By Jessica Groover .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
At a time when spending is down and opening a new business might be risky, Cabarrus Kids — a new consignment store in Kannapolis — has done well in its first two months.
“The economy is the right timing for us, and we can help the economy at this time,” said Kathy Sides-Tesh, general manager of the store. “My goal is to keep the stuff in here at a low price.”
The nonprofit consignment store’s name sounds like it only has items for children, but there is more. Inside for sale are gently used furniture, luggage, clothes for adults and children, sports equipment, collectibles, office supplies, stationary, autographed items and other merchandise.
“They’ve got something for everybody,” said Carla Pressley of Kannapolis. “They’ve got great deals. I go in there once or twice a week and see what’s new.”
The store opened on Jan. 19 with many customers, thanks to distributed fliers and word of mouth. Already, Sides-Tesh said she has noticed regulars like Pressley who visit more than once a week.
Cabarrus Kids debuted after almost two months of discussions between Sides-Tesh and investors Scott Wagner and Doug Grandy. Wagner had wanted to do something to give back to the community, which is why all proceeds of the nonprofit store will go toward building and maintaining area youth sports facilities.
“If we can keep the youth on the fields and out of the streets, we can keep them out of trouble,” Sides-Tesh said. “It will also bring more people to the community. If we have good fields, we can have tournaments here.”
The logo for Cabarrus Kids even has a C and a K sideways drawn to look like a child running. Its colors are purple and yellow, ones that Sides-Tesh picked to attract more customers than most shops’ blue or green signs.
The eye-catching sign worked. On Thursday, Rhonda Hausman of Concord and Julie Eberle of Kannapolis were separately shopping, both for the first time, and entered the store because they passed it and decided to see what it was like.
Both shoppers were pleased with what they found inside. Hausman was looking at the clothes for her two children.
“They have nice clothes for a good price,” Hausman said.
Eberle said she liked that the store was well organized, which made it easy to find various sizes. She was also happy with the low prices.
“With the economy, a lot of people are going to buy this stuff,” Eberle said.
Sides-Tesh said she keeps the economy in mind when she prices the items in the store. She does a lot of research by looking at other stores’ prices and the original prices of items, but she primarily bases her decisions on the quality of the donated items.
Besides the low prices, the store also offers a wish list for customers who cannot find what they are looking for so that the store can let them know if it comes in. The store also has pick up and delivery service for free within 15 miles. Items are also listed on the store’s Web site and Craigslist.
Cabarrus Kids is also now partnering with the Kannapolis Intimidators. The store will sell home game tickets at its Main Street location, and on one Saturday each month, Cabarrus Kids will distribute a general admission ticket to a game in return for a donation.
Sides-Tesh said donations of every kind are always welcome.
“With the more donations we get, that lets me keep the prices down and turn over more,” Sides-Tesh said. “People can still have quality (items) at a bad time.”
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