Prairie Trading Company | Topeka's Hidden Treasures
By MIRANDA ERICSSON | Photos by BRIAN PETERS
Boutique consignment shop Prairie Trading Company is the place to discover designer brands at a fraction of the retail price. The store sells pre-owned and new clothing for women and men, as well as home décor items. More than 300 new items are added to the shelves every week.
Owner Kristen O’Shea has a lifelong love of fashion design and shopping. She was in the sixth grade when her parents put her on a clothing budget, urging her to consider the value of her money and discover how to find deals on clothes.
“I learned quickly how to make the most of my dollars, which included shopping and consigning at my local consignment store in Ponca City, Oklahoma,” O’Shea said. “I’ve loved Prairie Trading Company since I first stepped foot in the store 10 years ago.”
O’Shea spent a decade as one of Prairie Trading Company’s most loyal customers, building a relationship with founder Stephanie Stromgren.
“Stephanie and I bonded over great pieces in the store, and relationships with consignors and customers is something we both understood. We clicked,” O’Shea said.
O’Shea, who has owned and operated O’Shea Strengths Coaching for many years, is an experienced business owner who always dreamed of running a consignment shop. When Stromgren decided to pass the torch after 25 years of running the business, O’Shea saw an opportunity. She and her husband Gabriel purchased Prairie Trading Company in June 2023.
“I truly believe Prairie Trading Company is one of the best consignment stores in the nation, and I’ve been to many,” O’Shea said. “I always find something I love, and I want others to have that experience as well.”
One of her favorite parts of doing business is building relationships.
“My manager, Mary Rogers and the team do a stellar job of getting to know regular customers and learning about what they’re looking for,” O’Shea said. “Our shoppers really love to check out what’s new and find something different. We’ve taken some of the hunt out of the shopping experience by curating a selection of unique quality items, but there’s still the thrill of discovery — usually for a third of the retail price.”
Prairie Trading Company works with over 500 active consignors.
“Consignment is about creating relationships with consignors who have really quality pieces to sell,” O’Shea said. “Prairie Trading Company has curated this over the years. Something I consistently hear from shoppers is that they can always leave here with something they love. We provide such unique items, and our selection is something that can’t be found anywhere else.”
The majority of the store’s consignors are women. In exchange for bringing in gently used clothing items, Prairie Trading Company pays them a portion of the clothes’ sale value.
“Each month, I have the privilege of writing roughly 180 checks to all our consigners, or as I like to call them, ‘mini’ entrepreneurs,” O’Shea said. “The economic impact of our store spreads to people in Shawnee County and beyond. It feels so good to write checks that go back to women and our community, and that my business is providing a space for that to happen.”
The consignment process is also how Prairie Trading Company keeps their inventory fresh. Once a clothing item is accepted for consignment, it’s displayed on the shelves for three months before it’s moved to make room for new stock. O’Shea loves that her store reduces environmental impact by encouraging clothing reuse while still offering fresh, contemporary fashions for sale.”
“I think the upcoming generation is very in to reuse and sustainable living. Prairie Trading Company looks to meet the need for a sustainable shopping model at a big savings to buyers,” O’Shea said. “We’re continuing a tradition of service and quality, and building relationships with a new generation of buyers and consignors.”
Prairie Trading Company is planning to expand their physical space to include an upstairs area. They’re also hoping to add a selection of high-end children’s clothing.
“I want to make sure customers can always find something here that they love,” O’Shea said.
TK
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