LeBoutique is an upscale resale boutique. We opened our doors in historic, downtown Howell, MI on November 1, 2004. My vow is to provide you with a memorable, upscale resale shopping experience like no other!
Alas, in my adventurous quest for treasures, I have learned a few things…….. Resale shopping can be a pain in the butt. Spending hours digging through racks of outdated stuff is not fun. I still loved it, however, and finding that vintage Chanel was utopia for me. In fact, I don’t know if I’ll ever top that; but, to me it’s not all about the shopping anymore. It’s about giving away what I’ve come to enjoy so much. I don't want you to break a sweat trying to find a “find,” if you know what I mean. Resale shopping should be enjoyable….like you’re in a fine department store. In a perfect world, er, resale shop, everything on the racks is in-style, clean, ready to wear, all bundled up in a beautiful setting. Which brings me to my final thought: The term, "Upscale Resale" should apply to the entire shopping experience, not just the items for sale. From the greeting at the door to the dressing rooms, the upscale resale shops I went to fell short on the “upscale” part. Sure, there were upscale clothes hanging amongst out-dated duds, but why couldn’t I have an “UPSCALE RESALE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE”? A pampering of sorts? An upscale resale shop should be dynamic, unique, fun, glamorous and memorable. And thus, LeBoutique Upscale Resale was born.
My travels around the world brought me back home again…to Howell, Michigan. My daughter was born in 1998 and while staying at home was fulfilling, I felt compelled to teach her the “we can do it” attitude of Rosie the Riveter. At the age of 40, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Marketing. After tossing the babushka (think Mary Tyler Moore here), I proudly started my own resale shop. LeBoutique Upscale Resale opened its doors in historic, downtown Howell, MI on November 1, 2004. Giving back to my hometown community is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. We’re proud members of the Howell Chamber of Commerce, NARTS (The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops) and the Better Business Bureau. We support many local charities in addition to donating unsold merchandise to organizations such as The Women’s Resource Center, LACASA and others.
Needless to say, the merchandise we sell is of vital importance; but, LeBoutique has charm and character, which requires much more than nice clothes. What incentive would I have to include a gorgeous mural of the French countryside, granite countertops and vintage chandeliers, or provide dressing rooms that make you feel like you’re in a European boutique? My vow is to provide you with a memorable, upscale resale shopping experience like no other. In this economy, I want to assist you in adding variety to your wardrobe without breaking the bank. My friend, Joann, recently added two Chico’s jackets and a pair of Ralph Lauren slacks to her collection for summer. She skipped out of LeBoutique singing our praises and giddily boasted that she didn’t even spend $100! I want that for you too! Shop for yourself and others … you’ll enjoy the scent of Beanpod Soy Candles and bath and body products from Archipelago Botanicals, and Habitat. It just happens to be that next to the fragrant pampering products lies an antique showcase lined with nearly-new handbags from the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Chanel. Private shopping parties take the fun to a whole new level!
We’ve come a long way baby. The stigma of resale shopping is no more; to the contrary, recycling clothes is now viewed as chic, eco-friendly, and green. (Consigning can earn you some serious green as well!) We're proud to offer online shopping at LeBoutique and provide convenience to our consignors with online account information.
