The Repeat Boutique will be open for business at a new location on Wednesday. The popular consignment shop is moving to Suite 4 in the Trolley Center, 900 Central Ave.

“It will be an exciting move,” said owner Tina Williamson. “We’ll be in the very back where Curves once was. It’s got its own back entrance. You can come through the front or you can come through the back.”

She said the new home for her business will have significant advantages over her longtime location at 928 Central Ave.

“It’s all on one floor,” Williamson explained. “That will be better for shoppers. The flat, open floor plan will be wonderful.”

Additionally, the city parking lot directly behind the Trolley Center, which features both metered and permit parking, will be a convenience for shoppers, she said.

The Repeat Boutique has a long history in downtown Fort Dodge. Williamson has been its owner for just short of 15 years, but the store had already been in business for a number of years when she took the helm.

The establishment offers previously owned clothing at attractive prices.

“It’s all consigned clothing – seasonal up-to-date pieces,” Williamson said. “It’s men’s, women’s and children’s clothing – casual, dressy, formal. It’s strictly consignment. It’s clothing, accessories and shoes. We accept anything that is in good shape purchased within the past two to three years. We prefer better brand names.”

Big following

Williamson said the secret of making a consignment shop like hers thrive is to have a both a diverse contingent of consignors and an eclectic mix of shoppers.

“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of time and really, really good consignors,” she said. “Honestly, I couldn’t do this job if I didn’t have some great people bringing some exceptional clothes in. I have over 5,000 consignors.”

Having an enticing mix of merchandise to sell is only possible if a consignment store can mobilize consignors with assorted backgrounds. Williamson said The Repeat Boutique has been able to accomplish that key feat.

“I have my younger consignors, my teenagers who bring in the spendy clothes,” she said. “My favorite is the everyday moms, the 35-year-olds whose kids go through clothes rapidly. Then we also have the grandmas and the older ladies. They buy quality pieces that often haven’t been worn a great deal when they bring them here to sell.”

Williamson said many of the consignors are motivated by a desire to see quality clothing they no longer need or want benefit someone else.

“I’ve got a lot of girls who bring their formals in and say ‘I just want somebody else to enjoy this. I spent $300 on it and somebody else should get to wear it,'” she said. “We sell a lot of prom dresses.”

Many of the shoppers who patronize The Repeat Boutique are from Fort Dodge and Webster County, but the store draws consignors and customers from a much wider area.

“Surprisingly, we have a nice Fort Dodge base, but I get a lot of people from the surrounding areas, probably at least half,” Williamson said.

She said the people who visit The Repeat Boutique to shop have one thing in common – they are looking for clothing that is a bargain.

“On a normal day, I can have from infants to a 90-year-old in the store,” Williamson said. “We’ve picked up a lot of the migrant workers and that sort of thing. The customers all want name-brand, quality, trendy clothes for a fraction of the price. Price is the huge driver.”

She said the merchandise she offers is sold for a great deal less than what it would cost if purchased new.

“It’s maybe a fourth or a third of the new price,” Williamson said. “It’s a huge savings.”

While having a desire to save money is a common denominator for the patrons of The Repeat Boutique, many of the customers could afford to pay more for clothing, but choose not to do so. Williamson said many of her clients simply enjoy the search for bargains. Others are believers in the importance of utilizing society’s manufactured goods efficiently.

“We’re getting more people now because recycling is becoming more popular,” she said. “They seek to save the earth, benefit others.”

Meet the owner

Williamson was born and raised in Fort Dodge. Tina Sindlinger Williamson graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 1989. She continued her studies at Iowa Central Community College and completed here program there with honors in 1991.

“I was a secretary for 10 years,” Williamson said, noting that at that point she was ready to try something new. “My husband’s aunt owned this and said ‘I’m pregnant with twins, do you want to buy it?’ … My kids were little and they were going through clothes a lot. I was aware of the need for this type of store. Everybody wants good quality clothes at a far cheaper price than what some of the stores can charge.”

The decision to become a business owner has proved a good one for her.

“I love my consignors,” Williamson said. “I’ve made so many awesome friends. I like looking at all the different types of clothing. … Most of my customers I enjoy dealing with. They are from many different walks of life. It’s fun because of the variety. There’s something new every day.”

The store is open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.