Willow Glen Resident
News
Cluster of consignment shops part of area's growing 'recycling' trend
By Mary Gottschalk
When Israel Sanchez was planning to open a consignment shop and realized there was already one across the street, he says he decided it was a good thing.
"Maybe we can build a consignment community," says Sanchez, who opened the doors to his Park Avenue Consignment at 1043 Park Ave. on Feb. 1.
Heather Pham, co-owner of Tozeero across the street at 1040 Park Ave., has similar thoughts.
"It would be neat if more consignment stores opened up along here," says Pham, who opened Tozeero in partnership with Rudy Klemencic in November.
Both Sanchez and Pham see their stores as complementing one another, although there is some overlap.
Park Avenue Consignment doesn't carry clothing, shoes, accessories and toys, while those items make up the bulk of the inventory at Tozeero.
Sanchez says when anyone asks about consigning clothing, he directs them across the street.
Pham says while they do carry some furniture, she will likely recommend people with large furniture consignments go talk to Sanchez.
Both shops represent a growing trend in the way people sell and purchase used goods. Thrift shops are becoming more common and more specialized in San Jose. In recent months, the city has seen an increase in the used goods industry, including last year's opening of Almaden Valley's GW, a high-end line of Goodwill Industries International that specializes in brand-name furniture sales.
Sanchez and Pham say their shops provide residents an alternative to selling items online or through a garage sale.
With more than a decade of sales experience, the 28-year-old Sanchez says he's been planning to open a store for three years. Trying to decide what sort of store was the difficult part.
"My interests are so wide. Then I came across this idea and it's actually perfect because it allows me to pursue all my interests in one store," he says.
Park Avenue is 1,200 square feet, and Sanchez says his inventory falls into four categories--musical instruments, furniture, household appliances and vintage items.
The store is currently a mix of all four.
Furniture ranges from a large computer workstation with shelves and cabinets that sold immediately for $25 to a small end table for $10. A formal dining room set with six upholstered chairs is priced at $850.
Appliances include televisions and microwaves, which are connected to electric outlets so customers can try them before buying.
Among the musical instruments is a $250 electronic drum set, which Sanchez is happy to demonstrate. The vintage offerings include a Hulk Hogan lunch pail priced at $100 as well as Atari games.
Sanchez is mixing some new furniture in with used pieces and says he expects the mix will be about 70 percent consignment and 30 percent new.
Sanchez's approach to fees is somewhat unusual.
If someone brings in an item with a set amount in mind and Sanchez believes he can sell it above that, he says he'll keep the difference between what the person wants and what he sells it for.
Otherwise, he says he'll charge between 20 percent and 40 percent of the sale price, depending on the item, its price and how much time is involved in selling it. He points out that items such as musical instruments need to be demonstrated.
Sanchez says his goal is "to provide a place where people starting out can come in and pick something up at a reasonable price. They don't have to drive around answering Craigslist ads."
Pham says as news of Tozeero has spread, inventory has increased dramatically. Unlike the other stores, the inventory at Tozeero drops in price each week until an item sells or reaches the zero point.
Around the corner and down two long blocks is a third consignment shop, Move It Elsewhere at 350 Lincoln Ave.
Unlike Park Avenue Consignment and Tozeero, which are open on an almost daily basis, Move It Elsewhere is open only three days a month and by appointment.
Founder Suzanne Comaroto says an increase in consignment shops in one area is good.
"It's the same as with antique stores," she says. "If there's more than one, that's great. It gives people a bigger variety."
Store specs
Park Avenue Consignment, 1042 Park Ave., 408.947.1483, open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays.
Tozeero, 1040 Park Ave., 408.971.4948, www.tozeero.com, open noon to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday and closed Tuesdays.
Move It Elsewhere, 350 Lincoln Ave., 408.885.1600, www.moveitelsewhere.com. Upcoming sale dates are Feb. 22-24 and March 14-16, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The website allows sign-ups for sale notifications.
