Without a doubt, the busiest retail outlets in affluent Los Altos are the stores featuring secondhand clothing, jewelry and dinnerware.
Several years ago people didn’t like to be seen going to a resale clothing store, but today they walk the streets with shopping bags bearing logos of the Discovery Shop, GW of Los Altos and Round Robin on Main Street, and Encore on State Street.
“It’s the ‘in’ thing. Even the rich and famous are using consignment stores in Hollywood,” said Nadine O’Connor, manager of Round Robin. “Clients in Los Altos wear the garment several months then come in looking for something else.”
There is a difference even among secondhand stores: The Discovery Shop and GW of Los Altos accept only donated clothing; Encore and Round Robin accept items for resale, with the consignor receiving 40 percent of the selling price.
While the Discovery Shop is a branch of the American Cancer Society and GW of Los Altos is the retail division of Goodwill Industries, both Encore and Round Robin are locally owned by Christy Drexel.
“This is a good business. It’s exciting, and I try to help people sell their items,” Drexel said. “When they get money back they appreciate it, and quite often it helps them stay afloat in this economy.”
It’s amazing what people will buy and never wear and bring in the store,” O’Connor said. “If an item doesn’t sell, we give it back or donate it to a charity of their choice.”
Imagine a St. John two-piece fall knit suit for $150, or a Christian Dior suit for $150, or Dolce & Gabbana jeans for $60. Items like these can be found hanging on the racks in the stores.
“We try to price clothes to move them. We consider the designer, the year, the condition and the vintage,” O’Connor said. “Clients want the most money they can get, so I explain why we price things to move. Items sitting on the shelf aren’t economical.”
Round Robin and Encore have a lot of jewelry, music boxes and brooches from estate sales, hard-to-find items that can’t be purchased elsewhere.
O’Connor said Round Robin caters to every age. There is something for everybody, whether they are “quirky” or looking for something to wear to church. “We can always fix up a person going to a 1950s-’60s or something-special party.”
Dave Gulick of Los Altos Hills visits his relatives in Vermont several times a year and takes back fur coats and heavy clothing because they cost a fraction of what they do in Vermont. Fur coats on the Encore rack are mostly full-length mink and lamb.
Pearl Thomas, manager of Encore, has been with the store since it opened 13 years ago. “I really enjoy the interaction with the people who frequent the store,” Thomas said. “I hear all the good things about people. At times I’m like Dr. Phil.”
For more information, call Round Robin at 948-0955; Encore at 941-2323; Discovery Shop at 949-0505; or GW of Los Altos at 559-0834.
