Consignment stores can be smelly, or they can be lovely closets of gently used merchandise. Sophia’s is the second. The owner confided that she visited a competitor and was told she would have to wait six months for an appointment to review some items for consignment. She decided that she could do better, so she opened her own store on the strip mall nearby. Sophia’s has a good eye for quality goods and does not accept any that show wear. Unlike other business models where consigned goods are continuously marked down until they practically evaporate, Sophia’s policy after accepting goods is to set a price, then display the items for sale for 3 months at that same price, or until sold, whichever’s first. So last Fall, I took a handful of unwanted baubles in to the shop. Turns out most were salable, so I departed with confidence that Sophia’s customers would convert my trinkets to cash for me. The owner and I bonded when I told her that one bracelet had a pretty sketchy origin. Even though it was gifted by an Ex as an authentic and popular designer piece, I could never really believe it. Turns out the jewelry was just like the Ex. Unbelievable as well as Unreal. And like the Ex, the bracelet is also now looooong gone. Thanks, Sophia’s