[caption id="attachment_234216" align="alignright" width="220"] 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.