Bargains
Driving Saturday morning, I stopped at a resale store--SO . . . SMART--that I had somehow missed before. I spent a pleasant hour or so going through the racks and chatting with owners Paul and Joyce Schifanelli, a most hospitable couple.
Open for more than two years, the shop is loaded with new and used inventory. Vendors, often local manufacturers, place their new merchandise here on consignment, reduced from 25% to 50%, sometimes more.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. April 10, 1999 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday April 10, 1999 Valley Edition Metro Part B Page 4 Zones Desk 1 inches; 27 words Type of Material: Correction
An item in the bargains column in Friday’s Times gave an incorrect date for the annual Regal Rents parking lot sale in El Segundo. The sale is today from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2310 E. Imperial Highway.
For instance, there was an Italian-made woman’s business suit that retails for $315 but was marked $140.
Several local jewelry manufacturers place their merchandise on consignment here, with 20% to 40% discounted from the retail price. Collectors offer items at 50% off.
Customers consign their gently worn treasures for a 50-50 split. The rule of thumb for pricing is one-third to one-half off the original retail price. But the markdown sometimes runs to two-thirds off. That was the case for an elegant Ellen Tracy wool jacket for $36 and a London Fog raincoat with zip-in lining at $40.
You’ll find the usual accessories, such as handbags and shoes, both new and used. There are also some good buys in furs. A cuddly white lamb jacket that looked almost new was just $300.
If you want to place items here on consignment, they must be in “like-new” condition. This will be a regular Saturday-morning stop for me. The Italian opera background music is great too.
SO . . . SMART, 133 1/2 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale. (818) 543-0529.
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WEEKEND SUPER SALE: Seasoned bargain shoppers wait for today’s event all year--the giant parking lot sale at Regal Rents, one of L.A.’s most prestigious party rental companies.
Flatware, glassware, serving pieces, table linens, tables and chairs are gleaned from Regal’s warehouse and put on sale at ridiculous prices.
Folding banquet tables are $19.95, silver-plated trays are $1; so are coffee pots. Tablecloths run from $3.95 to $7.95 and napkins are $.25 each. China pieces run from 50 cents to 99 cents each. Sale time is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
REGAL RENTS, 2310 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo. (310) 535- 3660.