An Old South County Business is New Again

Robin Meier is the newest owner in a long list of proprietors to take charge of My Friend’s Wardrobe, a popular area consignment shop in Yorkshire Plaza.

The shop has a 37 year history, originally starting out in Kirkwood by Sally Hunt.

Meier was searching for a new opportunity when she happened upon an ad placed by then-owner Betsy Holmes.

“I was out and looking for work. I found it and talked to Betsy for a couple months and kind of felt my way into it," she said. "I worked with her and worked with the ladies (who work there)."

Meier came to the table with some prior business acumen. She had previously run a contracting business with her ex-husband, but running a consignment shop was totally new to her. She admits she was intrigued when she learned of the opportunity.

“I thought, ‘Well, I can run a small business. I’ve done it before,’” she said.

Now, just three months in, Meier is settling in nicely. And she is quick to point out that a large part of her success comes from the store’s loyal employees.

“Some of these women have been here since the store first opened in Kirkwood,” Meier said. “I see success in my employees who enjoy what they do. I don’t see it as an individual thing. When you’re building a company, it’s everybody that needs to make it work, and these women are like that because they just love the store.”

She was also fortunate to inherit a well-established roster of consigners.

“We have four or five appointments a day,” she said. “Some women bring in as many as a hundred items at a time.”

To keep stock fresh, Meier operates on a 50/50 consignment policy; half goes to the store and half goes to the consigner. Items must be clean, pressed and on hangers.

After approximately 60 days, she offers the option for unsold items to be donated to charity; a practice she happily carries on from Holmes.

“The previous owner was a nurse. So she had connections to John Bosco and other organizations. And we’re going to research some other ones too,” she said.

In an effort to put her own mark on My Friend’s Wardrobe, Meier is trying to appeal to a younger demographic. One way is by capitalizing on next year’s prom season.

“We had Miss Missouri Teen come in and sign some autographs,” she said. “She’s going to donate some of her dresses.”

In terms of expansion, Meier is trying to remain realistic.

“Personally, I would like to see (the store) grow larger and larger. But with my previous business, I understand that once you get to a certain size, it can get a little out of control,” she said.

But, like most entrepreneurs, she maintains that “once you’ve owned your own business, it’s kind of in you.”

So, for now, Meier wishes to keep things at a manageable level, she also says, “Ask me again in six months and I could say something different.”