Open for business

When it ran out of space for its Designer Days Boutique (DDB) store in Shadyside, the National Council of Jewish Women-Pittsburgh Section (NCJW) decided to move the shop to a larger location.
The new shop opened Monday at 5873 Forbes Ave. in Squirrel Hill.
“We were too cramped in on Ellsworth [Avenue] and we felt this building was a better fit for our needs,” said Roxanne Wolk, a member of NCJW’s board.
The boutique sells by way of consignment, meaning that people can donate new or lightly used items of clothing to the store. If the item sells, the previous owner gets 50 percent of the profit.
“Most items here, although some we own outright, somebody wore a few times, it’s in good condition, and they are not ready to donate it 100 percent. Instead they bring it here [and] they get 50 percent [of the selling price] of it back,” said board member Jennifer Honig, as she held up a pink blouse. “People with a shopping habit can actually subsidize some of their budget.”
The store, one of three run by NCJW, carries a selection of clothes from designers such as Calvin Klein, Armani and more. The store also sells shoes from brands like Prada and Sergio Rossi. Purses and jewelry are available as well.
“These [clothes] are more designer; I see Coach bags to Nordstrom brand or Saks brand,” Honig said. “It’s a way for people to buy better things at cheaper prices because they’ve been gently used and actually some of our stuff is brand new.”
In addition to selling women’s consignment items, DDB has started to carry men’s consignment wear for the first time. According to the staff, DDB is the only store in the city that has men’s consignment.
“I think we’re going to test men’s consignment and see what happens,” said store manager Linda Wills.
NCJW also operates Thriftique, a thrift shop, and Home Consignments, a home furnishings consignment shop, both of which are located in Swissvale.
The three shops create revenue to support NCJW’s community service and advocacy programs. These programs include: Suit Yourself, a voucher program that gives business clothes to low-income individuals re-entering the workforce for free; Back to Work, an internship for at-risk, low-income women re-entering the workforce; and Back to School, which allows children to shop for free back-to-school clothing at Thriftique.
NCJW’s annual fundraiser, also called Designer Days, where items donated to the store will be sold, is slated to kick off Nov. 8.
(Andrew Goldstein can be reached at andrewg@thejewishchronicle.net.)
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