A long, flowing, shimmering wedding gown is every bride-to be's dream; a special, elegant prom dress the hope of a young lady attending that special event; and a stand-out, possibly one-of-a-kind pageant gown, the wish of every girl competing in a beauty contest. However, the hefty price tags that accompany garments such as these can dash the hopes of many young girls and their families alike.
"My granddaughter, Bailey, was entered in the Mount Pleasant Glass and Ethnic Festival Little Princess Contest, and I was shocked at the cost of a pageant dress," explained Marie Murphy.
Murphy soon realized that her good friend Denise Kozer shared the same thoughts while shopping for pageant gowns, so the two decide to rectify the situation and became co-owners of "Gowns Galore," a new gown and formal wear consignment shop in Mount Pleasant, which they plan to formally open on May 29.
Murphy and Kozer, of Mount Pleasant, plan to offer a vast selection of gowns, shoes, purses, jewelry, and other accessories. Their inventory will include wedding gowns, prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses and pageant wear.
All items brought in for consignment must be cleaned, wearable and without any tears or rips, the women noted.
When available, Murphy and Kozer request that a copy of the original sales receipt be included, along with a written description.
"If they have a picture of them in the gown itself, would also be a big help," added Kozer.
Terms for the consignment itself are set at 60/40, with all items running on a three-month contract which is
automatically available for renewal at the end of the contract period.
The pricing of each item brought into sale will be handled personally by either Murphy or Kozer.
"We want to sit down with customers and discuss the pricing, see what they want and then we can decide on a price together," said Murphy.
The women also intend to handle purchasing customers in the same fashion. Appointments to view and purchase items are recommended, insuring that each customer receives a one-on-one type consultation. The owners wish to create a comfortable atmosphere enabling buyers to shop and try on gowns in a leisurely fashion, with full attention and privacy.
The value and the turnaround factor are also big pluses when dealing with consignment articles.
"Actually, if you purchase an item, you can wear it, clean it and bring it back to resale," said Murphy. "When you resale it, it would be like wearing a gown for nothing."
Kozer and Murphy are also accepting entire bridal party gowns and flower girl dresses, enabling a bride in the planning stages to simply fit her entire bridal party.
Although alterations will not as yet be offered on the premises, a list of qualified, recommended local seamstresses will be included for any changes required.
After more than 18 months in the planning stages, the women are very anxious to open their doors to the public and hopefully fill a niche to offer good, quality, elegant wear at affordable prices.
"With the economy the way it is, putting together a wedding can be expensive, and this way, they will have the opportunity to have a truly beautiful wedding gown at an affordable price," Murphy explained.
Initial drop-off for clothing will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 29. The shop will then be open, with no appointment necessary, every Saturday in June, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shopping or leaving items to consign can be arranged during the week by appointment.
The shop is located at 512 W. Main St., Suite 201, between Marie's Place and the Endzone, Mount Pleasant. For appointments or information, call 1-800-520-GOWN.
