“Consignment is one of the best ways to recycle,” says Laurie Westheimer, the owner of Loralei’s Designer Consignment and Resale Boutique. “How many times do you buy something and think you will wear it only to bring it home, hang it in your closet and find it next year with the tag still on it? Or maybe you bought a pair of shoes that seemed amazing — until you tried walking in them. We all do it…and our closets get more and more cluttered with items we never wear. Why save it? Our philosophy is to dress for who you are now — not who you were 10 years ago or who you hope to become next year.”
Loralei’s Designer Consignment and Resale Boutique has been owned and operated by Westheimer for more than five years. What began as a personal search for amazing deals, turned into a thriving business in Centerville. Westheimer says she purchased the shop on a whim as it went for sale, and refurbished it into the highly regarded consignment store that it is today.
“Loralei’s Boutique is the only consignment shop in the area that focuses on designer and premium brand fashions for women,” Westheimer says. “It is a far cry from ‘thrift.’ Our staff chooses only the best of the best and all items are in new or like-new condition. We also carefully authentic all designer items so that every piece is guaranteed to be authentic.”
Designer handbags are what the store is best known for. “Loralei’s receives hundreds of handbags each year from designers including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Burberry, Prada, Gucci, Kate Spade, Coach and Tory Burch,” Westheimer says. “We also have a jewelry case that typically includes David Yurman, John Hardy and Alexis Bitter.”
For consignment, the boutique looks for the three C’s: cute, current, and clean. Garments and accessories are best sold if purchased within the past couple of years, in style and also laundered or dry cleaned. Consignments are accepted daily without an appointment up to one hour before closing time at 5 p.m.
Consigners will receive 40 percent of the selling price for items priced under $100. For items priced between $100 to $700, consigners will receive 50 percent of the selling price. For items priced over $800, the consigner will receive 60 percent. They also add in a sweet deal, offering an additional 10 percent if the consigner uses the money to shop in the store.
If you’re stuck in a style rut, the boutique offers free one-on-one styling appointments. For a quoted price, the boutique also offers a closet clean out service. Depending on if a consignor is downsizing, moving or dealing with a loved one’s estate, Westheimer has helped her consignors figure out what to throw away, keep, consign and what to donate.
“The store has won numerous awards for being the top consignment shop in the area including, most recently, 2015 Dayton Magazine’s Best Consignment Shop award,” Westheimer says.
Loralei’s Designer Consignment and Resale Boutique is located at 43 West Franklin Street in Centerville, Ohio. For more information, visit http://www.loraleidayton.com or call 937-528-6861.