Getting sassy in downtown Manchester
Kathy LaHaie in her new shop, The Sassy Peacock, on Adrian Street.
Kathy LaHaie is no stranger to the retail climate in Manchester.
She has worked in a number of businesses around the village for many years, and after “retiring” from the local eye a few years ago when Worth Repeating closed its doors, she explored a variety of other options before making a decision:
She was coming back to downtown Manchester.
“People ask why I’m doing this here and now,” she says. “The opportunity presented itself; I am familiar with the community, and I know what we need. I decided this was where I should be.”
LaHaie is upbeat about the potential for business in downtown Manchester, despite the loss of several long-established retail sites over the past several months. She says that people who are interested in starting a business need to “re-think retail” and determine what is important to them, as well as to the people of the community.
“Things are different than they were even 10 years ago,” she says. “Big box stores are failing all over the place. But then you look at small towns like Chelsea or Tecumseh, and they have a thriving retail environment with small specialty shops. I believe Manchester could find a niche, too.”
LaHaie’s consignment business, The Sassy Peacock, combines her experience in resale, well-honed during her years at Worth Repeating, with her love of beautiful things. As a consignment shop, she can be more discerning in what she accepts for sale and keep things moving through the store. She currently has a roster of 50 consignors and is very happy with the way her shop has taken off since opening the day before Chicken Broil in July.
Why The Sassy Peacock? “Well, some of the other names I was thinking of were not politically correct enough,” she says with a chuckle. “But I liked the image of the peacock, and being able to get something ‘new’ and nice at a reasonable price–walking out of here feeling sassy and classy!” La Haie’s knack for pulling out unexpected items and putting them together to make a flattering outfit for a customer can definitely contribute to the “sassy and classy” aura she’s looking for.
“The Third Thursdays have been great,” LaHaie adds. “I have had a lot of people come through here on those nights and I always ask where they are from. They’re not just from Manchester. They’re coming from all of the surrounding areas.”
She also said she’s had quite a bit of interest in her shop from other consignment stores in neighboring towns.
“People are sometimes surprised to learn that almost everything in here comes from Manchester,” she adds. “I have a lot of high-quality items here.”
Currently, LaHaie is carrying men’s and women’s clothing and select household items. She says that’s about all she can take in this location, which she considers an ideal size for right now, both price-wise and for manageability.
“Another thing people say is that the rent is too high in Manchester; that we’re charging Ann Arbor prices for these sites,” she said. “And what I say to them is, ‘Go try and rent retail space in Chelsea or Ann Arbor. Then you’ll find out that the prices here are pretty affordable’.”
She feels optimistic about the commercial building open houses planned for November 1, and hopes that this event will help encourage reinvestment in the downtown business district.
Meanwhile, she’s focusing on her own little piece of real estate, located at 114 Adrian Street. Hours are Tuesday 3-8 pm; Wednesday-Friday, 11 am-6 pm; and Saturday 11 am-3 pm.
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