Meet The Owner of a Consignment Store

Whether you're in the market for gently used clothing or looking to accessorize a room at a fraction of the cost, Consignment Boutique has you covered.

Owner Pam Parks purchased the business six years ago after many years of working in the mortgage lending business.  

Patch: When did you start your business? 

Pam:  The store has been in existence for almost 20 years.  I bought it six years ago and changed the name to The Top Drawer Consignment Boutique. 

Patch: Why consignment?

Pam: Recycling and repurposing items as much as possible are very important to me and I love consigning, so when I decided to make a major career change, it made sense to buy a consignment store.  Even though most of my career was in mortgage banking, having    a degree in Fashion Merchandising seemed to bring together my lifelong dream of owning a small business and utilizing knowledge I have gained from my education as well as my jobs.    

Patch:  What is your favorite thing about your shop?

Pam: There are two aspects of my business that are my favorites and it is impossible to choose between them.  Many of my family members have been involved in the store in a wide variety of ways, which has been an awesome experience.  Some have worked only a weekend to totally rearrange the store and others have worked with me for years.  My husband is my business partner and two of my daughters have helped me out since the beginning.  I just love getting to see them so often.  Meeting an incredible number of people who consign with The Top Drawer or who shop with us has been most memorable.  People come in from all over Georgia, the U.S. and even other countries while they are visiting family in the area. 

Patch: What is the most challenging thing about running a business?

Pam:  The most challenging part of being a business owner is to anticipate the future, prepare for it, and be flexible enough to change direction often.  The economy was great when I bought the store, but began to decline within a couple of years.  The challenge is how to keep a small business operating during these tough times.

Patch: What are your long-term goals for the business?

Pam: Ultimately, my wish is for The Top Drawer to grow and prosper enabling me to spend less time working and more time with my family, especially my grandchildren. 

Patch: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a new business in Oconee County?

Pam: This is a hard question to answer briefly.  Allow yourself plenty of time to plan, research and prepare.  Even though I bought an existing business, I spent several months developing a business plan, marketing strategies, a financial plan and goals for the future.  We are very fortunate to have the Small Business Development Center at UGA that offers so much information and I encourage new potential business owners to take advantage of the SBDC.  A location appropriate for your business is crucial, so be sure to think about traffic, surrounding businesses and ease to getting to your business.  I believe Oconee County offers everything a new business owner might be looking for. 

The Top Drawer is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.