Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Hannegan.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sixteen years ago when I was working as the childcare coordinator at Our Lady’s Inn Maternity Home, I noticed that we got many donations that we couldn’t immediately use, so I suggested selling them to support our programs. My boss told me that the shelter always wanted to open a resale shop, so they allowed me to do just that even though I had no background in business. A local merchant offered a small storefront in his building, rent free, for several months and then at a moderate price thereafter. We wanted to be here in Dutchtown to help revitalize the neighborhood, and to be close to our shelter to allow our clients to volunteer at the shop. A generous donor paid for all the fixtures that I purchased at Macy’s which was closing in Crestwood, we solicited more donations from our large pool of donors, and we opened our doors. The store needed painting, new flooring, better lighting, and it was too small, but without any fanfare we opened our doors. I learned every lesson the hard way! Within our first year I entered the Social Entrepreneurial Innovation Competition at Washington University’s Skandalaris Center and was disqualified in the second round. The following year we entered again and won over forty thousand dollars to gut rehab a vacant storefront a few doors from our original shop. We stripped everything down to the bricks and sub floor. The HVAC system, the lights and fans, the carpet and flooring were all donated by various businesses. They were all supporting Our Lady’s Inn by building out its new revenue stream.
We kept both stores open for a few years, selling furniture and men’s clothing in the original space and women’s and children’s clothing and accessories in our new store that looked very much like Macy due to all the fixtures, new cabinets, new carpet and pretty pink walls. It looked expensive! Shopping resale should be uplifting and affirming. Shopping at Twice Blessed can make you feel good about yourself AND support women and children in tough situations. The store is still attractive sixteen years later and still uplifting the whole community. All of our profits go to support the shelter and apart from two employees we are an all volunteer store. All our lovely merchandise is donated, and we curate the items to offer only the best we receive. We have fantastic donors and we could not exist without them. We have loyal and dedicated volunteers who make this shop an enjoyable and delightfully surprising gem to discover. A perfect combination of quality merchandise and friendly staff in a clean and attractive store await our customers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I have learned business practices while practicing! I have had to learn who to trust, how to handle difficult customers and volunteers and how to price merchandise. But we have always been profitable due in great part to our generous donors and dedicated volunteers. Over the years we have built a base of loyal customers, many of whom I know by name. Our neighbors are supportive and close and that has made our progress easier, we really look out for each other. The most challenging thing has been to support the evolving neighborhood and contribute to the efforts to make it a pleasant shopping destination.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our shop benefits Our Lady’s Inn Maternity Homes which has been open for over forty years. We house and support pregnant women and their children with a full range of services in two locations, south St. Louis and Defiance, MO.
Twice Blessed opened in 2009, as a boutique style resale shop. It’s a small store but is packed with excellent quality clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry and home decor. We are proud to have a personal relationship with many of our customers; the store has a beauty shop vibe. Many customers are surprised when they walk in the door because we are so clean, so well appointed, so friendly and personable. We provide great value to the neighborhood, offering quality items at reasonable prices. Our donations include brands like Talbots, Gap, Lululemon, Abercrombie, Born, Nike, Fossil, Coach, Vera Bradley, Calvin Klein, Jones, Ann Taylor, Napier, Monet, Carters, Free People, Lucky, Chico’s and many more.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Supporting Our Lady’s Inn financially is paramount and we do it by offering value to the neighborhood and by being IN the neighborhood. We offer the best we have, we give our best to the mission and we do our best to be good neighbors.
Pricing:
- Our pricing is very reasonable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://twiceblessedresale.blogspot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twiceblessedresaleshop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TwiceBlessedResaleShop/
