We recently connected with Maggie Helmholdt and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Maggie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, what do you think about family businesses? Would you want your children or other family members to one day join your business?
I have a big heart for family businesses. I grew up in one, I work in one, and I’ve worked in others! I currently manage my mom’s consignment store. But before I managed things, you could find me running through the racks playing dress up. Through my college years I worked in another consignment store that was also run by a woman and her daughters. After college I spent nearly a year serving in a children’s home in Belize that was run by a husband, wife and their family. I have a friend from college who is in the early stages of opening a coffee shop with her husband. The biggest common thread I see in family businesses is care. Obviously, if you own a business, you’re going to care about it. You need to if you’re going to succeed. You’re going to put in extra effort and hours to assure that whatever you’re selling or whatever work is being done is being sold & done well. The product will likely hold better quality, the atmosphere will have unique personal touches, the service will be personable because you’re a person who’s doing business – not a corporation. All that being said, once the spouse or child joins the party, that same level of care is multiplied. A paycheck isn’t the only thing motivating the team that’s showing up for work. It’s more than just a job for them. It’s the family legacy, the family project, the family dream. It’s the topic of countless dinner table conversations – whether it’s brainstorming new ideas or venting about a tough day. And yes, I say this from experience.
Working with my mom all these years has enhanced our relationship in every way. We’ve definitely had our fair share of work-based arguments and disagreements. But it’s mostly been a huge bonding platform. I’m so thankful that I’ve had the privilege of being a part of something so unique and intimate. You won’t see me joining corporate America any time soon!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Well my name’s Maggie and I was quite literally born into my current field. My mom has owned and operated Worth Repeating Fine Consignments for 33 years now. I skipped through racks and played dress up as a girl before being given my first “job” of removing security tags from unsold items that were being donated. I thought it was so much fun. Worth Repeating is a high-end women’s consignment store. We consign and sell everything from high-end clothing to bags to accessories and everything in between. We pride ourselves in providing a wide variety. Whether you’re looking for casual or formal, J.Crew or Chanel, we have a little bit of everything! I have seen countless days when women have come in on a mission looking for an outfit to wear to a party they have that same night or a specific event or a work function or a wedding. It’s so rewarding to watch them find exactly what they’re looking for. It’s equally as rewarding to see clients receiving their consignment checks. If the consignors & customers are both happy, we’re doing our job well.
The world of secondhand selling has greatly expanded over the last couple years – especially the online presence. However when it comes to shopping (and, honestly, most activities), there’s something about the in-person experience that can’t be replicated. Being able to touch & feel the products & try them on are core elements of the shopping experience that the online platforms will never be able to offer (without the hassle of first purchasing something only to ship it back because it doesn’t fit).
We’re proud to be the longest standing clothing consignment store in Fort Lauderdale. We owe it all to our fabulous consignors as well has our wonderful, loyal shoppers. To make it this long, I have found integrity to be essential. I’ve seen many consignment stores fail due to dishonest & greedy management. If items are going missing or being sold at an unfairly low prices, then it’s only a matter of time before the store’s reputation is tarnished. I strongly believe in running a transparent show. Consignors always have the ability to check up on their account and ask questions regarding the status of their items.
We’re definitely not perfect. We don’t always get the pricing right and theft is an unfortunate ever present reality. But when these instances happen we do everything in our power to make things right for the consignor. We wouldn’t still be here today if it wasn’t for the thousands of women who have trusted us to properly and fairly sell their things.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
We are so very blessed to have had the same team for quite a few years now. Aside from our amazing consignors & shoppers, we wouldn’t be near as successful without our dependable & hard-working staff. We’re a small team – there’s 6 of us total that keep this place going, and one of them is actually my cousin! It’s vital for any business to have good help that you can trust and rely on. And those people can be hard to find! Which is why my mom and I have been intentional with keeping our staff happy and cared for. We do this through communicating praise when someone does exceptionally well, acknowledging hard work through raises and bonuses, and facilitating a flexible work schedule that allows ample time for travel and personal days. We also delegate specific duties to each woman based on their strengths. For example, one of our girls has an amazing eye for displays, so we’ve put her entirely in charge of our windows and mannequins. She runs that element of the store and since we’ve given that over to her I’ve seen the pride and joy she takes in her work.
I adore our team. These ladies have put in so much time with us that we’ll do just about anything (within reason) to make sure they not only stick around, but that they enjoy the work they’re doing. If our team is happy and excited to be here, their performance will reflect that and that’s what customers and clients will notice.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
A small business’s reputation is quite important to its success or failure. A couple customer complaints or bad reviews would hardly affect a company like Target or Walmart. But for a small business? It’s only a matter of time. But I see that as a good thing. It keeps us on our toes and prevents us from getting lazy. We’re quick to improve when we get negative feedback. There was a season a couple years ago when we were consistently getting bad reviews about our staff – one woman in particular. We tried addressing the situation with her but ended up needing to let her go because her poor performance was hurting our reputation (another example as to why good help is so vital). We try to make every woman that shops here feel welcome, and if she comes often enough, we naturally get to know her by name and develop a friendship. And that’s what brings her back each week. Yes, to check up on new arrivals and shop around, but also to see her friends. I’ve always been against cold calls and throwing promotions in people’s faces the second they walk through the door. It’s fake and annoying (in my opinion). My priority is that every woman is seen, welcomed, and if she has any questions at all, to please ask us. If she feels like being conversational then we’ll be conversational in return. If she wants to quietly make her way around and not be bothered, then that’s fine too. Consistently meeting each woman’s shopping needs in a personable, helpful, and genuine way has absolutely built our sales floor reputation.
The consignment side’s reputation is just as important. We can’t be selling to shoppers if we have nothing to sell. I’ve said before that honesty is vital. If we’re completely honest, transparent, and above board with our consignment processes, then women will begin to trust us as they continue to bring their items for us to sell. Another area that honesty comes into play is with the designer goods we have on the floor. The reality is that fake designer bags are everywhere and some of the copies are quite convincing. When selling our designer bags and accessories, we make 100% certain that the product is authentic. Combining all of these factors is how we’ve lasted 33 years with a reputation we’re quite proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: worthrepeatingconsignments.com