Janet Newton has long enjoyed the hunt associated with shopping at consignment shops. During one such search a few years ago, her husband, Bill, suggested she should open her own shop where she could create the type of place where she would want to patron. NU2U in the Briarwood Shopping Center on Kuser Road came out of that conversation.
“Consignment is a million things from thrift to high end,” Newton said. She describes her shop as “middle-of-the-road clothing priced accordingly. An every woman store. Not high end, not low end, I’m just an average store for the average woman.”
NU2U carries a variety of clothes from size 0 to plus size, plus brand-new shoes, handbags and accessories. The merchandise changes seasonally to match what the stores are selling, as well as match when the stores have sales.
Newton said cleanliness is of utmost importance to her. She will not accept clothes to sell unless they are freshly washed or dry cleaned and are free of stains and holes.
“I steam clean everything that comes into the store before it goes out,” she said. only take brand-new shoes.”
One time, she passed up on a pair of Gucci shoes because they had been worn once.
Her fitting rooms are clean and comfortable, which is also very important to her as a customer and as the owner.
Janet was an accountant prior to opening her shop. She planned and researched for two years before opening NU2U. What she did not plan or foresee was the emotional gain she has received.
“It is the best part of getting up and doing my work,” she said.
In May, the Newtons celebrated their second anniversary as store owners.
“I love that Hamilton is a big small town,” she said. “The people, they are wonderful. They want to see me make it. It is a great feeling. I wanted that great neighborhood feel. I try to remember the names [of those who come in her store] and they remember my name. I strive to do that in business. It is a happy place. I love to come into work every day.”
Newton adds there is no typical consignment shopper. Some are looking for vintage clothing, handbags, shoes, accessories, those one-of-a-kind items. They want to “find something that is really ‘me’ without breaking their wallet to buy it.” Others are transitioning through weight loss or weight gain and don’t want to spend a lot on a new wardrobe. Still others attend a lot of social events with the same people and want something different to wear. Some of her customers only shop in consignment shops.
NU2U makes it easy to bring in your clothes to sell. Newton takes things by season, every three months. In January, February and March, for example, she collects spring things. The seller receives 40 percent of the sale price when their item is bought. Designer clothes have a higher, 50-percent rate.
Clothes are on the racks for up to 60 days. After 30 days, they are reduced 25 percent, after 45 days they are reduced to 50 percent of the original price. After the 60 days, customers have the option of returning to pick up their clothes, or else they are donated in the customer’s name to a local charity.
“You don’t make a lot of money in consignment, but you make movie and gas money,” Netwon said. “It is the hunt, the bargain hunt.”
As for Newton, her passion is “the love of the bag.” After spending time learning how to tell a vintage or high-end bag from a knock-off, when the real thing comes in her store, she finds it hard to part with.
“These are the funnest finds,” she said. “I have to buy it and hold it.”
As for the family, her oldest and youngest daughters help her in the shop. Her husband, Bill, can often be seen in the shop on Saturdays. NU2U is open Tuesday-Friday from 10-6, and on Saturday from 10-5. They sell everything from casual wear, formal wear, to brand-new handbags and accessories.
NU2U Consignment Fashions is located in Briarwood Shopping Center at 2450 Kuser Road in Hamilton. Phone: (609) 981-7077. Web: nu2ucf.com.
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