Eula B consignment store promotes affordable style with a charitable twist
By George Berkheimer
When work-related back and neck issues prevented Dena Sigler from continuing her dental hygienist career, she listened to her grandmother – and her heart – and opened the Eula B consignment shop in Bedford two years ago.
Q: What draws customers and consignors to your store?
Sigler: Shopping secondhand is affordable and allows customers to find items that are typically no longer available on the racks of department stores, but still in style. We accept clothing no older than two to three years, but we’ll consider it despite the age if it’s a timeless piece. Consigners collect 50% of the selling price. Even though there are many online platforms to sell items on your own, we eliminate the hassle of no-shows and meeting up with strangers or potential scams. Plus, we do all the work!
Q: What happens with items that don’t sell?
Sigler: The Consignors can return for unsold items if they wish, but after a period of time the items do turn over to the property of Eula B to be sold at a drastically reduced price and/or donated. Consignors may also choose to leave items behind that we don’t accept for consignment. Those items are specially tagged and placed in a bin to be sold with those sales going into a donation fund. Funds from donation bin sales are given back to our community every six months. We always note where our donations go so that consignors and purchasers know what those items help support.
Q: Do you have a special focus or anything that sets your business model apart?
Sigler: We’re very selective, because we want to choose items that are current and in like new condition, and each item undergoes a thorough inspection by multiple staff members. What sets us apart is the quality of our items, our prices, and the fact that we also offer shoes, home decor, jewelry, books, purses, and housewares. We try to incorporate some fun into the shopping experience with a Blue Light Special at which time we use our blue light and announce a discount for those present in the store. We also do A deal-of-the-day in which we will announce via our Facebook page what the deal will be and what one needs to do in order to land that deal. Some have been required to sing in order to snag their deal or just be the first in line when we open. Many men have been rewarded with a candy bar for patiently sitting on the bench at the front of our store while their significant other shops.
Q: What influenced your decision to open a consignment shop?
Sigler: My grandma, a constant presence in my life, introduced me to secondhand shopping long before it was the cool thing to do. My grandma had a good job, so we were blessed financially, but she chose to be frugal and passed it on. I’ve always said that if I were a millionaire, I would still be thrifting because the thrill of a bargain is addicting.
Q: Did you experience a boomerang effect?
Sigler: I practiced as a dental hygienist for 22 years before developing back and neck issues from static, awkward postures that forced me to have surgery and end my career. My grandma always encouraged me to open a consignment store, but passed away while I was in the process of securing the perfect location and trying to find the perfect name, so I named the store to honor her. Her given name was Eula Bonitta, and although she went by Bonnie, she always signed her name Eula B.
Q: What makes Bedford a good location?
Sigler: Bedford was lacking options for shopping consignment, and with the uptick in thrifting I felt it would be a great investment in the community. My goal is to provide a nice clean store that provides the feeling of being in an upscale boutique without the salty prices. We don’t focus on just high end consignment, but a mixture so that everyone in our community may shop here. Some customers are after brands and are willing to pay the price that comes with them, while others have no preference. We try to cater to everyone.
Q: Who are your customers and how do they find out about you?
Sigler: We have been blessed with a fabulous mix of amazing customers! Some are both shoppers and consignors from as far away as Clearfield, Harrisburg, Belle Vernon, and Maryland. We utilize Facebook, advertising in the Bedford Gazette, and word of mouth. Eula B is also a member of Downtown Bedford Inc. and the Bedford County Visitors Bureau.
Q: Do you take advantage of outdoor recreational opportunities in the area?
Sigler: I utilize the trails for walking/hiking and bike riding. If there is one thing I do miss, it is Chalybeate pool. I wish my kids and grandkids could experience the fun of a large community pool like that of Chalybeate.
Q: What makes Bedford County a good place to live and work for you?
Sigler: For me, it’s the feeling of being safe. This is a close-knit community that always pulls together and supports each other, and there are beautiful scenes in our own backyard. I think many of us take for granted the beauty surrounding us.