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Genuine, Caring, Unique

October 22, 2012 By 1,031 Comments
Julie Halifax

Julie Halifax

Consignment boutiques are all the rage these days. Hidden treasures are waiting for savvy shoppers. And the great news is that they aren’t your grandmother’s consignment shops anymore. According to the National Association of Resale Professionals, consignment boutiques have become shopping destinations. As much as 15% of shoppers have discovered the magic of consignment boutiques compared to 21% of shoppers who patronize the major department stores. Today’s consignment boutiques offer conscientious shoppers gently used designer clothing and other fabulous finds at very reasonable prices that are far below retail costs.

Fresh Threads Designer Consignment Boutique in south Tampa, established in 2009, offers ladies’ high quality designer clothing and accessories. Juli Halifax, from the New York City area, which is, of course, the fashion capital of the world, is the owner. While living in Brooklyn, Juli roamed the shopping districts of SoHo, Tribeca, Park Slope and Greenwich Village, admiring the styles and collecting ideas for the boutique she would own one day. That day finally arrived when she acquired Fresh Threads in 2010. Juli and her staff provide personalized service to their customers. Each customer and consignor is truly appreciated. There are many consignment shop choices available, and Juli and her staff take it to heart when Fresh Threads is chosen over all others.

Juli’s focus is to provide the financially conscious woman with quality, contemporary designer couture, shoes, jewelry and handbags way below retail prices. Some of the famous brands available in this boutique are Anthropologie, Burberry, Tory Burch, Chanel, Coach, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Frye, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, Prada and Roberto Cavalli, but there are many, many more treasures hidden in this trendy boutique. Hidden treasures indeed, and it’s all about the thrill of the hunt; nothing can match the excitement a savvy, urban huntress experiences when she finds that one of a kind piece that will make her look and feel like a million bucks, especially when it is actually the bargain of the year. Juli understands that women love pretty things in all price ranges, and she offers items for everyone’s budget. At Fresh Threads, conscientious shoppers from all economic levels buy fabulous, high-quality clothing for a fraction of the retail price. When developing the inventory, Juli and her staff carefully select only the best contemporary styles and designer items that are in excellent condition.

Besides all the hottest designer goods, personal touches and carefully selected merchandise, Fresh Threads’ staff can provide closet organization, personal styling and fashion design by one of their referrals or their full time employee, stylist and fashion designer Bobbie Y Kingsbury (aka The Fashion Authority).

Fresh Threads has grown significantly since Juli took it over. Initially starting with 150 registered consignors, the number has increased to 600 consignors in less than two years. This is in part due to the dedication to personalized service. Close attention is paid to their clients’ style preferences and they even keep a wish list of customers’ “wants.”

In addition to designer merchandise, Fresh Threads offers unique items by local artists. It is important to Juli to build relationships and strong ties to the community. She also conducts a prom dress drive every spring. One of Juli’s most memorable experiences was when she received a photograph and handwritten note from a high school girl who received one of the gowns for her prom. Juli was deeply moved by this girl’s gratitude. Helping the community is something that drives Juli every day. She also supports local charities including Alpha House, The Spring of Tampa Bay, Kimberly Home and the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, just to name a few.

Juli has always had a flair for fashion and owning her own boutique has been a dream that has finally come true. She owes her success to every entrepreneur and business associate she has met along her path, every business seminar she has attended and every business book she has ever read; Juli has learned something valuable from every experience. Juli also credits family and friends for her success. One very special person who has taught her the precious lesson of how to be strong and persevere, regardless of circumstances, is her infant son, Gavin, who was born premature, only weighing one pound, five ounces at birth. “I start my day with gratitude for him, for life, and the power of prayer.”

Fresh Threads designer consignment boutique is located in South Tampa at 4230 S. MacDill Avenue. They also have a “pop up” shop is inside The Emporium, an eclectic shop offering clothing, furniture, shabby chic treasures and gifts. The Emporium is in Largo at 904 Clearwater Largo Road. Both locations are open Tuesday through Saturday.

Please visit Fresh Threads on Facebook or the website for specific hours. For more information go to www.ShopFreshThreads.com or call 813.449.3578.

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