San Luis Obispo County shoppers have access to a shop where they can buy unique, pre-owned home furnishings. SLO Consignment Furniture, which opened on Sept. 1, not only sells well-priced, lightly used furniture, but also offers locals a place to consign some of their own household items.

Owner Jennifer Alderman said she wants to present furniture that “appeals to a variety of people,” and has filled her store with a selection of indoor and outdoor furniture and decorative accessories.

• PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
• CONSIGN : Jennifer Alderman wants to help people spice up their homes with pre-owned furnishings.

As far back as she can remember, Alderman has had a passion for design.

“Ever since I was a child, I was arranging things,” said Alderman, who grew up in Palisades, N.Y. She studied at the New York School of Interior Design and worked as an interior designer on commercial and residential projects in NYC for 15 years before relocating to the Central Coast to marry David Robbins, a local. She said she decided to enter the consignment furniture industry because she “wanted to work in the design industry, but not as a interior designer per se.”

SLO Consignment Furniture is the first occupant of a newly constructed space that has loft-like proportions with an open floor plan. The building has extremely high ceilings and clerestory windows that let in an abundance of sunlight, showcasing the pieces inside. A black, baby grand piano sits to the right of the entryway, welcoming customers. And just about every different piece of furniture you can think of—from a French art deco day bed to a Heyman Wakefield dining set to ornate vanities—is somewhere among the offerings scattered about the building.

Because of economic concerns and environmental awareness, many consumers are buying pre-owned goods rather than something newly made. This trend has allowed resale and consignment stores, as well as thrift shops, to flourish. According to the National Association of Resale Professionals, “the industry has experienced a growth in number of stores of approximately 7 percent a year for the past two years.” Alderman said she believes “people are examining their purchasing habits and realizing that they don’t always need to buy new things.” She hopes her store will serve as “a resource for the design community, collectors, and shoppers.”

To have your furniture consigned through SLO Consignment Furniture, e-mail photos of your items to [email protected]. If your items are approved, SLO Consignment will set up a time for you to drop them off. The consignment period is approximately 90 days, and the consigned items will be offered at full price for the first 60 days and at 20 percent off for the next 30 days.

If your item doesn’t sell, SLO Consignment will contact you and ask you to pick it up. If your item then sits for 10 more days, SLO Consignment will donate it to the SLO Hospice Partner’s Hope Chest.

SLO Consignment Furniture is located at 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110. It’s open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit sloconsignment.com or call 544-5900.

Fast facts

The Family Care Network will host its eighth annual Taste of the Central Coast at the Cypress Ridge Pavilion in Arroyo Grande from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18. The fine food and wine tasting event showcases local talent, honors local child advocates, and raises funds to support the community’s foster and high-needs children and families served by the Family Care Network. Tickets for the event are $75 per person and can be purchased by visiting tasteofthecentralcoast.com or by calling 781-3535. All proceeds earned at the event benefit the children and families served by the Family Care Network. This year’s event is sponsored by the Access Foundation, Rabobank and the Berakah Foundation.

Intern Jack Johnson compiled this week’s Strokes & Plugs. Send your business news to [email protected].