Ground floor: Social media encounter leads to consignment store

The owners of Rustic Treasures CR credit a chance encounter on Facebook for their new Czech Village business.

This past winter, Michelle Bell saw a Facebook post advertising a one-of-a-kind cooler made from old wood pallets. She contacted the sellers, Mike and Amy Hendricks, to purchase the cooler for a benefit she was helping to organize.

Mike Hendricks has used reclaimed wood to make custom wood signs and furniture for about 20 years. Because he did not want to pay the steep commissions charged by some consignment stores, Amy had been posting the items for sale on Facebook and other social networking sites.

The couple had been looking at possible store locations when Bell came along.

'I'm a crafter myself and I believed in what they were doing,” Bell said.

Within weeks of their initial meeting, Mike, Amy and Michelle hammered out plans for a consignment store featuring furniture and home décor made from recycled materials along with other handmade items.

Rustic Treasures CR opened on April 1. 'It was less than three weeks from idea to opening,” Bell said.

In addition to Mike Hendricks' reclaimed wood items and a large selection of rubberstamped greeting cards handmade by Bell, the store's inventory includes things like bags made from old vinyl records and album covers, light fixtures made from repurposed materials, metal work, barn photography, and antique and vintage collectibles.

'Most of our items are handmade by local artists and craftspeople,” Hendricks said. 'We also have some resellers that fit the rustic vibe. We're trying not to be the typical consignment store.”

A month after opening and with only limited advertising, mostly through Facebook, Rustic Treasures has more than two dozen consigners, with more being added every week.

'That's the power of social media,” Bell said.

Rustic Treasures offers various options for vendors, including a monthly rental of a fixed 10-foot by 10-foot display area with a 15 percent commission on sales or shelf space for 'filler” items that carry a 35 percent commission.

'The store is an outlet for crafters with no place to go but craft fairs or the farmers' market,” Hendricks said.

'It's a unique opportunity so people don't have to sit in a booth outside all day,” Bell added.

There is space at the back of the shop for a small workshop for Hendricks, who accepts custom orders. He said many of his projects are inspired by another social media site, Pinterest.

'I have the knack of seeing a picture and being able to recreate it,” Hendricks said. 'Bring us your idea and I will bring it to life.”

Comments: (319) 398-8366; george.ford@sourcemedia.net

At a Glance

'Owners

: Michelle Bell and Mike and Amy Hendricks

'Business

: Rustic Treasures CR

'Address

: 76 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids

'Phone

: (319) 200-7878

'Website

: www.rustictreasurescr.com