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Designer deals every day at consignment shop
Gilat Zamost, wearing a Peach Carr dress and Vintage 5 bracelets at her store, My Best Friend's Closet | Photo courtesy of Gilat Zamost
My Best Friend’s Closet
Peach Carr, Joshua McKinley at Anniversary Party/Fundraiser, 6 p.m. Feb. 1; 10 percent of sales benefit Bridge to Success
1780 Green Bay Road Highland Park
(847) 681-0002; mybestfriendsclosethp.com
Article Extras
Updated: March 1, 2013 6:33AM
Gilat Zamost has done consignment most of her life and has always loved it. So opening up a consignment shop was inevitable, especially when the market tanked and she needed a job.
An open shop space on Green Bay Road in Highland Park happened to be a perfect location. The store filled a void in that area where no upscale resale shops existed. So just three years ago, Zamost opened My Best Friend’s Closet. She’s celebrating with a party for all at 6 p.m. Feb. 1 at the store. Project Runway’s Joshua McKinley and Peach Carr will be special guests.
Because of the economy, many consumers have been more than willing to sell off unwanted designer items. So consignment shops are booming. Such stores are the hottest growing segment of retail. And thanks to the thrill of a good bargain, consignment stores have become quite trendy.
All Gilat needed was merchandise for her store. She put up in her shop’s window asking women for their quality clothes, and handed out her business cards to everybody and anybody. Soon, she recalls, she was able to stock her entire store and then some.
Today, people often come into My Best Friend’s Closet thinking they’ve discovered a cute new boutique, not realizing they’re in an upscale resale shop.
The well-manicured look of the place helps. It’s well-organized, and there’s not even a hint of stale, resale shop odor. Customer service is outstanding because Zamost says her shoppers are the “number one” concern of the store.
Shoppers will be delighted with the array designer items in the shop. Gilat carries everything from Chanel, Prada, Manolo Blahnik, and Donna Karan to Catherine Malandrino, Diane Von Furstenberg and Tory Burch.
She’s as particular about the condition of items she accepts as she is about their quality.
A bonus here is that along with her 2,000 consignors, Gilat also carries exclusive lines of Project Runway’s Peach Carr’s clothing. That’s because, she says, she believes in the many , numerous local designers and wants to support them. So, for example, she carries lines like Karen Weiss Jewelry and Vintage 5 Jewelry.
“More important than making money is helping people.” states Gilat. She shows that with her support of many local causes. When merchandise consignment time has expired and after her big sidewalk sale, the clothing that remains is a donated to Bridge to Success. That’s a non-profit organization that provides high end interview clothing and work appropriate attire along with coaching and interview preparation to women in need.
