Women's clothing store offers high fashion at low price

Cheryl Copperwheat's vision is to make women feel great about themselves and their bank accounts by selling bargain-priced designer clothes at her Tomball store, Anew-U Consignment Boutique.

In 1993, Copperwheat left the corporate scene while recuperating from a bout with cancer, which she successfully recovered from, and decided to enter retail. After years of shopping in consignment stores for herself and her three daughters, it was an appealing market to enter.

"I have high taste but didn't have the income, so consignment was the best for me," she said. "My vision is to have a boutique atmosphere where you can come in and shop 40 different stores under one roof."

Copperwheat distinguishes her store from other consignment and resale business by selling only high-end clothing, shoes and jewelry. Many of her consigners provide items they have only worn once and have since moved away to an area with a different climate requiring a different wardrobe.

Anew-U operated at a shopping center near Hwy. 290 and Hollister Road until about two years ago when Copperwheat moved to Tomball to convenience her growing group of regular consigners and shoppers. Since the move, her store has been featured twice on ABC Channel 13 Houston's rodeo segments featuring Anew-U as a spot where rodeo fashionistas can get the most bling for their buck.

Along with low prices, Copperwheat said everything she stocks is in-style and appropriate for any age. When individuals bring jewelry, shoes and clothing to consign, she only chooses clean, up-to-date and designer items. Everything is priced at about 30 percent of its original retail price.

"I love the fact that the store is organized, it's trendy and [Copperwheat] keeps modern items," said Amy Taggart, a store employee. "We definitely get positive feedback because for customers the hunt is on, and they love how organized everything is."

Taggart is one of two employees at Anew-U and has worked there for a year. Because she likes to have a presence in the store as much as possible, Copperwheat usually operates by herself and has her employees fill in when needed.

For women who need help enhancing their wardrobe or finding a new look, Copperwheat can also play the role of personal shopper or stylist.

"I grew up playing with Barbies, and I loved dressing them and putting things together to create outfits," she said. "I love to see someone's face light up and see them smile when they put something on they normally wouldn't, but end up loving it."

How it works

• Individuals bring jewelry, clothes or shoes to Anew-U
• Copperwheat determines which items she will take
• The individual, now a consigner, begins an account with the store and receives 40 percent from items sold
• If clothing is not sold in 90 days, or 6 months for jewelry, Copperwheat offers items back to the consigner and then donates to various nonprofit organizations

Anew-U Consignment Boutique, 11407 Spring Cypress Road, Ste. 280, Tomball, 281-257-8989, www.anewuboutique.com