Pop-up sales bring resale trend to Naperville, Elmhurst

Buying old is new again.

That's the idea behind two large-scale pop-up consignment stores coming this spring to the Western suburbs.

The first, Rhea Lana's of West Chicagoland, will call a long-vacant former Kmart in Naperville its home for several days in March, while the second, Savvy Sister Sale, takes up residence in an Elmhurst Knights of Columbus hall for a four-day weekend in May.

Rhea Lana's focuses on kids' clothing, toys and gear, while Savvy Sister resells high-end women's fashions, shoes and accessories.

But the differences end there.

Both sales are capitalizing on a trend that combines saving money, going green and staying in style, owners say.

"Buying used has just become more trendy even with the millennials and now the young moms," said Christine DeGraf of Glen Ellyn, who co-owns Rhea Lana's of West Chicagoland with her mother-in-law, Heidi DeGraf. "For the young moms in their early 20s, I think it's just a trendy thing to buy used and to save that money, and they realize it."

So do shoppers at Savvy Sister, a new business started a year ago by Leslie Schlesinger and Sarah Link of Elmhurst that is preparing for its third sale. With high standards for quality and brands accepted, the sale features "all the things ladies are looking for and loving," Link said.

Both organizers say they offer benefits for consignors, shoppers and the community.

First consignors. These twice-yearly sale operations make it simple for consignors to sign up online, listing the items they want to sell, setting their prices, printing price tags and keeping it all organized.

"It is quite the spectacle," DeGraf said of the Rhea Lana sale, which takes up a 100,000-square-foot former big box store. "It's like organized chaos."

The average consignor made $429 from a 70 percent return on items sold at the most recent Rhea Lana's, DeGraf said. At least 700 sellers are expected to offer goods during the sale's March 11-17 run.

Consignors with Savvy Sister bring in 60 percent of the price of their castoffs, and can ramp that up to 75 percent if they volunteer during the sale. Fifty consignors have registered so far, and Link said she expects that number to at least double before the sale begins with a VIP night May 21.

Elmhurst-area women who want to clear their closets of designer denim, tops, purses and shoes can find a fun and cost-effective way to do so at the Savvy Sister Sale, says Link, a former teacher who partnered with a former architect to start the sale.

"Leslie and I both consign our own clothing that we are no longer using," Link said. "We also do a ton of shopping while we're there. It's quite dangerous over the four days."

But the "danger" of deals leads to the second wave of benefits, and that's for shoppers.

Parents and fashionistas combing the racks can save between 50 percent and 75 percent off original retail prices, store owners say. And that keeps them coming back for more.

Both sales offer some form of early bird opportunities - be it pregnant women and volunteers at Rhea Lana's or VIP ticketholders at Savvy Sister.

And being first to see the deals is a big perk. Sometimes at Rhea Lana's, several consignors will offer the same toy in various conditions for different prices. Getting first pick lets shoppers choose the best condition and lowest price.

An advantage goes to the environment, too.

"This just all makes so much sense," DeGraf said. "All this plastic stuff (think strollers, bouncy seats, outdoor play sets) would just go in a landfill and last forever."

Instead of going to a landfill, merchandise that doesn't find a buyer is donated from both Rhea Lana's and Savvy Sister, owners say. Rhea Lana's gives goods to 10 charities, while the smaller Savvy Sister Sale donates to two: First United Methodist Church in Elmhurst and Repeat Boutique Center in Wheaton.

Rhea Lana's is even upping the charitable ante this year, with a diaper and wipes drive to benefit Teen Parent Connection in Glen Ellyn.

Shoppers who in the March 11 presale can bring a package of diapers or wipes for the chance to enter the sale a half-hour earlier than their assigned time. The drive will stock the resource center, which goes through 22,000 diapers a year as it helps young mothers in need, DeGraf said.

If you go

What: Rhea Lana's of West Chicagoland kids consignment sale

When: Presale Saturday, March 11; Sale days Sunday, March 12 through Thursday, March 16; Half-price sale Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18

Where: 1199 E. Ogden Ave. (former Kmart), Naperville

Who: Special presales for volunteers, consignors and pregnant mothers; Sale days open to the public

Cost: Kids clothing, toys and accessories at 70 to 75 percent off retail prices

Info: <a href="https://wchicagoland.rhealana.com/">wchicagoland.rhealana.com</a>

What: Savvy Sister Sale

When: VIP Day 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 18; Sale 10 a.m to 9 p.m. Friday, May 19 and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20; Half-price sale 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 21

Where: Knights of Columbus, 537 S. York St., Elmhurst

Who: Women sizes 00 to 26

Cost: Women's clothing, shoes, purses and accessories at 50 to 70 percent off retail prices

Info: <a href="http://savvysistersale.com/">savvysistersale.com</a>