[/caption]While running some errands up around Gallipolis, OH, on Monday, my mom and I stopped in adorable downtown to see what was there. Mostly offices from what we could see, a small craft store* or two, and a consignment shop. My mom has instilled in me a great love of the secondhand shop, be it consignment or thrift. "Every trip is an adventure," she says. The shop we wandered into is Once Again Consignments, located right across from the park in downtown Gallipolis. If you're not sure of where that is, it's about 30-ish minutes from Huntington and right across the river from Point Pleasant, WV.
Don't let its location in a small town in Ohio scare you, Once Again is impressive. It is meticulously sorted out by size, so you don't have to spend forever looking for your size. It's brand selection is pretty good, tends to lean towards the AE/Aeropostale/Hollister stuff, but there was lots more to choose from. It also sells shoes and handbags, selection was small but good. I took the time to look over them, the purses were almost new, and the shoes showed signs of minor wear, but none of them were scuffed or looked bad.
Like I said, I'm impressed with this little store. There was a small selection of kid's and men's clothing, it was mostly women's wear. Current styles and brands. The place is so packed, I honestly think they could do well to move to a larger building. The cashier working that day told me they move a whopping 2,000 pieces a week. I can easily see why, the only thing I saw more than $20 was a coat. I bought sweater in one of my favorite shades of grass green for $5, which is only about 2-3 bucks more than what it would sell for at Goodwill. Most of the prices weren't much higher than a thrift store's, my mom walked out with 7-8 shirts and a blazer for under $40.
I don't have much in the way of complaints, other than a small one with the handbag section. First and foremost, they were selling fakes. Here's a quick lowdown to tell the difference between a fake and knockoff:
- A fake will present itself as a brand. For example, Coach tags, or a Prada or Kate Spade logo plaque.
- A knock-off might be a similar style or print but doesn't carry a registered name brand logo.
There was some fake Coaches, Kate Spade, and a Prada. The money that is generated from sales of fake bags goes to support organized crime and terrorists. An American solider's life isn't worth a freakin' purse. Think about that next time your coworker sponsors a purse party.
The cashier overheard me and my mom discussing my rather large bag collection, and gave me a brochure detailing their policies for selling stuff. It says that "look-a likes [sic] and knock-offs are ok, too." While it doesn't explicitly say fakes are okay, it implies it. And the bags I looked at were definitely fake. Even the plainest of mid-level designer bags have details that fakes and knockoffs lack. A real Kate Spade, like the barrel bag I looked at, will never have a plastic zipper. If you doubt me, call Kate Spade's customer service line at (866) 999-KATE. Think about it, if you're going to spend $400 on a purse, wouldn't you want better quality zippers?
Aside from purse digression, I will be going back to Once Again often. Great stuff, selection, and prices, what's not to love?
Once Again Consignments is open Monday-Saturday, 10:00-6:00. Parking is plentiful downtown and is free, but it can get crowded at times.
They also have a Facebook page for more information.
*You shouldn't be allowed to call yourself a craft store if the "primitive crafts" you sell come from a distribution company and are made in China. Just sayin'.
