Store owner Robin Hamric works behind the counter of her new consignment boutique in Stow. CAITLIN PRARAT | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: Ron Soltys

A Repeat Appearance

What: Consignment shop

Specialty: Women’s and junior’s designer clothing

Location: 4054 Fishcreek Road Stow

Some things are better the second time around. That’s the attitude of Robin Hamrick, the owner of A Repeat Appearance consignment boutique in Stow.

The boutique buys gently used women’s and junior’s clothing and accessories and sells them to customers at low prices. It has designer labels such as Ann Taylor, Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger.

“Some very unique things come in,” Hamrick said. “It is fun to put them on the shelves.”

A Repeat Appearance is different from other thrift stores because it sells more upscale items, Hamrick said. She has all the designer handbags and jewelry people sell her authenticated. This was the case with a Louis Vuitton bag someone sold her.

“I said ‘let me check and see if it is real,'” she said.

She took the purse to an appraiser who verified that it was real.

Tops at A Repeat Appearance range from $6 to $12. Pants are priced from $10 to $15. The boutique also sells formal wear. Prom dresses can be anywhere from $40 to $80.

Hamrick has been the owner of A Repeat Appearance for two years, but the store has been open for 10 years. She used to come to the boutique all the time and decided to buy the store when the previous owner was selling it.

Hamrick previously worked as a secretary and in retail before buying the store. She received her associate degree in business from Kent State in 2000.

She said customers like the variety of clothing the store offers.

“I have a lot of people come in because they don’t like the styles in the stores,” she said.

A Repeat Appearance also offers a “wait list” for its customers. If customers are looking for a specific item and the store does not have it, they can have their names placed on this list. If the store gets an item in that fits the desired description, customers will receive calls letting them know the store has an item that matches what they were looking for.

The boutique accepts current clothing styles purchased in the last two years. All clothing must be brought freshly laundered or dry-cleaned and be placed on hangers.

“We don’t want them wrinkled or thrown in the garbage bags,” she said. “Looks are everything.”

Hamrick deducts $8 from the selling price of the first item a customer sells. If they do not sell any items, they do not have to pay the fee.

Items are kept on the shelf for a consignment period of 60 days. Customers receive 50 percent of the selling price if they choose to donate the unsold items to Haven of Rest, a homeless shelter in Akron, after the 60 days are over. If customers decide to pick up the items rather then donate them after the consignment period ends, they receive 40 percent of the sale price.

Hamrick said in the future, she wants to expand the store into men’s and children’s clothing.

“I’d like to do it all, but there is not enough space.”

Contact all reporter Kristen Kotz at [email protected].