A Treasure House—Literally—for Nonprofits

What does it take to raise $1 million? At the in Northbrook, it takes old tables and chairs, lamps, fine china and artwork—not to mention a core group of women committed to helping others, a dedicated volunteer staff and a community that supports the effort.

This unique consignment shop has offered upscale and vintage home furnishings since 1997, and this month the local nonprofit will celebrate giving $1 million to 15 local charities. Grants have been awarded twice yearly to organizations that have included the Children’s Advocacy Center, , Haven Youth & Family Services, Erika’s Lighthouse and .

The began in 1995, when a small group of Glenview women got together to brainstorm ideas for a fundraising project, according to past president Cathy Estey. Many of the women had worked on single events that had taken an entire year to plan. They were looking for a project that would be self-perpetuating and would create funds on an ongoing basis. A consignment shop seemed just the thing.

Modeled in part after in Hinsdale, the found its niche somewhere between a yard sale and an antique store. Doors to the first shop opened in 1997, in a bungalow on Waukegan Road in Glenview.

As the organization grew, the shop moved to a second location in the former State Bank building in Glenview, and three years ago, the Village Treasure House moved into its current location on Paddock Drive in Northbrook.

Staffed mostly by volunteers--three managers who job-share the position are paid--the has become a community place where people with many different talents and experience have come together with a common mission—to help others in need.

“We have such a dedicated group of women here,” said Ginny Enman, a longtime volunteer and one of the current managers who oversees operations and record-keeping as well as coordinating volunteers. The former teacher got involved with the group the summer after she retired in 1998 and has been a manager for the last five years. 

“We have a good time here,” she added. “I’ve made so many friends and I’ve never met a group of such selfless people.”

One member of that group is volunteer Sandy Van Epps. She handles the technical end of things, and was in charge of developing the Village Treasure House’s new website, which launched in April. Van Epps got involved through a friend who told her about the group at a golf outing.

“We get about 1,400 visitors every month on the site,” Van Epps said. New items are posted on the site every week, and 50 to 60 people check it each Monday and Tuesday to see what’s new, she noted.

Furniture, china, artwork and other home accessories are welcomed for donation or taken on a consignment basis. Consignors receive 50 percent of the sales price, while the other half goes to the various affiliated charities. Merchandise is placed in the showroom for 90 days and the sales price is discounted 15 percent every 30 days. If the item hasn’t sold after 90 days, it may be retrieved by its owner or donated to the shop.

About 80 percent of the items in the shop are on consignment, while the reminder consists of donations, members said.

Pricing the items can be challenging, but fun. Paula Darbyshire and Gail Steinmetz, who both volunteer in the pricing room, compare their job to opening boxes on Christmas morning—each one is a surprise.

Researching online, consulting reference books and asking volunteers who are experts in particular fields are ways of deciding how to price items. The pricing crew tries to find a balance that will bring in as much money as possible for the consignor, but will still make the item attractive to buyers.

The has become a community gathering place for both volunteers and customers alike. Often people will come in just to browse or visit with the staff. They also talk about the history of pieces and share family memories.

“I feel very proud and privileged to be a part of this organization,” said Robin Culbertson, who has been with the shop since the beginning.  In fact, she designed and drew artwork for the shop’s first brochure.

In her years with the group, Culbertson has done it all – hauled furniture, priced items, worked as a furniture scout and was in charge of merchandising. She is also a past president, but her proudest accomplishment is having been in charge of relocation to the current site. 

“I feel really great about this location and how we’ve grown,” Culbertson said. “To see where we started and what we’ve done is truly amazing  For our business model to run as smoothly as it does with all volunteers is nothing short of miraculous.”