VALDOSTA — Holly Coffey was a mere 19 years old when her then employer Stacey Daugherty offered to sell her the entire business, lock, stock and barrel. A local bank asked Coffey to wait until she was 20 before they would approve the loan.

Coffey didn’t have to wait long. She became the official owner of Anastasia’s Consignment Shop at 2184 N. Ashley St. on Jan. 30, one day before her 20th birthday.

The young entrepreneur couldn’t be happier with her newfound career. She had worked as a sales associate and manager at Anastasia’s for 3.5 years (manager at age 17), and began working there about six months after the shop opened when she was a junior at Lowndes High School.

She graduated LHS and kept her day job at Anastasia’s, an upscale boutique that carries top style brands in clothing, both vintage and modern, and all sorts of what-nots and knick knacks, from furniture to dishware to oil paintings — enough variety that Coffey used store inventory to decorate her entire home.

“I was very excited to become the owner, something that I never dreamed could happen,” she said. “I love this place and I love selling clothes. This is such an ideal opportunity for me.”

Coffey said her love of history helped her make up her mind about her immediate future. At LHS, Coffey was president of the school’s history club and earned recognition as a National History Student.

So what has that got to do with dresses and shoes?

“I loved learning where clothes come from,” Coffey explained. “Take Gucci, for example. He started in horse bridles and saddles. Then he moved into making purses and handbags. And history repeats itself. Styles popular in the 1950s are coming back. That look in the movie ‘The Stepford Wives’ is a ‘50s look that’s coming back. I love learning that kind of stuff.”

The consignment shop, just south of Mathis City Auditorium, has some 1,500 consignors who bring their wares to sell in the decorative store that looks more like an exotic boutique than a place where used goods are sold.

But these just aren’t your typical consignment items. We’re talking top name brands, some items worth hundreds of dollars at retail prices, sold for a song at amazing discounts — like the pair of gold Salvatore Ferragamo women’s shoes that, brand new, would fetch $650, but here, in great shape, sell for $52.99.

Or the pair of Tibi shorts Coffey was wearing that, new, go for $150, but sell in Anastasia’s for $59.99.

“We accept only items in good condition, in vintage styles or new styles from within the last two years,” Coffey explained. “We have a lot of people who sell things on consignment here, but we always take more. If it’s your first time and you want to sell items, call us for an appointment. You receive 40 percent of the sale price. Larger items, like furniture, or collectable items that you want a guaranteed return on, you can tell us how much you want to get out of the sale, and we’ll give it a slight markup for our profit. You get the rest. So if you have an item you want to sell for say $50, we’ll mark it up a little and if we sell it, you get your $50 and we keep the rest.”

The shop has plenty of floor space divided into three separate rooms, where you’ll find everything from mirrors, lamps and candle holders to paintings by local artists and artists from abroad, rugs, an antique baby crib, and more. You can try on clothing in private dressing rooms and browse to your heart’s content.

It’s way better than a yard sale, Coffey says.

“Nothing is junk. It’s unfound treasure,” she said.



Q: You have a good selection of women’s shoes. Why do women need so many shoes?



A: A woman can never have enough shoes.



Q: Do you carry men’s items?



A: Oh yes. We have men’s clothing, from suits and ties to casual shirts and shorts. And the deals are just as good as the women’s items. For example, we have a Lacoste Polo shirt that retails new for $79, but here it’s $35.



Q: Do you have sales and specials?



A: Sure do. We have random specials and sales. Right now we’ve got a 20 percent discount going for just today.



Q: What’s an example of one of your higher priced pieces of artwork?



A: We have an oil painting, from England and signed by the artist, that cost $2,000 new. We’re selling it for $660.



Q: What’s a popular women’s item that might draw a quick sale?



A: We have a Dooney and Burke purse that retails new for $327.66. We have one for $200.



Q: What other top style brands do you sell?



A: We have Ella Moss, Laundry, Chinese Laundry, Chico’s, Talbot’s, Hollister and more. We have vintage accessories, like Sarah Coventry items, authentic designer bags, vintage home decor, and I’ve even got a few dresses that were worn by famous models on the runways.



Q: Do you offer layaway?



A: Yes. Pay 20 percent down and pay the balance off in 30 days.



Anastasia’s Consignment Shop

Address: 2184 N. Ashley St.

Phone: 229-257-0997

Owner: Holly Coffey

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, closed on Sunday and Monday.