Small Business Profile: Thriftarella mannequin sets tone at Davie consignment shop

By Cindy Kent | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

July 28, 2008

Christine Quatrini 42, of Dania Beach owns "Thriftarella," consignment/thrift store in Davie. The name of the store is a spinoff from her former shop, "Catch My Thrift. " (Rebecca Barnett, Sun Sentinel / September 3, 2008)

Looking out the large storefront window, hands on her hips and a cowboy hat atop her cascading auburn hair, Thriftarella projects attitude. She should — she's got a store named after her —and she's just a mannequin.

Thriftarella's, the consignment shop, opened two months ago in downtown Davie. Since then, about 15 customers come in daily to browse and buy unique, quirky and used stuff, spending an average of $40.

Opening the store was something Christine Quatrini wanted to do ever since she sold her previous shop, Catch My Thrift, in Dania Beach four years earlier. She, and her mannequin, made a name for themselves back then — first when Quatrini asked shoppers to "name that mannequin," and later when Thriftarella was kidnapped. Though she never recovered her original mannequin, Quatrini ran her store for about eight years.

Getting ready to open her new shop this time, along with business partner and fiance, Dominick Masi, Quatrini mailed nearly 300 hand-written notes to former consignors asking them to bring their treasures. And she sent former customers invitations to come shop. "Everyone remembered Thriftarella," she said.

An eclectic inventory of organized clutter fills her new 750-square-foot store. A room air conditioner is perched on a low stool (also for sale), next to a baby doll bassinet. A Fitz & Lloyd Christmas cookie jar beams at customers from a bookshelf. Also for sale: a pair of cement garden pedestals, a metal detector (the kind you scan the sand with as you walk the beach), a pine buffet, a wooden rocking horse, lamps, a sled and lots of other things.

"People aren't in here with the idea of buying a master bedroom set," said Quatrini. That's what the bulletin board by the cash register is for — pinned are shout-outs on note-size sheets hawking items too large for the store, such as houses, saddles, even boats.

Quatrini and Masi said competition is mainly from yard sales and flea market venues. But, they said, it's also why people like the idea of consignment. Some towns have strict rules regarding yard sales. And higher gas prices make people value a one-stop shop all the more, said Quatrini. "Where else are you going to see such a unique selection?"

Consignor and Pembroke Lakes resident Judi Huard walked in with about a dozen horse bridle ornaments to sell. Typically brass, the decorative medallion-style spheres are affixed to the horse's bridle network of straps and mane. "Christine has been very successful for me," she said. "She tells the truth and doesn't waste your time, she'll tell you if she thinks your items will sell."

Quatrini said she works to make it easy for consignors. She sets up a two-month contract; when it ends, Quatrini can donate unsold items or consignors can pick up their items. The term of payouts for sold items is at the end of the two-month period. And she makes herself available to consignors to drop off or reclaim items at their convenience.

Quatrini calls customers who've added that special hard-to-find item to her "wish list." And she calls her consignors to let them know when customers are looking for something specific.

"We're in business for our consignors," Masi said. "They're our business partners."

Taking notes

Challenges

Finding a location zoned for my type of business.

Credit-card service fees.

What I'm good at

Pricing. Marketing.

My resources

S.C.O.R.E.

Public library.

Department of Revenue seminars.

Details

Thriftarella's

Owners: Christine Quatrini, Dominick Masi

4468 Davie Road, Davie

954-587-0818

Cindy Kent can be reached at ckent@Sun-Sentinel.com or 954-356-4662.