A new family-owned consignment shop is aiming to make starting a family more affordable.
Sally Mae’s Consignment opened in the Yorkshire Downs Shopping Center, which is about six miles from Newport News, one week ago. The 1,200-square-foot shop is owned and operated by husband and wife Rudy and Liz Coffee of York County, who are new to the consignment business.
The Coffees carry many brands at their shop, specializing in maternity wear and women’s shoes and accessories, as well as clothing for kids of all ages. Their plan is to mark items down between 30 and 80 percent off retail price.
They have about 3,000 items in stock.
“We don’t want to put it out on the floor if it’s not something we’d want to buy,” Coffee said. “If it’s in good shape, we’ll take it.”
Liz Coffee works for a government contractor at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, and her husband works in the gas industry. The couple has no experience owning their own business, but Liz Coffee said she saw the need for affordable clothing and thought she and her husband could operate a shop in a low-overhead retail model.
Liz Coffee first did research on consignment shops and scouted many locations throughout the area.
“Then I sprung the idea on my husband, and he typically never says no,” she said. “We are flying by the seat of our pants. It’s a huge risk, but when I concocted this idea and told my husband about this he was immediately on board.
“You don’t know if it’ll work unless you dive in,” she added.
Their daughter, Vanessa, a rising sophomore who is transferring to Christopher Newport University to pursue a business degree, is also a store employee.
“She plans on majoring in business, so I thought this was a good opportunity for her to help us out. It will be good exposure for her,” Coffee said.
Vanessa also gave the store its name — which doubles as a nickname she earned as a little girl.
“She was so prissy that I started calling her ‘Sally Mae,’” Coffee said, adding the nickname seemed to fit.
“She always wore princess dresses. If we were home even if it wasn’t Halloween she was dressed up,” Coffee said. “I said it to make fun, but it stuck and she loved it.”
Coffee’s memories of being a new mom gave her the inspiration to start the store in the first place.
“When I had young kids I couldn’t afford the brand name stuff so offering everything at a good deal was something we wanted to do,” Coffee said. “A lot of consignment shops will only take brand name stuff and we wanted to be different and take everything that’s in good condition. Affordability is a big thing.”
The shop is located between townhouses and an apartment complex, and there’s even a preschool nearby. Coffee said the location was of utmost importance when they chose the space, and she said she thinks being surrounded by young families can drive the shop’s sales.
Once word gets out, that is.
“We’re pretty small, but I think that’s a good thing,” Coffee said. “It lets those of us who work in here get to know our customers, and if they’re looking for something specific we can go take them right to it.”
Sally Mae’s Consignment can be reached at 757-223-0889.
