1. MY| local
I
n the quaint downtown district of Walled Lake
is a spirited consignment store with a distinct
Parisian flair called Le Shoppe. Fashion and
decorating have been described as fluid creative
processes and inside Le Shoppe is clear evidence
of an evolution of artistry. A bounty for the
senses, the stunning treasures amount to an
amalgamation of color, texture and culture.
Partners Deborah, Julie and Shefali have done
their homework and they have it all: subtlety, mid-
century, modern, contemporary, vintage, Tuscan,
traditional, opulent and chic—just to name a few.
Despite the cacophony of contrasting styles, Le
Shoppe presents customers with unique options
and offers rich depth to its exclusive inventory.
This is a place lush with choices that spark
innovative decorating concepts.
Oo-Le-
Le Shoppe
LE SHOPPE
126 Ferland St, Walled Lake, MI 48390
248.668.0000 | WWW.LESHOPPE.NET
Consignment with a Parisian
flair in downtown Walled Lake
By Mary Meldrum

2. With ever-changing displays boasting delicious furniture,
clothing, accessories and home décor items, Le Shoppe is
an immersive experience. The three women partners who
developed Le Shoppe in 2013 have successfully defined
themselves as extraordinary in the consignment industry. Their
inventory is sourced from serious collectors and owners who
are willing and eager to find like-minded consumers for their
prized possessions. Le Shoppe feels more like a matchmaking
service than a consignment shop. Products are carefully
selected and must be unique, and in good condition.
“Our consignment items rarely last more than 30 to 45 days in
Le Shoppe,” shares Shefali.
There has been little advertising and marketing for Le
Shoppe. They haven’t felt the need—or had the time. With 60
consignors and over 400 regular customers, this boutique is
generating a lot of buzz by word of mouth, which keeps the
foot traffic coming in the door every day. Once somebody has
purchased something, Le Shoppe tends to see them return for
repeat purchases. Because inventory moves fast, consignors
have been busy delivering more eclectic stock for Le Shoppe.
Making big strides in sales since opening their doors less than
a year ago, Le Shoppe has tapped into a vein of consumers
looking for a consistent source of interesting collectables at
reasonable prices.
“Response to our inventory has been fabulous,” states
Deborah.
Clients are from Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and
Philadelphia—to name just a few. They come in-person and
they shop online through eBay for Le Shoppe items. These
are loyal customers from far and wide who make the effort to
check in with Le Shoppe for meaningful,
one-of-a-kind pieces. Obviously there must
be a reason.
With Julie’s and Deborah’s passion for
consignment shopping coupled with the
favorable economic conditions, it was an
easy decision to get into the consignment
business. During the recent recession,
consignment businesses began to see an
upswing in customers and revenue. Where
it used to be taboo to shop second-
hand, it is now sometimes considered
trendy. Aware that consignment shops
were opening up everywhere with a
low barrier to entry and little capital, Le
Shoppe owners evolved into an upscale
consignment boutique. Le Shoppe owners realized early on
that they needed to tap into the trends in furniture, home
décor, clothing and accessories to dazzle their customer
base.
“Le Shoppe does not directly compete with other
consignment shops in the area,” says Deborah. “By paying
close attention to the period, make, quality and access, we
have merchandise that may not easily be available in retail,
eBay or even estate sales.”
Nothing basic or ordinary is accepted. Le Shoppe is not
where you take your excess home goods and closet
overflow. They carry gently used Dorothy Draper, Milo
Baughman, Biedermeier, Curtis Here, Herman Miller and
others. Items with a story to tell are always intriguing and
popular.
Despite the feeling of elegance when you enter Le Shoppe,
many customers have been delighted to find unique
designer clothes and other items at a fraction of the retail
cost. A Henredon sofa and Milo Baughman coffee table and
chairs rest alongside collectible art and china, all in superior
condition. These are bargains for the shopper who wants
quality, but doesn’t care to pay retail prices. Le Shoppe has
recently started to accept art pieces as well, which has so far
seen a good response.
With the help of a Hebrew Free Loan, Le Shoppe opened
in August of 2013 and has never looked back. What makes
this boutique stand out is the ability to connect with
customers. Being selective about inventory, the quality and
the uniqueness, keeping a finger on the pulse of the market
and knowing what customers are hungry for, has been a
successful recipe for Le Shoppe.
From left to right:Deborah ,Eugenia,Shefali,Julie