Shop deals rarely-worn treasures

Chris Niezyniecki and Sue Gleason are owners of Forget Me Knot, a women's consignment boutique in Park Ridge's South Park shopping district. | Jennifer Johnson~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 5, 2013 12:16PM

PARK RIDGE — One woman’s rarely-worn Manolo Blahnik pumps can be another woman’s sought-after fashion treasure.

That’s what the owners of a Park Ridge resale shop are banking on when they accept gently used designer shoes, purses, clothing and jewelry on consignment and sell them back to the public at discounted prices.

Friends Sue Gleason, Chris Niezyniecki and Josephine Barzowski opened Forget Me Knot, a small women’s consignment boutique at 606 Devon Ave., with a hope of bringing a new type of resale shop to Park Ridge. More than one year later, Gleason and Niezyniecki, both Park Ridge residents, still run the business which they say was inspired by a visit to a Florida resale boutique during a spring break vacation.

“Our kids were going back to school and we were looking to do something in the community that would work within our schedules with the kids,” Gleason said. “Park Ridge had nothing like this in the area and we thought it would be a great thing.”

As a consignment shop, Forget Me Knot accepts merchandise from the public and prices items between half and one-third of the original, department store price. The consignor then gets 40 percent of the final selling price while the shop collects the rest. If an item sells for over $300, the seller gets 50 percent.

Merchandise that does not sell within 90 days is returned to the consignor or donated to Wings resale shop in Niles, which assists homeless and abused women in the northwest suburbs.

Brand names accepted by Forget Me Knot range from Burberry and Jimmy Choo, to Talbot’s and Banana Republic.

Second-hand stores like Forget Me Knot serve as lower-priced alternatives for shoppers trying to curb their spending or who are finding it difficult to afford brand-new clothing due to the poor economy.

“It’s a splurge when you’re buying something different for your closet and here you can do it more often,” Gleason explained.

New items come in everyday, the owners said, and clothing is arranged by size and color. Sizes zero to 22 are accepted and designer purses and assorted jewelry tend to sell very well.

Though shoppers often inquire about the store adding children’s and men’s clothing, the owners are hesitant to talk expansion.

“We’ve thought about it, but there’s two of us and people like the smallness of the shop,” Gleason said. “That way we can keep a better handle, keep nicer items, and be more selective.”

“But you never know,” hinted Niezyniecki.

The owners feel their unique store has also brought new consumers into Park Ridge’s South Park shopping district. At the same time, they would like to see more customers discovering this side of town.

“I’m proud of the fact that we’re local and we’re supporting the community,” Niezyniecki noted. “I think South Park has gone through ups and down and transitions over time, and I think we’re really hoping to get more attention here.”

The shop is currently accepting spring and summer clothing and shoes on consignment. Those interested in selling merchandise should visit Forget Me Knot’s website at forgetmeknotboutique.net or call (847) 823-0530 to make a consignment appointment.

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