• Paula Tscholl-Bennett and Beki Theken are second-generation family owners of Encore.
• The store remains at same location at 4125 Cleveland Ave. NW.
• Resale shops are enjoying steady growth in the U.S.

PLAIN TWP. − A local consignment business born out of two sisters’ love of shopping is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Encore Resale Fashions was in the consignment business long before it was cool.

The clothing (and more) store at 4125 Cleveland Ave. NW has operated out of the same location since it was opened in 1973 by sisters Ruthmary Tscholl and Joyce Theken, who came up with the idea after shopping at a consignment store in Cleveland.

Today, Encore is owned and operated by a second generation, Tscholl’s daughter, Paula Tscholl-Bennett, and her sister-in-law Beki Theken.

“They enjoyed shopping,” Paula Tscholl-Bennett said of her mother and aunt. “On the way home, they decided to start their own store.”

The women weren’t dilettantes. For one thing, both were married to accountants.

Tscholl-Bennett said her late mother had a college degree in statistics.

“She was a real estate agent before moving to Canton, and worked for the Pentagon,” she said. “Post-World War II, she helped settle claims for French farmers who lost land even though she didn’t speak French. She had a very interesting life.”

How Encore Retails Fashions got its start

Encore began with $500 in seed money from each sister, who rented two rooms in the converted house.

Today, Encore occupies the entire building – three floors and a basement – along with several commercial additions.

Tscholl-Bennett and Theken noted that many of their customers and contributors are generational.

“We’re blessed with a lot of good, loyal consignors,” Theken said.

Encore has worked with 49,000 consignors over its 50-year span. These days, the store hosts live broadcasts on Instagram and Facebook at 6 p.m. Mondays where customers can shop online and purchase items.

During the month of November, for every $25 purchased, customers will be entered into a drawing for gift certificates and store items.

Theken said Encore is ultra-selective about what gets accepted for consignment.

“We turn away about 70%,” she said. “We have a saying, ‘If it’s so-so, its a no-no.’”

Tscholl-Bennett said women’s tops are the store’s No. 1 seller.

“A new top is a new outfit,” she said with a smile.

In addition to women’s and men’s wear and accessories, Encore’s most popular items include jewelry, wedding dresses, women’s formal wear, handbags, and shoes. They recently received a consignment for four pairs of Christian Louboutins, a high-end brand of women’s shoes popularly known as “red bottoms.”

“A lot of people don’t keep their wedding gowns,” Theken said. “It’s amazing how many of them bring their dresses two months after they wear it.”

Theken and Tscholl-Bennett say they’re about to embark on their busiest season as teens start to shop for suits and formals for prom and school winter dances.

Theken calls Encore’s men’s department, the store’s best-kept secret.

“A lot of men like to shop, but they also like to save money,” Tscholl-Bennett said.

Theken said her reward is making customers happy, especially when a prospective bride finds a dress she loves. They employ a seamstress to help with fittings.

“We really have respect for our customers and consignors,” Tscholl-Bennett said.

Consignment and resale shopping boom

Both women said they can remember when some sellers would bring in items but wouldn’t shop. That’s all changed, they said, as consignment shopping’s popularity has grown.

According to the Association of Resale Professionals, there are roughly 25,000 resale shops in the U.S generating abut $15 billion a year in sales, with stores enjoying a 7% growth per year over the past two years.

However, the association reports that many consignment locations close after a year.

This year’s forecast for the secondhand and resale industry is $53 billion in sales, with consignment sales accounting for $27 billion and $26 billion predicted for secondhand sales sites like thrift and donation organizations.

More than 60% of Gen Z and millennials surveyed said they shop in second-hand stores before purchasing new items, with many citing concerns about the environment and sustainability.

According to the American Research Group, a consumer research organization, 12% to 15% of Americans will shop at a consignment store this year.

Encore is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

To learn more visit, www.encoreresalefashions.com or call 330-492-7004.

Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or [email protected]

On X, formerly Twitter: @cgoshayREP