Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get paid for my sold items?

When we open an account for you, we create an electronic database just for you! As soon as one of your items is purchased, your account is automatically credited for your percentage of the sold item. That money is available to you as soon as the return-period for that item has passed (between 1 and 3 business days after purchase depending on the store.) You may come in to the store to pick up your available balance any time during normal business hours. We mail checks during the first week of every month to each consignor who has more than $40 in his/her account. We do charge a $1 mailing fee to mail checks to cover the cost of the process. You may pick up your balance in the store any time during regular business hours for free.

 

What sells well at Finders Keepers Fashions?

We accept men’s and women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. We do accept plus-sized clothing for women, and have enjoyed great success with our plus department. Items must be in excellent condition, clean, and current.  From professional attire to casual wear to your Sunday's best, our customer base shops for a wide range of fashion needs, and our customers are interested in today's trends and styles.  

What doesn’t sell well at Finders Keepers Fashions?

Look at your items--would you buy them again in the store today? That's a good initial test. Please check for holes, spots, pilling, stains, and wear. Items with any damage will not be considered for resale. Shoes with visible wear or that are narrower than a double-A or smaller than a size 6 are difficult to sell. Also, we do not store or sell the shoe boxes, so please leave those at home. Our current market has not created the demand for bridal or vintage merchandise. Specifically, the following kinds of items are not currently selling well in our store: formal wear, juniors, young men's clothing, and smaller handbags. Men's suits have proved difficult to sell, and are only accepted when the style is current and the condition is perfect. Please note: This location no longer accepts juniors clothing or accessories on consignment. We recommend Forever Young Consignment in Lilburn for these items. It's a fantastic store with a fun vibe. Learn more on their website: http://www.fyconsign.com/

 

What happens to merchandise that doesn’t sell at Finders Keepers Fashions?

All consigned items will be kept for 60 days and follow a seasonally standard markdown schedule. Unsold merchandise is subject to donation any time after 60 days. We donate to RRISA, Atlanta Step-Up Society, and Urban Street Ministries. Consignors can pick up any unsold merchandise during the consignment contract period.

 

What sells well at Finders Keepers Furnishings?

Newer pieces and mid-century pieces sell best for us. Best selling items come from Pottery Barn, Storehouse, Crate and Barrel, and Ethan Allen, just to name a few. Our customer really likes the newer import styles, neutral colors and clean lines. But our antique pieces sell well and add interesting elements to our store. Specifically, our best sellers are currently: twin beds, lamps, neutral sofas/sectionals, dressers, chest of drawers, vintage jewelry, great comforter sets, oriental rugs, benches, ottomans, bookcases, farm tables, parsons chairs, and anything decorative from Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, Pier One, Ikea, Storehouse, and Mannerisms.

 

What doesn’t sell well at Finders Keepers Furnishings?

Specifically, the following kinds of items aren't currently selling well in our store: pastel florals, drapes, basic comforter sets, collectibles, statues, figurines, china, anything that is not microwave or dishwasher safe, resin pieces, blue and white porcelain pieces, antique rockers, baby furniture, appliances, and shiny brass.

 

Do you pick up furniture from my house or do I bring it to you?

We do not offer a pick-up service through our store, but we do have contact information for several dependable, affordable, reputable movers who we have worked with extensively. We also recommend that you email a picture of any larger pieces to our manager before bringing them in for evaluation. Here is contact information for two independent movers that we have extensive work history with:

        30 Movers (Shad Hasan) 404.953.3323

         Robert King: 770-480-6035 (cell) or 770-981-8240 (office)

These movers are available for independent, contract hire and do charge for their services.

 

What happens to merchandise that doesn't sell at Finders Keepers Furnishings?

Items in Finders Keepers Furnishings are subject to donation after 90 days in the store. Prices are subject to reduction and follow our standard markdown schedule: items remain at full price for the first 25 days and are reduced by 25% at 26 days. Further reduction is taken at 50 days. Consignors can pick up any unsold merchandise without penalty between the 26th and 90th day of the consignment contract period. We donate to RRISA, Atlanta Step-Up Society, and Urban Street Ministries.

 

What sells well at Finders Keepers Boutique? 

Labels like J Crew, Free People, Theory, and Ann Taylor do very well for our store. We also have customers that are very interested in high end designers like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, etc. This store carries seasonal clothing sizes 0 - 14, XS - XL, and shoe sizes 6 and larger. Fun and funky separates, cardigans, trench coats, great dresses, couture fashion, boots, and handbags are in high demand with the current client base. 

 

What doesn't sell well at Finders Keepers Boutique?

Look at your items--would you buy them again in the store today? That's a good initial test. Please check for holes, spots, stains, pilling, and wear. Clothing larger than a size 14 is accepted at our Fashions location in Avondale Estates. Shoes with visible wear or that are narrower than a double-A are difficult to sell. Our current market has not created the demand for vintage or dated merchandise. We do not have a demand for suits, sets, or professional attire. Also, this store does not accept bridal.

 

What happens to merchandise that doesn’t sell at Finders Keepers Boutique?

All consigned items will be kept for 60 days and follow a seasonally standard markdown schedule. Unsold merchandise is subject to donation any time after 60 days. We donate to RRISA, Atlanta Step-Up Society, and Urban Street Ministries. Consignors can pick up any unsold merchandise without penalty between the 31 and 60 day of the consignment contract period. Click here to learn more about the charities we donate to.

What kind of merchandise are you looking for at your new Menswear store? We are looking for edgy essentials, sharp styles, and tailored looks for the modern man. Specifically, we are on the hunt for: premium denim (think True Religion, 7FAMK, etc.,) slim-fit blazers, modern-cut slacks, fitted designer tees, well-made brief cases and messenger bags, great footwear, and quality button-downs. This location is not interested in baggy-cut apparel or suits of any kind at this time. Potential consignments will be processed in our new Boutique location, which is next door to the menswear store.

About Us - The Story of Finders Keepers Consignment Stores

Owner Bonnie Kallenberg

Owned by Atlanta native Bonnie Kallenberg since 1990, Finders Keepers Consignment Stores look back fondly at a very humble beginning: a tiny, single store-front in Avondale Estates' Tudor Village that consigned clothing and accessories. Several years and multiple expansions later, the store relocated a block down North Avondale Road, and easily grew into the new +4000 square foot space, adding furniture and decor to the mix.

Supply and demand for consignment furniture grew at a fevered pace, and the new store, which sold clothing and furniture, was once again bursting at the seams. Bonnie converted an old repair garage half a mile down the street into Finders Keepers Furnishings, a true gem in the Atlanta consignment industry, and another +4000 square feet of Finders Keepers Consignment. The original store became Finders Keepers Fashions with a focus on great quality clothing and accessories for men and women. The side room, which had previously contained the furniture department, quickly filled with ladies shoes, handbags, scarves, and hats.

 

As word spread, the quality of the incoming apparel and accessories soared, bringing in labels such as Manolo Blahnik, Balenciaga, Chanel, Armani, St. John, Marc Jacobs, Prada, and more. In order to showcase the extraordinary merchandise, Finders Keepers opened its third location in October, 2007: Finders Keepers Boutique, which specializes in designer and fashion-forward clothing and accessories for women. Located in the heart of Decatur, the newest addition is a smaller sibling at 900 square feet, but has quickly earned a big reputation as a hot-spot for designer and high-end consignment finds. In fact, Boutique has already expanded into a brand new space! And what did we do with the old space? We added a store just for men, of course! Finders Keepers Menswear opened this September, and carries edgy essentials and modern apparel for men. This store is located in Boutique's original space at 2130 N. Decatur Road in Decatur.

 

Our stores have been featured on several local news channels and newspapers including the Atlanta Journal Constitution and The Dekalb Champion, as well as selected for CNN's "Small Business Success Stories." Finders Keepers Boutique was used as a set for TBS's "Movie and a Makeover." Bonnie Kallenberg was elected President of the National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores in 2012.

Brand Guidelines - Finders Keepers Boutique and Menswear (locations on North Decatur Road)

Labels we LOVE to carry:

Adrienne Vittadini    Alice + Olivia    Ann Taylor   Anne Klein    Anthropologie brands

Armani    B. Makowski    Banana Republic    BCBG    Ben Sherman     Betsey Johnson

Bloomingdale’s    Bottega Veneta   Bugatchi    Burberry   Bvlgari    Cabi    Cache   Canali

Chanel    Christian Louboutin    Citizens of Humanity   Coach    Cole Haan    Christian Dior

Custo     Cynthia Steffe     Diane Von Furstenburg     Dolce & Gabbana     Donald Pliner

Donna Karan   Dooney & Burke  Eileen Fisher   Eli Tahari    Faconnable    Fendi     Ferragamo

Free People   Frye  Gucci   Hermes   Hickey Freeman   Hugo Boss    Ike Behar   Isabella Fiore

J. Crew   Jimmy Choo    Joe's     John Varvatos    Johnny Was     Karen Millen     Kate Spade

Kenneth Cole     Kooba     Lafayette 148   Laundry    Lilly Pulitzer    Louis Vuitton    Lucky

Magaschoni     Marc Jacobs     MaxMara     Michael Kors     Missoni    Nanette Lepore 

Neiman Marcus     Nicole Miller    Nordstrom     Paige    Paul Smith   Penguin     Philosophy

Prada    Pucci     Rag + Bone   Ralph Lauren/Polo    Robert Graham    Saks   7 For all Mankind

St. John     Ted Baker     Theory    Tibi   Tod’s    To Boot    Tory Burch    Tracy Reese

True Religion    Ugg   Valentino   Versace   Vince Camuto   Yves Saint Laurent   Zegna

Labels we do NOT carry:

Abercrombie & Fitch   American Eagle    Byer    Candies    Chaps   Charlotte Russe   Champion

Dockers   Express   Forever 21   Gap   H&M   Hollister   Izod   Kohl’s brands   Lee   Liz Claiborne

The Limited   LOFT    My Michelle   Nautica   New York & Co.   Old Navy  Papaya

 Payless brands    Sag Harbor    Simply Vera   Sonoma   St. John's Bay   Target brands

Van Heusen   Wal-Mart brands     Willi Smith   Worthington    Wrangler    XOXO

It's Over! (Notes from Bonnie's Desk)

According to the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Haverty’s sales are up this year, which is good news for many of us. The sale of new furniture is directly related to the housing market and simply put, when the housing market is good, furniture sales are good. When the housing market is bad, folks just aren’t buying new furniture. I saw that coming back in 2008 when Finders Keepers Furnishings began to slow down, in sales and in consignments. I knew something was amiss before “Great Recession” was a household phrase. When houses aren’t selling, home-owners aren’t sprucing up what they have nor are they purchasing home goods. As a resale shop, we weren’t devastated as some big furniture stores were. Many economized by sprucing up with gently used items.

 

The housing market is picking up and low and behold, Haverty’s Furniture Stores are seeing an increase in sales over last year. And so are we! Furniture is arriving by the truckload from those who have been waiting to sell or renovate and selling quickly to those who have moved or renovated and need/want something new. This trend is improving with each quarter as real estate finally picks up. Things are starting to ease up economically speaking and that means there will be more jobs on the horizon. So let’s all exhale and celebrate upcoming better days.

 

It’s official now….the Great Recession must be over!

Notes from Bonnie's Desk: The Dress Decade

Yellow, Calvin Klein, size 4, sundress, it jumped out from the dress wall as I was straightening during Spring Fling Saturday. It was added to the pile of dresses to try on after closing. So many beautiful dresses and oh so tempting to someone like me, who believes this wardrobe staple deserves more accolades than it receives.

 

In a workshop I love to teach, Closet Chaos to Closet Confidence, attenders are instructed to purge their closets of unloved clothing. After the purging process, they are encouraged to fill in wardrobe gaps, especially the dress gap. Why? Dresses are the great “go-to” piece of the decade, quickly edited with accessories, heel heights, jackets, cardigans and belts. One dress can go a long way, all the while making a statement for the wearer.

 

And then there’s the fabulous party/cocktail dress on the sale rack that fits like a charm….and it’s NOT black. If ever there was something that made listeners stop and take note, it was when I made this statement: “No wardrobe is complete without a couple of great looking cocktail dresses, so for heaven sakes, buy the dress you found on the sale rack, that you love, that fits wonderfully, even though you don’t have an event on the horizon, because you WILL need it and when you do, you WILL already own it.” It was permission given and written down, like a hall pass from the teacher…”yes, she has permission to buy a dress she doesn’t need, just in case.”

 

Ask Betsy about this. A few years back we were shopping the sale racks at Macy’s and the party dresses were deeply discounted. She tried on a  dress that fit beautifully and was very affordable. However, it was after the season and she “didn’t need it” so she didn’t buy it even though I warned her that she would have regrets, and to this day she still does.

 

Because shopping for the perfect dress when you must have one is not efficient. It’s too stressful, too demanding and usually too expensive.

 

Shopping for dresses should be on-going, therapeutic and sensible. Dresses are plentiful and a good value in stores everywhere from consignment stores to regular retail. Even prom dresses can be found at consignment stores like Forever Young in Lilburn, where an entire floor is dedicated to formal wear, long and short, simple to extravagant but all extremely affordable.

 

Of course I tout shopping resale, because that’s my life. The dress walls at both Finders Keepers locations are an array of beautiful colors, textures, fabrics, designers and styles at extremely affordable prices. As a shopper, one must be willing to try on many, even those that may not have great hanger appeal, to find a dress or 2 that add pop to a wardrobe. Of all the dresses I tried on that evening, I only bought one, the yellow Calvin Klein. Embrace the fact that it takes continual additions to have a wardrobe that is ready for any of life’s events and go shopping often and only buy what you love. Chaos will give way to confidence and with confidence comes peace. We all need more of that!

 

Make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this week’s email for the coupon for 20% off one regular-priced dress, my Easter gift to you. (Not on our email list? Visit our website to sign up: http://www.fkconsign.com/Join-Our-Email-List.html)

 

Bonnie Kallenberg

The Big Red Ball: A night out for a great cause (from Bonnie's Desk)

My introduction to 50cents.period was about 2 years ago at a “red party” hosted in Avondale Estates, right around the corner from my house. I had heard a little bit already about the mission of the organization and wanted more information. We were to wear red and bring a checkbook, in case the presentation led us to contribute to this cause. Lorrie King, the founder of 50cents.period, spoke to the group of 50+ women in red, about her work, mostly in India, to improve the lives of women by starting with the girls.

 

Girls in developing countries often live in poverty and I was aware of that fact. However, what I did not know until this meeting is those girls are not allowed to attend school the week of their menstruation cycle unless they have the necessary sanitary supplies AND basic restroom facilities at the school. Lorrie and her team found in their travels in India that both are rare and have been on a mission to raise money for and awareness about this problem via this not-for-profit that was birthed in DeKalb county. Many women in our community have embraced this effort with their time, effort, and donations. In a short time, more girls can attend school because sanitary supplies are given to those who need them, at school, and very basic restroom facilities with safe water have been constructed at a few schools and more are in the works.

 

However, there are many girls in areas where 50cents.period has not reached. They miss a week of school a month and often deal with a stigma that their menstruation makes them unclean and is a curse. Once they fall behind in school, often they drop out and either get jobs to help the family or get married very young and start having babies, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Basic women’s health education is another piece of Lorrie’s mission in developing countries. By educating mothers and girls about their bodies and health, stigmas will vanish, empowerment can take hold and the lives of a generation of women in India will change, forever.

 

Last Friday was International Women’s Day. It was also the day chosen for a fundraiser for 50cents.period, “The Big Red Ball”, hosted at the Decatur Courthouse.  It was a formal event and we all got to dress up and go out on a Friday night! Big Band Atlanta played dance music, the Stilleto Dancers performed, Sun in My Belly Restaurant laid out a lovely buffet and various businesses and individuals (including Finders Keepers) sponsored the event. Lorrie spoke. You can’t “not give” after Lorrie speaks about the work and mission of 50cents.period. She is changing the lives of women for the better, one school at a time, in one town at a time, one package of 8 sanitary napkins at a time.

 

You see, a package of 8 sanitary napkins costs 20 rupees, which is about 50 cents in U.S. currency. Most girls require 3 packages during their period.

 

For $1.50 you can guarantee a girl will remain in school for a month. By supplying this very basic need, a girl will be given a chance to live a life different from her mother’s. Education is the key that unlocks the door to possibility, to hope, to empowerment. Women empowered will change the lives of the next generation for the better. This is doable!

 

If this information has pulled at your heartstrings, as my first encounter with this cause did, please go to their website www.50centsperiod.org  to find out more, to consider giving, and to join the effort to change the lives of a generation of girls.

Finders Keepers Fashions received one EPIC makeover

Mission Accomplished!

 

I love nothing better than a crew of skilled workers on a mission as they create excitement and energy that cannot be duplicated!

 

The mission? To revamp Finders Keepers Fashions in 4 days including interior painting, exterior painting and repairs, new flooring, new ceiling fans, up-cycling old counters, additional electrical wiring and various overdue repair projects. Not to mention putting the store back together and re-merchandised once the work was complete.

 

We did it in 4 days and we posted about it regularly on Facebook for those interested. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the co-ordination that took place beforehand by our contractor and his project manager and a great deal of prep work on our part. The various teams worked together like a symphony performance and everyone had a part, everyone kept working, everyone kept moving. Hours and days flew by.

 

Saturday night at closing, my staff and I pushed all the merchandise to the right hand side of the shop, as far as it would go. It was a well-orchestrated dance as we packed the accessory room with as many racks as would fit. The guys arrived at 7 p.m., started on the cleared area by removing the carpet, the wall racks and prepping the walls and ceiling. Half of the shop was totally painted the first night. All the fans were replaced in the main part of the store.

 

Sunday the flooring guys arrived, unloaded the flooring and began prepping the floor. The floor was installed on the left half of the shop by 5:00 p.m. We could tell how wonderful the store was going to look already. I ran to the used store fixture warehouse and purchased a set of 3 counters that once lived in a Wolf Camera store. They had great potential and with some bead board and re-laminating, they will be good as new! We discovered that the fans I purchased caused an installation problem and only went one speed….super-fast, creating a hurricane effect that was humorous but expensive to correct. Note to self: read the box before purchasing, especially when purchasing 12….

 

By 5:15 we were moving all the racks of clothing over to the left side, on to the new floor! By 6:15, everything was moved over and the right-hand side was empty and ready for the guys who arrived at 7 p.m. to strip the carpet and paint the rest of the shop. This night they stayed until about 3 a.m. Unfortunately, as the painters were leaving, one of the drivers thought he turned his car headlights on, didn’t and got pulled over immediately by the police. His license had expired and he ended up spending the night in the DeKalb County jail. A long, bad day for him and the contractor bailed him out the next day.Monday the flooring men arrived about 11:00 and prepped and installed the rest of the flooring, including the kitchen and 2 restrooms. Again they were out by 5:00 p.m. Exterior repairs and painting began. The staff began organizing the clothing on the racks. The counters were delivered. I had to figure out the new arrangement of the counter space. Fans now go 4 speeds but the wall switches are faulty and dangerous. Fans kept off until this is corrected. It would be a shame to burn down the building after all this effort and work….not to mention expense.

 

Tuesday the manager and I planned and implemented the new floor lay-out. We donated old racks and put casters on ALL the racks for easy and safe repositioning. Wall racks went back up, all merchandise was placed on each rack with great care. For once, there was not one thing on the wrong rack and each piece was colorized. Accessory room was put back together, old counters and jewelry cases cleaned like never before.

 

The electrician was there all day, disassembled a power column on the floor and ran wires behind a wall, then through it into the new counters so all cords are hidden and off the floor. Hurray! He left about midnight.

 

Wednesday my husband re-connects all of the computers to all of the new wiring. This project takes all day and several Office Depot runs. New curtains go up for the fitting rooms, all mirrors are re-hung, and displays are created, crafted and beautiful, including the jewelry cases. The exterior is still being painted and repaired. Punch list items are addressed. Computers are tested, and the final job of sorting through boxes of stuff once in the counters and drawers begins. The manager puts her area back together, floors are swept and mopped, paper over the windows removed. I found myself just standing and staring at the shop, totally thrilled with the outcome. We leave about 8 p.m. after taking lots of photos.

 

Thursday 10:00 a.m. Back in Business! Thanks to a great staff and a great contractor. Yes, there are still some things to be done but we made it, and it was worth ALL the effort! We love it and we hope you love it, too, because we want to look our best for you, our loyal customers and consignors, in honor of our 29^th birthday. Stop by and see us soon!

Check out a few pictures below, and visit us on facebook: www.facebook.com/fkfashions for the whole photostory.