Last April, when sisters Jessica Yacoub and Maria Bellefeuille opened ONE Consignment Store in Buellton, they embraced the adage “do what you love.” Since then, the shop has signed up 300 consigners and received an equal number of fresh inventory items just about every day.
“I love shopping consignment,” says Yacoub, a Santa Barbara native, “and I missed that we didn’t have that kind of store for kids. I saw a hole and decided this was the right time to do it.”
ONE features recycled clothing and toys for children, as well as new products with “green” pedigrees. The name reflects the shop’s tagline, “creating a greener world ONE outfit at a time.”
“We have Sigg water bottles made in Switzerland,” Yacoub explains, “pencils made from recycled newspaper and lunch boxes with containers, so you don’t use plastic bags. Our green gift line has things like notebooks made from recycled components, bubblegum-wrapper purses and jewelry created with eco-felt.”
Consigners who bring in children’s items receive a portion of the proceeds, which are applied to individual accounts. On goods fetching more than $25, consigners receive 60% of the sales price, while items sold for under $25 garner 40%.
“It’s a 60-day consignment period,” Yacoub explains. “After that, you can pick up your item or it gets donated. We try to find local places and shelters that need it.”
Because of the store’s high volume and rapid turnover, Yacoub recommends frequent visits and prompt purchases.
“Our stuff moves really quickly,” she says. “We mostly get just one of one thing and we never know what we’ll have.
“Toys are really popular,” she adds, “and we sell a lot of playpens, strollers and swings to grandparents with visiting grandchildren.”
While Yacoub, a mother of two, tends to the aesthetics of the store, she praises her sister’s work with the ever-changing inventory. Despite having no children of her own, Bellefeuille possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of children and baby items, and can help customers find whatever they need.
“We’ve connected with so many people,” Yacoub smiles, “and created a real partnership with the community. Our store is a place where people come to hang out, not just shop.
“We’re really appreciative of everyone’s effort to bring great stuff to us,” she adds. “We’ve created a family here and we’re having so much fun!”