Consignment Collection The store has a wide array of products that range from ephemera to timeless and traditional, like dining room sets and record players.[/caption]

Jere Stevenson, proud owner of Consignment Collection, said when she opened her shop in 1989, it was the only consignment shop in the area and the only place to buy or sell used goods.

“If you didn’t want to have a garage sale, this was it,” Stevenson said. “And if you wanted to look for a good piece of furniture that wasn’t a garage sale item, then we were it.”


A customer can participate in consignment, which is an arrangement where the shop offers to sell the item for the customer. The customer also can sell the item directly to the shop. The shop will buy it outright, sometimes paying cash for entire estates.


“What sets us apart from other consignment shops is the fact that we also buy if individuals don’t want to do consignments,” she said.


The store has changed over the years. EBay and Craigslist have created a savvier customer base, Stevenson said, making consignments more competitive. However, the do-it-yourself and home decorating shows also are causing customers to give consignments shops a fresh look to push the dollar further and refurbish or buy items used rather than new.


“That has made consignment more vogue,” she said. “They know they can buy something here and paint it—good hard case wood furniture can go through your life, and it can evolve.”


She said customers sometimes are surprised by the value of the store’s goods, such as brand name furniture like Ethan Allen, Drexel Heritage and Henredon.




Consignment Collection Gently worn, big-ticket items, such as dining room sets and pianos, are featured at the shop.[/caption]

The store attracts a range of people, including young homeowners who are just starting out to someone more experienced and who is on a budget, Stevenson said.


“People come in here and say, ‘I didn’t know you had this kind of quality,’” she said. “The fun thing about our store is that I’ve actually got a dining room set that I’ve sold five times. Over 29 years, that’s pretty easy to do.”



Consignment Collection


3225 FM 1960 W., Houston
281-580-5586
www.consignment1960.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Mondays