Area consignment store rides national shopping trend

SUSSEX COUNTY-Since the early ‘90s, the consignment, resale and secondhand business has been growing steadily. The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops estimates that 15,000 stores open across the country annually and even the traditional Goodwill Thrift Stores are marketing their new designer "boutiques" to the hip teen and the well-off. With this in mind, it is not surprising that more and more consignment shops are making an appearance in our area, one of the most recent being Fashion Cents, located in the center of Vernon on Omega Drive off Church Street. "For years, my husband Russ and I were involved in the soccer program in town, and during that time I always heard the same thing - people were finding that buying clothes for their children and themselves was a big expense that they could really do without," said Doreen Edwards, owner of Fashion Cents. "This put the idea in my mind that it would be great if people could find a place where they could buy quality, stylish clothing and not have to pay an arm and a leg for it." Fashion Cents is a true consignment store in the sense that the items on sale have been brought in by various customers. If the items sell Edwards gives 40 percent of the sale price to the original owner. Edwards looks at potential merchandise by appointment only and insists that everything she sells be in style and in excellent condition. Fashion Cents recently celebrated its first year in business and now has a full range of merchandise, including furniture, jewelry, novelty gifts, women's formal wear, business wear, casual women's wear and teen and pre-teen wear. Edwards also has plans to start a sports corner. Fashion Cents takes donations on behalf of DASI (Domestic Abuse Services, Inc.). It is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesdays-Fridays and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays with later hours by appointment. For more information, call 973-764-5860.