September’s Chamber Member of the Month: Annie’s Frugal Finery

“We’re like a consignment supercenter, we have a little bit of everything,” is how owner Debbie Campbell described her business, Annie’s Frugal Finery, located on Jenkins Road in Whitesburg.

When I walked through the door into the consignment store, I was met with a mannequin dressed in a chic outfit and then immediately greeted by a friendly voice, “Hi! Welcome in!”

Stepping fully into the room, I turn and see a demurely dressed woman in red lipstick smiling at me and she says, “Are you Katie? I’m Debbie Campbell.”

Debbie invited me to look around the store and take pictures before we sat down to talk about the business. So, I did. As I made my way through, I noticed on a wall packed to the brim of women’s tops and blouses that they were all arranged in color order, creating a rainbow of different styles and textures. Light green flowing into darker shades and then into the blues, everything meticulously organized. There were dresses, designer handbags, a whole wall of women’s jeans, men’s clothing, and a children’s section. There was a lot to take in!

Debbie and I went upstairs, to a large room that held all the home goods—furniture, throw pillows, knick-knacks, and artwork. We sat down and she began to tell me her story.

Growing up, Debbie loved to go to yard sales with her mom, and it’s something she likes to do with her daughter, Annie, too. She started Annie’s Frugal Finery when she retired from education in 2009. “I’ve always liked working,” she said.

Her passion for taking care of the environment is part of why she got into consignment. “You wouldn’t believe how much water is needed just to make one pair of Levi’s,” she told me. “Everything here experiences the circle of life. We re-use and try to be environmentally friendly. We use solar panels and efficient lights. We want to make it where we walk the walk.” They even recycle the hangers they use!

Debbie is also passionate about taking care of her community. At Annie’s Frugal Finery, consigners get a share of 50% of the profits made from the items sold. That means, if you consign a pair of jeans, and they sell that pair for $20, you get $10 from that sale. Compared to consignment stores in larger cities who only give about 25% of the profits, what Annie’s Frugal Finery offers is an amazing deal! They take pride in giving their consigners a great percentage because they know that every one of those dollars goes back into the community.  And it’s not just dollars being spent in Whitesburg, those dollars are going back to Paintsville, Pikeville, Hazard, and Virginia.

Annie’s Frugal Finery has a large reach in this region. They have about 4,000 consigners from 22 counties in Kentucky, 5 different states; tons of people are catching on to consignment! Because of the structure of profit sharing with their consigners, the business has been able to help a lot of people through tough times.  Debbie told me the story about a college-student who consigned with Annie’s. The student later wrote a thank you note to Debbie saying, “I couldn’t have afforded a lot of stuff in college if I hadn’t consigned with you.” She gave another example of a high-schooler that was able to get a suit for homecoming, something he couldn’t have afforded at a department store.

When it comes to consignment, this is not your typical thrift store. The items that they accept are thoroughly inspected and authenticated through meticulous procedures to make sure they only sell quality products. They go over items with a proverbial fine tooth comb to make sure there are no defects. Debbie said, “We have procedures and policies of how we go through things, and we do have high standards.”

These high standards Annie’s Frugal Finery has for their product highlight the pride they take in the business.  Giving their consigners high profit share and offering affordable prices to their customers, translates into how Debbie takes care of her employees, as well. She is able to pay above minimum wage, give paid holidays, and offer a great work-life balance. She’s taken her employees on a retreat to Georgia for team building and even some consignment shopping!

Debbie remarked, “I love consignment and resale and want to provide people with sustainable product.” There’s a lot of love flowing at Annie’s Frugal Finery; it’s palpable, and I think that’s why the business has been so successful. Taking care of consigners, customers and employees while remaining environmentally conscious has made an economic impact on Southeast Kentucky and surrounding areas, and I can’t wait to see how they expand and continue to grow!

Be sure to follow Annie’s Frugal Finery for the latest information and to claim items while they last! You can also visit their website at www.anniesfrugalfinery.com or call (606) 633-4829.