Written by Travis Silvas, County Journal, November 10, 2017
Amanda Lipsey was a young mother trying to clothe her rapidly growing children when she was hit with inspiration. So she set out to build inventory and the knowledge needed to open her own children’s clothing resale shop in Charlotte.
“I worked at Bella Grande for a year, learning as much as I could about the business,” Lipsey said.
Just when she felt she was ready to put her dream into motion, a children’s clothing resale shop opened in Charlotte.
“I took it as a sign,” Lipsey said. “I sold off my inventory and went into photography full time.”
A decade later, Lipsey has a thriving photography business, but has held onto the burning desire to own a small retail shop in her hometown. The timing being just right this time around, Lipsey opened Oh Darling! Children’s Upscale Resale & Boutique this past week in downtown Charlotte.
“Having three children, I never like to pay full retail price,” she said. “I love to bargain hunt and figured there were more parents out there just like me. We want to find great clothing at a great price.”
Lipsey said Charlotte has thrift stores, so she set out to provide her customers with a different experience.
“We’re a boutique, so you’re going to find some unique items here,” she said. “There will be some things you can’t find just anywhere.”
Lipsey is banking on the fact that not all parents have the time or desire to travel to Lansing or Battle Creek to shop for name brand clothing for their children, especially at the rate children can grow out of clothes. She has already established a small network of consigners who have provided the inventory to get Oh Darling! up and running. She said she will also accept more clothing to sell on consignment.
Oh Darling! accepts and sells clothing from newborns through teenagers (adult extra small and small). Lipsey said she is currently accepting fall and winter clothing and will transition to spring and summer clothing in February.
In addition to re-selling name brand clothing, Lipsey is working with a few Michigan vendors to offer a line of headbands and bows, wooden teethers, swaddle blankets, graphic t-shirts and kids tutus.
Oh Darling! is located at 141 S. Cochran Avenue in downtown Charlotte and is open Tuesday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, including a list of accepted brands, find Oh Darling! Children’s Upscale Resale and Boutique on Facebook.