Guests
Positively Pittsburgh Live Guests, 8-3-09
• Bonnie Rubin, Executive Director , National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section
• Suzanne Venneri Travel Broker/Results Travel, Thrift and Consignment Shop Tours
• Terry Chesky , co-owners of Consignment Cottage
• Sally Power, Treasure House Fashions
Bonnie Rubin
Executive Director
National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section
University of Pittsburgh; Undergraduate degree Bachelor of Science in Education; Masters Public Policy Management degree Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)
Background: 27years in retail; children’s clothing business; owner operator
Production Manager for Functional Art company; artist; faux finish painter;
Mother of 3 boys; 32, 21, 17
Bonnie Rubin
Chief Operations Officer, NCJW Pittsburgh Section
1620 Murray Ave; Pittsburgh PA 15217
412-421-6118
http://ThiftiquePgh.com
Our mission:
The National Council of Jewish Women, NCJW, is a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.
Our organization and our section are 116 years old and we have been serving the general community through advocacy, education and community service since 1893.
We have been involved in many grassroots efforts concerning domestic abuse, judicial nominations, reproductive rights and education.
Our volunteers are known for identifying community needs and addressing those needs through various programs and projects that then grow and spin off on their own. Examples would be; free lunch programs in the schools, Head Start, Race for the Cure, Senior Daycare, School for the Blind, and many more. You can visit our website at www.ncjwpgh.org to learn more about what we have accomplished.
We run three social enterprises to support our organization. Thriftique is our upscale thrift shop located in Swissvale Shopping Center and we pride our selves on the high quality of our merchandise. The shop features a Designer boutique, furniture, house hold items, shoes, accessories and much more. Our website www.ThiftiquePgh.com has all the details as well as a monthly calendar and coupons. Our Suit Yourself Voucher program is available through partner organizations fo women returning to the workforce. We host 3 different special needs schools in a program of work and life skill learning. Our address is 7400 Church Street 15218
412-271-0544
DDB Designer Days Boutique is our high end Consignment shop that features designer, couture and better boutique merchandise. We do not carry mall store brands and customers can find labels for less from names like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, D&G, St John, Armani, Coach, Marc Jacobs and more. Our website www.designerdaysboutique.com has all the details about shopping and consigning at DDB. We feature a Girls Night Out program for women’s organizations, monthly sales, and all proceeds support NCJW non-sectarian community service projects. Our address is 5846 Ellsworth Avenue 15232 421-441-0330
Designer Days is our annual fundraising event held in Monroeville at the new Monroeville Convention Center (formerly the Wickes building). We have a preview on Friday November 6 with a $20 admission and Saturday November 7 and Sunday November 8 are free. This year we are partnering with Good Taste Pittsburgh who is holding their food show on Saturday November 7.
We are on Facebook, My space as DesignerDaysBoutique and Twitter.com as Designer_Days.
SHOP CONSIGN DONATE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Suzanne Venneri Travel Broker/Results Travel
Consignment and Thrift Shop Day Tours
2516 State Ave
Coraopolis, Pa. 15108
OFFICE:(412-264-6386 or 412-264-8446)
FAX :(412-299-1363)
Travel broker in the business for the past15 yrs. arranging cruises,all inclusive vacations,Hawaii. Disney, Europe, honeymoons, destination weddings and bustrips for organizations. The client meeting.planning,pricing,implementing,and delivery of documents are done in a very personal yet professional manner. My clients realize the importance of placing their travel needs into the hands of an experienced professional.
Consignment and Thrift Shop Day Tours
1) This is a twice a year fall /spring Saturday(9-5) Ladies Only bustrip.
2) A trip is about 17 passengers for a small bus. So if someone calls with a group of 10 interested ladies, i begin the process of pricing the bus companies, reserving the 4 consignment stops,etc. However the minimum number is 17 passengers.
3) Can you imagine a bus filled with women who just found a real bargin--- going down the bus aisles to their seat saying"Look what I found!'
4)I arrange 4 consignment shops from the West North and South Hills area plus a lunch break. With traveling time factored in, the trip is usually from 9am to 5pm.
5) The hosting consignment stores will offer refreshments and usually "money off" coupon.
So please call me with 10 interested ladies in taking a "consignment bustrip" at 412-264-8446.
Consignment Cottage
Terry Chesky
Long-time lovers of all things second-hand, Consignment Cottage owners
Jean Maggio and Terry Chesky opened their first store in 1992 in a tiny 750 sq. foot cottage on Moon Clinton Road in Moon Township. The mother-daughter team envisioned a store where customers would find high quality, contemporary resale merchandise in an attractive and comfortable setting.
In 1997, the business was expanded again to include a second location in Sewickley. Consignment Cottage is staffed by the owners as well as 4 part-time employees and even other family members on occasion.
With two unique stores, Consignment Cottage is a favorite of resale customers from all over the Pittsburgh area. Both stores focus on better-label, current styles from popular designers. The smaller Sewickley store features ladies clothing through size 18 as well as junior clothing. Accessories such as jewelry, and designer purses and shoes are also popular finds. The much larger Moon Township store carries ladies, plus sizes, teens, mens, and maternity clothing. In addition, the store features home accents & small furniture. Expectant moms are happy to find not only resale maternity clothing, but new breastfeeding supplies, including pumps and pump rentals. The teen department is the fastest growing segment of the business.
With an increased awareness of the environmental and economic advantages of shopping resale, Consignment Cottage continues to grow and adapt to the changing retail environment and looks forward to many more successful years in business.
Bio
Terry Chesky and Jean Maggio are co-owners of Consignment Cottage, with locations in Moon Township and Sewickley.
With no formal background in business, Terry credits much of the success of the business to a great working relationship with her mother and partner.
Jean’s background includes running her own catering business for over 10 years. As a registered nurse and certified lactation consultant, Terry can sometimes be found in the maternity department of the Moon store, talking with a pregnant or nursing mom.
In addition to almost 17 years of experience, Terry and Jean are members of the National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores. (NARTS)
Over the years they have attended over a dozen regional and national educational conferences. They credit the organization with keeping them up to date on the resale industry. They have conducted many fashion shows for various organizations throughout the area.
Consignment Cottage is a true family-owned and run business.
Terry will celebrate her 30th Anniversary this year to Bob, who can often be seen cutting the grass or doing other maintenance on the business property. They have 5 children, and as of July 25th, a new daughter-in-law. While now young adults, all the Chesky children have put time in the shop at some point in their lives.
Jean is married to Vince who also finds a list of honey-do chores at the shop.
Terry’s sister Kim works in the shop occasionally as well
Talking Points
• Definite increase in business. Probably due to increased media attention on looking for alternatives to regular retail
• Common misconception is that people who shop resale do so because they have to save money. Most shoppers don’t HAVE to shop resale… they WANT to shop resale!
• Resale shopping is guilt-free shopping, and women (who make up the majority of our shoppers) LOVE to shop!
• Teen shoppers are a rapidly growing segment of our shoppers
• Save 50-90% off retail
• Shopping resale gives us more choices in life, allows us to re-think our priorities.
• Shopping resale is like a treasure hunt. More variety in resale shops
• “a really green form of retail!”
• We love educating shoppers about the advantages of shopping resale. We love doing fashion shows.
• More value for your money.
• Shopping resale is shopping local
• Shoppers are happy to walk into a store where the owners or managers know them by name.
• Most resale, thrift and consignment shops will happily refer shoppers from one to the other
Terry Chesky
Consignment Cottage
234 Moon Clinton Rd
Moon Township, PA 15108
412-262-0833
http://shopconsignmentcottage.com
Sally Power
Treasure House Fashions
8035 McKnight Road Suite G-2
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
412-364-3256
Treasure House Fashions…a quality resale shop with a tender heart is a 501(c)3 corporation, dedicated to promoting the dignity and self esteem of women, particularly women in transition and/or crisis by providing gently-worn, quality clothing.
We network with over 50 community organizations and churches, providing them with gift certificates for clothing to distribute to their clients (see our website for specific agencies – www.thfashions.org). This allows their clients the dignity of selecting clothing at our shop that fits their personal taste, as well as their needs.
• Our resale shop is open to the public to generate operating revenue.
• We offer HALF OFF discounts once per week to single mothers and senior women (55+).
• All sales associates and board members are volunteers.
• We received the Outstanding Philanthropic Organization Award for 2007 from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Points of Interest:
• Currently doing our BAG SALE – all the clothes you can stuff in a brown grocery bag – bags - $30 and SMALL BAGS - $20. We provide the bags and you get the bargains! We do this twice per year (AUG & FEB) to close out our seasons.
• GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT – a great way for women’s groups to experience our shop. We book an after-hours shopping spree for a women’s group. It’s a fun social event for the ladies – we all love to shop- and it generates additional funds for our mission…as well as getting more ladies to know exactly what Treasure House Fashions has to offer for women.
• Some women’s groups have also provided a GIRLS’ night Out for agencies such as the Pgh. Women’s Center & Shelter
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