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Walking into Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana is like stepping into a fun-filled Mexican cabana-style boutique. Located in the heart of Westshore, Vancouver Island, the cheerfully-staffed store is frescoed in bright yellow, orange and turquoise. What’s more, their linoleum floor is painted to look like terracotta tiles, there’s a “thatched roof” and sombreros are all over the place (she loans these out)!
“My sombreros are going to more parties than I am,” joked Carolyn Barter, owner of Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana, whose tagline is: “The place to spice up your wardrobe!”
Arriba arriba!!!
“Baja Rosi’s is a friendly oasis in a parched retail world. Inside the cabana you will always be cheered by our bright and fun atmosphere. You’ll be greeted warmly and encouraged to take as much time as you wish to browse our wide selection of treasures.”
Owner Carolyn Barter has always enjoyed shopping in consignment stores because of the social aspect of women who meet over change room walls. She says it’s a phenomenon that doesn't occur in regular retail: "Hey this is too small for me, but it would look GREAT on YOU!"
How in heaven’s name did a name like Baja Rosi’s come about?
“I had remembered the summer before, my sister had brought a bottle of Baja Rosa tequila liquor,” said Carolyn. “That flashed into my head. I called my sister and asked what do you think of when you hear the name ‘Baja Rosi’, and she said, ‘A colourful woman sitting on the beach in Mexico selling her wares.”
Lo and behold, Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana was born.
For Carolyn, what’s important is the personal relationship that the customer makes with the store owner: “I always wanted to create that, but my while my kids were small I knew it wasn't time,” she said.
So in 2002, she finally made the jump to start up her own business and hasn't looked back since.
Today Carolyn is present in the store as the owner and manager of all the incoming merchandise on a daily basis. Employing 5 women, we are open 7 days per week and Baja Rosi’s is Victoria's largest consignment store!
Baja Rosi's is an extremely high volume operation. Several hundred pieces per day are presented for consignment, but only about 150 pieces per day are accepted and priced for sale.
They provide one-on-one personal service for clients and try to exceed expectations in the area of customer experience, making it a daily goal to create a fun and fulfilling customer experience.
They also support a number of charities like the Single Parent Resource Centre, who pick up clothing on a monthly basis and make it available at no cost to needy families.
”I think one of the most satisfying experiences is when a young girl comes in and finds her complete outfit for her graduation for a price she can afford, including shoes, jewelry, purse, gown, shawl...the whole thing. Or when a mother of 3 teenagers comes in with her kids and outfits all of them for back to school for under 300.00 and the kids are so excited about all the name brand clothing they got and how cool they look! It's about fulfilling a need in the community,” she said.
She’s really come a long way from the beginning; when she first started her business she had only one part-time employee but had fun in the process.
“It’s like having my own apartment and all my best girlfriends come in and play dress up all day,” said Carolyn.
One of her biggest accomplishments was the store expansion in 2005, nearly tripling their space when the bistro next door moved out. Carolyn says that going from 1,100 to 2,550 square feet on a hunch was a big risk, but it turned out to be the best thing they could have done.
Another key to her success has been her great staff and the great relationships she has built with them, especially Jaime and Connie who have been with her for 3 and 4.5 years, respectively.
One of her key accomplishments has been the ability to market and to brand the store’s image.
“Branding our image has been a key in our success in getting our name out to the community and allowing us to stay in the foreground even when the new malls have moved into the neighborhood and the box stores like Winners moved in down the road,” she said.
”This past January we were honored to receive the Vancouver Island Award of Excellence for RETAILER OF THE YEAR. I guess this means we really are doing something right! We were chosen as a finalist in October of last year and had to prepare a submission of 9 questions to be considered further. We made it to the final 3, and won the award on Jan. 25th! I was asked to present a workshop at the annual NARTS (National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores) conference in San Antonio, Texas this past June. After presenting to two groups of about 175 people in total, my subject of branding was ranked the most valuable topic learned at conference this past year,” said Carolyn.
What she’s focusing on now is taking account of the sustainable fashion side of things.
“I realize now that we can play a huge role with the environment and the way people look at how they live. I just recently started buying bio-degradable plastic bags for the store. We give our unsold items to single parents. I look at consignment as a sustainable practice. It’s recycling. It also puts money in different places. We have charity accounts at Baja Rosi’s Consignment Cabana, one for breast cancer and one for ovarian cancer. You are supporting a small business in your community. You really don’t lose,” she said.
With that knowledge that she can make a difference in people’s lives, Carolyn spends her off hours walking the dog to the lake through the forest, especially enjoying the fall weather when the leaves begin to turn colours. She also likes reading on rainy days with a fire in the woodstove. But one thing she will never lose sight of is her love of shopping in consignment stores.
Last, but not least, she acknowledges her wonderful husband, without whom none of this would be possible.
“He has completely taken over our entire home life to free me up to grow this business...driving kids, cooking meals, emotional support...I couldn't have dreamt this big without Barry,” she said.
Written by: Irene Darra
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