Small Businesses Succeed with City Revitalization Incentives E-News from the City of Richmond, VA
Economic and Community Development March 31, 2011 by Justine Roberts
Two City of Richmond small businesses have been featured recently in local press. Refinery, Inc., a woman's clothing consignment boutique, located on Northside's Bellevue Avenue, opened in the summer of 2008 with financial assistance provided through the City of Richmond's CARE program. Click here to read the Richmond Biz Sense featured article and interview with the owner, Linda O'Neal.
To learn more about the City of Richmond incentive and Business First programs, please click here .
Northside retail, with a pulse Richmond BizSense January 31, 2011 by Amy David
After 20 years in the blood business, a former nonprofit executive now has two years of experience in running her own retail business under her belt.
For two decades, Linda O’Neal managed donor operations as a senior vice president at Virginia Blood Services. In late 2008, she made a career switch and opened a women’s clothing consignment boutique, Refinery Inc.
“I went from helping find blood donors to helping women get what they need,”
said O’Neal.
Refinery Inc. sells upscale new and gently used women’s clothing and accessories.
With 432 consigners and no item costing over $150, the two-year old business is going strong.
“It’s been growing since I started,” O’Neal said.
The store sees four to 20 customers a day and handles an average of 15 appointments a week for clients to come in and drop off clothes, shoes or jewelry.
O’Neal hopes someday to carry men’s clothing and would like to eventually open a second location that caters specifically to men.
When she left Virginia Blood Services in August 2008, O’Neal said she had no idea what her next step would be.
“All my time was spent planning and managing from a distance,” she said. “I wanted to be immersed in interacting on a daily basis with people.”
But she did have a familiarity with consignment stores, and from there the idea for Refinery was born.
“For years I’ve been a consignment shopper, so I was familiar with the industry,” she said.
She found a vacant space on Bellevue Avenue and signed a lease in August 2008. After a couple months of sprucing up, she had Refinery up and running for just under $20,000.
With no prior experience running a business, O’Neal said it’s been challenging, but worth the leap.
“The relationships I’m establishing are the most important,” she said. “It’s been rewarding.”
Most consignment shops charge a fee for people to sell their clothes, but O’Neal opted not to charge to keep her customers coming back: “I wanted to be known as a store that focuses on customer service, which I think is lacking in other consignment shops that I’ve been to.”
For now O’Neal is Refinery’s lone employee and runs the store six days a week. But those hours are just fine with her.
“Owning one’s own business, you have absolute control, and I get to set the culture.”
So Fine and ReFinery! A great little consignment shop in the Northside area of Richmond.
Linda is a lovely business owner that strives for quality customer services. GOT YOUR BACK RICHMOND WWW.LESSONSOFLAUGHTER.COM
Boomer Survival Guide - Money
Don't Give Till It Hurts 8 ways to save money without being a scrooge by Terri L. Jones
(Exerpt taken from Boomer Magazine - read full article here)
Every year, you make a solemn vow to spend less on the holidays. But come January, you always find yourself ringing in the new year with a colossal credit card bill, followed by months of regret … and belt tightening.
This time will be different. With the help of experts (both shoppers and sellers), we've gathered eight tips for keeping those stockings well-stuffed without emptying your wallet in the process.
4. Take a new twist on regifting. Whether you pick it up on eBay, on Craigslist or at a consignment store, or give your sister that item in your closet she's had her eye on, gently used items have become acceptable as gifts these days. “I believe that more and more people are finding that shopping consignment stores really embraces the notion of recycling and reusing,” says Linda O'Neal, owner of ReFinery, a consignment shop in Richmond. These stores are also an ideal source for party apparel, particularly because you may wear it only once.
River City Express Network: A place to connect, learn & grow.
Susan's Selections Newsletter - October 2010 Antiques, Estates, Consignments
8008 Staples Mill Road
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 232-6480
Seasonal And Seasonless Style by Linda O'Neal
If you pay attention to fashion magazines, blogs, TV shows and commercials, you'll likely note that fall fashions will be dominated by animal prints, leather, lace, metallics, menswear, retro, minimalist and military cuts, layers, luxe fabrics--in some or multiple combinations. Even plaid for goodness sake. So, tell me something new. Really. Surely we've seen all this before. I wrote in an earlier essay about the wheel of fashion, ever turning back on itself... and so it goes again this fall. This year's fun for fad-seekers is all in the combo.
But really, that's good news for us! Especially if you've got a few years under your belt (wide, skinny, leather, metallic, plain, embellished), and if you've invested in some or all of the above fashion "musts" over the years. Because the elements are pretty common, you really can shop in your own closet to stay true to who you are or are becoming, and have permission to pick which combination makes you happy on any given day. Because that's what being stylish is all about--knowing and being your most confident and comfortable self
(but keep the sweatpants in check).
What really excites me (and I want to believe!), is hearing Vera Wang say
that blacks don't have to match. Magic.
Linda O'Neal
Owner
ReFinery
Linda and ReFinery offer experienced and reluctant shoppers a venue that
focuses on service, style and value to ensure that new and gently used women's apparel and accessories find new life with new owners--a consignment shop that specializes in warm welcomes and honest opinions.
River City Magazine
RichmondNavigator.com
Sept/Oct 2010 Shop Spots
They have the classic, the current, and the unusual. ReFinery is an upscale clothing store for women that celebrates unique and diverse styles. It is a consignment shop that takes like-new and ready-to-wear condition clothing. They carry everything from coats and suits to jewelry and décor. If you're looking only to sell at ReFinery, you can do so by making an appointment, but I highly recommend at least browsing through the store. Instead of specific brands or age of the clothing, they focus on quality. I don't know about you,
...
but I like my clothes to last a lifetime!
Susan's Selections Newsletter - August 2010 Antiques, Estates, Consignments
8008 Staples Mill Road
Richmond, VA 23228
(804) 232-6480
Sizzle will cool soon... but keep your closet on a
steady burn.
It's been such a challenge to stay cool this summer, and our wardrobes have been tasked with impossible demands to look good and feel good. As we contemplate balmier days ahead, we should continue to look to our closets to manage the transition to fall. So often we categorize our apparel by season, when, in fact, many garments can do double if not triple duty throughout the year. And in this difficult and unpredictable economic time, buying clothes with good fabrics and colors that can be worn alone or in layers gives us variety and savings.
When buying new (or better yet, gently used) clothing it's a good idea to look carefully at fabric texture, washing instructions, tailoring, sleeve and armhole construction, and color, to purchase classic pieces that can be worn year round with good maintenance. Fabric that breathes and is washable is easier to find in all brands now than in the past; tailoring that allows tuck in or out; sleeves that can be worn under jackets; and armholes that allow wear singly or layered, all maximize utility. Medium weight neutrals are wonderful for tops and bottoms, as they can be accented with "seasonal" pop color.
My personal fondness for black (although have you ever noticed that there seem to be as many shades of black as any color in the rainbow?) creates simplicity with what a friend of mine calls a "Johnny Cash" wardrobe. Fun and easy to accessorize. And with so many black fabric choices-it's not hard to find good weights that will be serviceable literally all year.
Happy hunting for bargains that will multiply your savings!
What Was, Is. by Linda O'Neal of ReFinery, INC. Women's Apparel & Accessories Consignment Shop
It is fascinating to see how trends circle back, and around again, and yet essential style remains. Take for example fabrics like denim and treatments like batik and tie-dye. Once the rage 40 or so years ago, losing distinction (except "jeans" which surely are eternal) and now again considered current. An artsy woman once told me that if you were old enough to wear retro when it was new, then you're too old to wear it now. Hmmm. I must admit I smile to see today's style makers and followers discovering platforms, plaids, florals, mini skirts, leggings, ankle warmers... And then I laugh out loud to admit that I have some of those items in my closet-and they weren't purchased this season. How does one measure good style? History repeating itself? But then who, really, is an expert?
For those of us who started wearing black (lots of it) decades ago and still do, it is comforting to know that it makes almost anything a classic and is attractive on most. And you can find almost anything in black, in virtually every size (maybe that defines everlasting style right there!). And then there are certain garments, accessories, and items of décor that simply seem always to be desirable. Recently two teen-aged sisters, on separate visits, each purchased exquisite jackets from ReFinery. They had been consigned by a woman in her late 70s. Timeless apparel. This instance just goes to show that good taste is good-no matter when it was bought or by whom.
So, the trick to those who care about style (more than they care about fashion) is to look beyond the fads and embrace quality that flatters!
Questions? Reach Linda O'Neal at 804-266-8424.
ReFinery, Where Beauty Becomes Again!
Changes here to stay? by Linda O'Neal of ReFinery, INC.
Women's Apparel & Accessories Consignment Shop
The economic meltdown has forced many Americans to rethink spending habits, and for many, less has had to be enough. Making do. Cutting back. The way my parents grew up. It has been predicted that consumption may not rebound to previous levels. Lessons learned?
Meanwhile, focus on conservation of natural resources has continued to gain momentum. "Green" has become a way of life for many Americans who wish to protect the Earth and live more wholesomely.
What an interesting confluence of issues-exercising restraint and maximizing existing goods; leading to the now widespread acceptance of and interest in consignment to recoup some investment and provide value to a new owner. But we have a ways to go. According to the Baltimore Sun's B'More Green environmental blog, "... 900 million items of clothing are sent to a landfill each year in the U.S. And while more folks are recycling their clothing now more than ever, current stats claim that the average American purchases only 10 pounds of recycled clothing a year..." And just imagine how many other household items end up in disuse rather than in someone else's home.
Here's hoping change means "enough" has found new stature and that consignment shops, yard sales, swap meets, hand-me-downs, and charitable giving will continue to help refine our consumer behavior.
Questions? Reach Linda O'Neal at 804-266-8424. ReFinery, Where Beauty Becomes Again!
Spring FFFFling on Bellevue Avenue … Enjoy food, flowers, finery, and fiddling on Bellevue Avenue Saturday, May 8.
Mercury Fine Violins 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. • Cellist Jan Land will offer free mini lessons
• Suzuki violin teacher Randy Allen will feature members of his Suzuki method violin studio
• Refreshments
ReFinery 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Super saver deals on the sidewalk
• See artisan Cindy Hamlin making jewelry between 2 and 7 p.m. and shop her crafty creations
Nicola Flora 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Floral arranging demonstration at 2 p.m.
• Enter to win a door prize
• Pick up a complimentary bloom!
Northside Grille 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. • Enjoy a great meal
• Visit the patio to shop homemade products from Market Umbrella artisans while enjoying live music from 3 to 7 p.m.
Meet Linda O'Neal
Left to right: ReFinery, Inc. owner Linda O’Neal, councilman Chris Hilbert, and
Economic Development Programs Administrator Denise Lawus.
Business Capital Newsletter, 1st Qtr: Volume 2, Issue 1
ReFinery: Newest Addition to Bellevue Business Boom!
Congratulations and welcome to Richmond’s newest consignment store, ReFinery, located at 1221 Bellevue Avenue. Owner Linda O’Neal hosted city officials at ReFinery’s December 5 ribbon cutting ceremony. The event put an exclamation point on the success of DED’s efforts to revitalize the Bellevue business corridor.
To date, eight companies representing approximately a halfmillion dollars in private investment have benefited from our CARE Program in the North Richmond neighborhood, including Nicola Flora and Northside Grille, which we featured in our last issue. Bellevue Civic Association President Roy Reynolds emphasized the neighborhood’s vigorous retail business climate in his speech at the event: “ReFinery is the newest addition to the retail mix that thrives in this vibrant and sought after neighborhood where patrons can walk to services. We wish Ms. O’Neal every success!”
Believing that women and beauty deserve a lifelong relationship, ReFinery celebrates eclectic taste and caters to women with diverse personal styles. Linda’s goal is to provide consignors and shoppers a new venue to find quality and value in resale clothing. For more info, visit www.refineryinc.com.
Photo by John MacLellan
NORTH OF THE JAMES, Vol. 15, No. 3
March 2009
Cool Stuff for Cheap by Anne Jones (excerpt from article)
Consignment stores make perfect sense. On every level. They help you clean up, clean out, start over. They offer a satisfactory ending or a new beginning. Especially now – in the dark pit of the recession, they're little beacons of light showing us we can still afford to shop! Or re-decorate. Or simplify. And make a little cash at the same time. Out with the old, in with new. Recycle and re-use in its simplest form. I once read that one way to prevent seemingly inevitable piles of clutter from accumulating is to pick up one item and take it with you every single time you leave the house. Then take it straight to the consignment store. On the flip side, where else can you find a designer purse for $12.00, a cashmere sweater for $20, or a really great sofa for $200.00?
And where would you find five consignment stores within a mile and a half of each other? Right here in the Lakeside/Bellevue area. Actually, four of them are at the same intersection – Clarke Street and Lakeside Avenue , a block north of Dumbarton. And the fifth is just a little bit south on Bellevue Avenue , next to Nicola Flora and Northside Grille. And though they're all slightly different in focus, they seem to share a common philosophy and feel. It turns out that consignment store owners are a different breed from other retailers.
Take Linda O'Neal, owner of ReFinery on Bellevue Avenue. ReFinery sells women's apparel and accessories (and a few neckties for men). Linda opened her shop this past December after realizing she was at a point in her life when it was time to change careers and pursue something she loved. And she loved the idea of a resale store because she enjoys helping women feel good about themselves, partly by solving their wardrobe dilemmas and partly by offering such an appealing place to gather. One customer said the second hand store has the feel of a Manhattan boutique – there's original art on the wall, the lighting is soothing, and there is plenty of room to maneuver. But it's the camaraderie that really draws you in. On a recent Tuesday afternoon when I was there a woman was modeling her potential purchase, asking for critiques from the other customers, none of whom had met before. It felt like girl's night out or even roommates getting ready for a party – like you were surrounded by close friends, if only for a few minutes. That's hard to resist. And there's a good mix of styles and sizes, drawing from consignors from adjacent neighborhoods and even from her large circle of friends. Linda says they have consignors of all ages – some in their 20's and some in their 70's, but mostly somewhere in between.
I had a rich friend who was exceedingly generous. She practically furnished our house 15 years ago, donating beautiful dhurrie rugs, nested end tables, a sofa, and window treatments. And most of my favorite clothes through the years have come from her. Piles of chenille sweaters, stacks of linen pants, cropped jackets with shell buttons. With the price tags still on, not exactly hand-me-downs. That's kind of what consignment shopping feels like. It's friendly shopping with a heart. Finding the right thing at an incredible price with the help of a friend. So, once again, stay in Northside, shop locally, and avoid the malls. There are plenty of treasures right here.
City of Richmond, Virginia
Mayor: L. Douglas Wilder
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2008
Contact: Sheila Shepperson
Phone: (804) 646-5491
City Celebrates New Store In Bellevue
Richmond’s newest consignment store, ReFinery, Inc., will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting on Friday, December 5, 2008, at
3 p.m. Festivities will continue with an Open House on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located at 1221 Bellevue Avenue in North Richmond’s Bellevue neighborhood, ReFinery is opening with assistance from the City’s Department of Economic Development and the City’s Commercial Area Revitalization Effort (CARE) rebate program.
“ReFinery is one of the many businesses in the Bellevue community to take advantage of financial incentives offered through the CARE program,” said Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. “Since 2005, 461 CARE incentives and 237 enterprise zone incentives have stimulated close to
$52 million dollars of private investment in the City.”
“Believing women and beauty deserve a lifelong relationship, ReFinery celebrates eclectic tastes and caters to women with diverse personal styles,” said Owner Linda O’Neal. “ReFinery is pleased to offer like-new, ready-to-wear apparel and accessories, in sizes ranging from petite to plus, that are current, classic and unusual. Our goal is to provide consignors and shoppers with a new venue that offers both quality and value.”
“It is my pleasure to welcome ReFinery to the retail core of Bellevue,” said Roy Reynolds, President of the Bellevue Civic Association. “ReFinery is the latest addition to the retail mix that thrives in our vibrant and sought-after neighborhood, where patrons can conveniently walk to restaurants and businesses. We wish Ms. O’Neal every success.”
Holiday hours for ReFinery are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ReFinery is closed on Mondays. For more information about ReFinery, call (804) 266-8424 or visit www.refineryinc.com.
North Richmond News
October 5, 2008
New consignment store coming to Bellevue
In November, ReFinery, a consignment shop specializing in women's wear, will open at 1221 Bellevue Avenue:
Richmond's newest consignment shop, specializing in women's wear, will be opening soon in north Richmond's Bellevue neighborhood.
ReFinery will carry like-new, ready-to-wear-condition apparel and accessories in sizes ranging from petite to plus-- coats, jackets, suits, dresses, skirts, slacks, sweaters, blouses, tops, lingerie, hats, scarves, gloves, handbags, belts, shoes, and jewelry. ReFinery will offer fun and funky objects for the home. Inquiries are welcome anytime and consignors are encouraged to make contact after October 15. You can reach owner Linda O'Neal at refinery.inc@verizon.net.
The economic meltdown has forced many Americans to rethink spending habits, and for many, less has had to be enough. Making do. Cutting back. The way my parents grew up. It has been predicted that consumption may not rebound to previous levels. Lessons learned? 
