Worn again - Westfair Communications

Aunt Letty”™s Chinese lamp. Uncle Vern”™s cherished leather jacket. Cousin Eudora”™s brass feather duster. Yours ”¦ at last.

With the economic downturn, it”™s no surprise that consignment shops are popular these days with shoppers as well as people looking to sell their belongings for some extra cash.

Owners at Budget Bazaar in New City have noticed a slight increase in sales over the past few months, but believe shoppers and consignors are still holding back.

“The economy definitely has an effect on every single business, whether it”™s selling brand new items or slightly used,” said Michele Koblick, an owner.

“Basically people are coming in to sell their stuff and get a little extra pocket money,” Koblick said. “Food and gasoline is still more important than splurging on pants or a skirt.”

The store takes in items based on the season and sells mostly women”™s clothing and accessories, with 25 percent of sales in children”™s items.

Clothing must be in style and no more than three years old, with no tears or stains, to be considered for consignment.

“We”™re really picky because our customers are,” Koblick said. “Retail is such a fickle business, one day you could be really busy and one day you could be really slow.”

Mint, a consignment shop in Byram, Conn., specializing in children”™s, teens and women”™s clothing, looks more like an upscale boutique than a haunt for Second-Hand Rose.

Owners Debbie Gabel and Randy Henry say sales have been up 25 percent in the past two months.

“This is the best kind of retail there is right now,” Henry said. “Right now the economy is giving us a huge boost here. As the markets decline and people are losing their footing, we”™re climbing.”

The store, which has been open since September, offers consignors a 60-40 split ”“ 40 percent goes to the consignor and the store gets 60 percent.

“I think people are really starting to go through their closets,” Henry said.

Henry said Mint”™s success may be more so than the consignment stores for adults “because you always take care of your kids first.”

And, in adult stores, “you”™re still going to pay $1,000 for a Chanel suit.”

“Everybody”™s label-conscious these days,” Henry said. “We”™ve become a staple in a lot of people”™s lives.”

Consigned clothing, handbags and other accessories must be in perfect condition.

“We know basically what sells,” Henry said. “Anything Juicy (Couture) goes right away.”

The most expensive item in the store is a $300 Versace dress that would normally sell for $800.

“We really try to keep the prices down,” Henry said. “A person who has maybe $100 to spend can walk out of here with four items. That”™s a good feeling.”

Gabel said the store gets new merchandise in every single week.

“It”™s a treasure hunt for some people,” Henry said.

For consignors, the amount of money they will receive from their clothing depends on the volume.

“If someone brings in six Lacoste shirts and three Juicy sweatshirts, they”™re going to get back a couple hundred bucks,” Henry said.

Henry said designer bags are selling well, and that”™s where people really make money.

The store tries to send checks out the first week of every month.

At The Penny Pincher Boutique in Bedford Hills, sales have been up 10 percent over the past year.

“Business has been great,” said Michele Cunningham, an employee.

Cunningham said clothing and shoes have been selling well as well as home furnishings.

Cunningham said home furnishing sales usually spike in the fall, but it seems more people are turning to the store to furnish their homes.

She said the store, which is open seven days a week, gets three to four phone calls a day from consignors interested in selling their unwanted clothes.

“We are still getting a lot of new consignors and boutiques that also consign with us,” Cunningham said. “It seems like everybody”™s getting in on the game.”

The store does a 50-50 split with consignors on clothing; on home furnishings and fine jewelry over $500, 60 percent goes to the consignor.

Cunningham said the store, owned by Melinda Arkin, makes sure the quality of the items is pristine.