Store offers variety

Sunday, October 7, 2007
Debbie Vaught taks in a seat in one of the chairs available at her new business, Used 2 Be Mine.

SIKESTON - What used to be yours, could become mine - or someone else's who shops at Used 2 Be Mine, a new consignment store now open in Miner.

Available in the store is everything from baby dresses to bedroom dressers. There is glassware, lamps, furniture, kitchenware, pictures, "whatnots" and more.

About the only thing owner Debbie Vaught said she doesn't make available through the business is clothing for adults. "I even have a lot a few antiques from time to time," said Vaught.

According to Vaught she opened Used 2 Be Mine as an opportunity to become her own boss.

"I tell people I gave up a 40-hour-a-week, good-paying job to go into the junk business," she said with a laugh. But with a more serious turn, Vaught added, the decision to go into business for herself enables her to choose a less-stressful lifestyle and have some fun.

"This really is fun. I get up looking forward to going to work," she said. "You meet a lot of nice people here."

Currently working with some 82 consignors on her books, Vaught goes through the items brought in during store hours. Prices are marked by Vaught, who then splits the sales 50/50 with the consignor. Once a month consignors receives checks for their sales totals.

While most of the items available in the store are consignment sales, Vaught said she does do a limited amount of buying and reselling.

With every sale, the business owner explained she strives to keep prices low. "Prices are anything from $5 to probably the most expensive thing is an antique dresser which is marked $210. People tell me I have good prices. I have had some antique dealers come in here eager to buy - which tells me maybe I'm too low - but I want to keep the turnover," she said.

Turnover is important, she added. After six weeks if a consignment item is not sold, she will contact the seller, who can pick the item up, or Vaught will offer to donate it to the House of Refuge.

"We want customers to constantly be seeing new things," she said.

Also Vaught assists individuals who are collectors or who are looking for something special. She keeps a notebook listing the special items they want and when she spots one will give the collector a call.

Since opening July 21, Vaught described business as steadily growing, partly due to the business location, right next to the Book Bug, a longtime Miner business. According to Vaught, the two businesses seem to work well next to each other with many of the Book Bug's customers checking out her offerings while those who have stopped in at Used 2 Be Mine, making a stop next door.

Initially, she admitted she had some doubts about ever being able to fill up such a large space. "But now three months later there are I times that I think there isn't enough room. So far there hasn't been a day go by that we haven't gotten something new," she said.

Used 2 Be Mine, located at 201 State Highway AA, is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: