HOULTON, Maine — High-end brand names at low prices are drawing people from around the state to a new upscale consignment shop in downtown Houlton.
Located in the historic S.L. White Drug Co. building on Main Street, On the Rack sells women’s clothing, jewelry, beauty items, the Rude make-up line, shoes, boots and bags.
Owner Amy Carmichael initially opened the shop in March at a Court Street location, but on Oct. 1 moved to Main Street for more room.
“It has really taken off. We have consignors from Augusta, Old Town, Madawaska,” she said. “We have a lot of young shoppers and the average age is between 18 and 30.”
There are a handful of thrift and charity shops in the area, but Carmichael said this is one of the first consignment shops.
“Years ago on the corner was Mother Hubbard’s children’s consignment, but I don’t think there’s really ever been anything like this,” she said.
Prior to opening On the Rack, Carmichael co-owned HSC Auctions, an online auction house for estate furnishings. The business was destroyed last September during a late night blaze, as was a lot of inventory, including irreplaceable vintage art and furniture.
“When I saw it, I was just devastated. Everything we had been working for was gone,” Carmichael said of the fire. “We were the fullest we have ever been. These pieces were so old and in beautiful pristine condition.”
Shortly after the fire, Carmichael bought the HSC Auctions from her partner and restarted weekly online auctions first under the name Pink Gavel Auctions and now Rack it Up Auctions, which offers about 100 items each week.
But it’s the consignment business that has really taken off, and on Thursday afternoon, there was a steady stream of shoppers.
Consignment shops share sale profits with consignors, who get a percentage of the sale. At On the Rack, consignors get 40 percent of the sale, and there are some who are making $100 or more a month, according to Carmichael.
Clothing resale grew 15 times as fast as the general retail apparel sector in 2023 and is expected to continue growing 17 percent annually through 2028, according to Capital One 2024 research statistics.
The Houlton shop is 90 percent consignment with about 100 consignors. The shop standards dictate that clothing must be laundered and cannot include Walmart items, pet hair, pilling, stains or odors.
All items in the shop are steamed and labeled with size, brand and price.
Most items, ranging in size from XS to 3X, are brand names like American Eagle, L.L. Bean, Jones of New York, j. jill, Air Jordans, authentic certified Coach bags, Ralph Lauren, Vera Bradley purses and White House Black Market heels.
American Eagle jeans that sell new for about $80 are priced at $14.99.
The consignor gets 40 percent of the sale or 50 percent store credit that is paid the 15th of every month with a 90-day turnaround. If not sold in the three months, the consignor can choose to donate the items or pick them up.
Kaylee Hayes, Carmichael’s niece, works with her in the shop and does most of the window dressing, shop design and mannikin clothing.
The shop is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday till 5 p.m. and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
