Owning a women’s consignment boutique means every day is a new adventure. The things I see, overhear, and experience keep me on my toes, and sometimes, the stories are too good not to share! One such story unfolded recently and had me both amused and a bit baffled.
So, here’s how it went down.
One afternoon, two friends walked into my store. Right away, it was clear who was there to shop and who was there for moral support—or so I thought. The first friend was excitedly scanning through racks, picking out clothes and accessories, and heading straight to the fitting room with a smile on her face. Her friend, however, stayed back, arms crossed, observing quietly but saying little.
As the first friend started coming out of the fitting room, eager to show off her finds, the friend in the corner suddenly had a lot to say. Each time she modeled something new, the friend sitting back would jump in with a discouraging comment: “How much is that? That’s so overpriced,” or “I don’t know, that doesn’t look that good on you,” and “You could definitely find something better somewhere else.”
I could tell that the friend trying on clothes was loving how she felt in these pieces, but with every critique, her enthusiasm waned. Eventually, she took off the last item and, after a quiet chat with her friend, decided to put everything back. They left together, and I thought that was the end of it.
But the plot thickens.
The very next day, I was back at the store, and guess who walks in— the “supportive” friend from the day before. This time, she was all smiles, browsing through the racks with determination. I kept watching as she picked out the *exact same* pieces her friend had tried on and admired. I couldn’t believe it! As I started ringing up her items, she grinned and said, “These are going to look great in my closet; I’m so excited to wear these!”
I was speechless! For a second, I thought maybe she was buying them as a surprise gift for her friend. But nope—she bought them all for herself without a hint of irony.
Running a consignment boutique is never dull, and moments like these keep it interesting. It’s funny, though—consignment shopping can bring out all kinds of personalities and hidden dynamics. Working here, I get a unique front-row seat to it all. And let’s just say, I’ll always keep an eye out for shoppers and their “supportive” friends!
xoxo,
A