Enterprising Ideas

Great Finds Consignment Gallery

A Home for the Discerning Shopper

By Linda Sutherland

Is there any better shopping experience than finding a one-of-a-kind item at a consignment shop? Probably not! A special kind of bliss comes from finding an item that can be repurposed in your home—and finding it at a great price. There is a consignment shop in Omaha, filled with treasures just waiting to be discovered by people who want distinctive, gently used items for their home and office. This gem of a business is named Great Finds Consignment Gallery. It is owned by Jerrold and Julie Twedt, and they are celebrating 16 years open this May.

Jerrold and Julie spent 36 years in Tupperware, where they always enjoyed working with lots of people, as they offered a great product. As I interviewed Julie, I found a warm and enthusiastic woman who loves consignment shopping and what it offers to others. It’s a good match for her and her husband in their “retirement.”

When starting Great Finds, they did their homework by visiting similar businesses in an adjoining state where they had previously enjoyed shopping. They were pleased that people were willing to share advice and guidance, which made their planning and preparations go smoothly. Jerrold and Julie’s philosophy in business is the same as in all areas of their life: Treat everyone as a friend and care about them as individuals. “Nothing is more rewarding than helping people find something that makes their life better,” Julie shares. The fact that they have many repeat customers says volumes about the type of customer service they offer and the high quality of the items they sell.

At Great Finds, you will find a knowledgeable staff waiting to help you, including their son, Brad, who manages the business, and Theresa Murray and Dawn Beacham. Each of them looks forward to greeting customers and helping to make their shopping experience a great one. “At Great Finds, we consider every new customer to be a friend we haven’t met yet,” Julie says. “We look forward to them returning to keep track of the ever-changing inventory. We are also complimented by the people who brighten our day by calling themselves our ‘regulars,’ who have been coming back for a long time!”

Picture, if you will, a shop that features a wide and ever-changing variety of furniture pieces (including many brands you are familiar with, such as Ethan Allen, La-Z-Boy, Bernhardt, and Natuzzi), as well as a myriad of lamps and decorative items that have been gently used and are just waiting for someone new to come in and fall in love with them. The store is beautifully arranged by Theresa, who puts her bachelor’s degree in art and design to great use. “Theresa has an amazing eye and talent for showcasing all of the quality items so people can picture how they would look in their own home,” Julie shares. Theresa is often heard commenting, “This is my new mini-apartment,” as she shows off a newly designed vignette she just completed.

Many people ask where they get all the items at Great Finds. Julie responds, “We are blessed to have people contact us, whether by referral from customers or finding us by web search.” The process to consign at Great Finds is a simple one. You can email pictures to the address at the end of this article or simply walk in with pictures on a cell phone! They take items that are gently used, from non-smoking environments.

To highlight the advantage of consignment, Julie points out that it gives new life to the pieces that have come to Great Finds for a variety of reasons, including someone moving in or out of a home, someone relocating to another town or state, or someone just ready for a change right in the home they already love! The logical side of consignment is a financial benefit: The people who consign their gently used items make money once the item sells, and the customer gets a great price on items that have a lot of life left in them for their home or apartment.

“All of us at Great Finds feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve our customers who stop in,” Julie concludes. “We are ready to welcome you and help you find your next ‘Great Find’!”

Great Finds Consignment Gallery is located at 13448 L Street in the Millard area. You can reach them by phone at 402-895-5455 or by email at greatfindsomaha@ yahoo.com for questions about consigning. To see examples of the wonderful quality of items they take, find them online at greatfindsconsignment.com. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.