBLISHED: November 13, 2008
When Kris Vermilye receives a compliment on how stylish she looks in her latest outfit, she readily shares that she hasn't been to the mall in several years, but has shopped for clothing exclusively at Fabulous Finds.
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Fabulous Finds sells women's and teen girls' clothing and accessories on consignment. Owner Jamie Westcott opened her store in June 2005 at 121 S. Main St. in Chelsea, but is relocating it to Saline.
"Business has been pretty good," Westcott said.
She credits much of that success to a steady stream of return customers.
"I've always loved shopping re-sale. After taking a class for women in small business, I did the research and thought that running a store like this was something I could do. I grew up in Chelsea, and knew there was a need for this in our area."
Westcott said the business has made enough to support her for the last three years, but she did take a part-time job in a Chelsea law office over the winter to supplement her income. Sales in the winter tend to be a little slow, she said.
Torn between wanting to expand her business, yet feeling overwhelmed with the high volume of clothes' processing and bookkeeping, Westcott decided to close the store.
When word of the store closing got out, Westcott said that the public responded by sending her hundreds of e-mail messages begging her not to close. The e-mail, along with a potential offer to buy the business, made her take stock of the situation and realize that closing was not the best option.
"Instead, I decided to re-vamp the place and do the work differently to make it less overwhelming," Westcott said.
But even as she began to re-model, she heard about space available for rent in Saline.
"I went to see it, and it was too good to pass up," she said. "Ground level with big windows, double the floor space, front and rear entrances, and a parking lot in back — right in downtown Saline for the same price I pay now."
Her plans for the new store location include changing the name to The Resale Boutique, and using computerized consignment software.
"The new store will gear more towards upscale clothing, and with the increased space will also include accent furniture pieces, like small benches and lamps," said Westcott, who still has mixed feelings about the move.
As a business owner, getting double the space in a premium location is a no-brainer, but as one who has called Chelsea home and feels committed to her great customers, the change is emotionally difficult.
"There are girls who walk here to shop regularly because they can get here on their own and they can afford the clothes," she said. "They have already told me they don't know where they will shop now. I feel especially bad for them."
Westcott admitted that although at this time she needs to focus her energy on one location, she may eventually have a store in each of the two communities.
With the state of the current economy, Westcott foresees the potential for this type of business to grow. More people who would normally buy their clothes retail will begin to buy re-sale; and other people who previously would have given their clothes away will begin to sell them on consignment.
"Even now, I have ladies who bring me their clothes every single season and then they go out and replace their wardrobes with new items," Westcott said.
Westcott's mission to help women on a budget to look and feel good has succeeded in Chelsea. She hopes the move to Saline will increase the number of women she can serve.
"She's got great taste and sense of style -- very hip, shabby chic, vintage," Vermilye said. "And you can't beat the price. I'm bummed that she's leaving Chelsea, but I will definitely be following her to Saline."
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