thelist
WOMEN TO WATCH
CONSIGNMENT QUEENS: Renee Dietzel AND
Janet Acker
They bicker like sisters or spouses, but these best friends have built a successful consignment business and pay it forward by supporting other local businesses and nonprofits. from stores like Chico’s and J. Crew and have a fun line of affordable accessories. They admit they’ve made many mistakes along the way but something they have done right is supporting their community. “We really embrace our neighborhood. You have to support them to support you. Our dry cleaners are four doors down to the right; my dog gets groomed at the groomer, and goes to the vet across the street. We are also patrons of the restaurants in our strip,” Renee says. They even
T
recommend other consignments shops if they don’t have what a customer is looking
he Chic Boutique founders,
With a lot of other thrift stores and con-
for. “Orlando is a big town and every con-
Renee Dietzel and Janet Acker,
signment shops in town, location was key.
signment store carries different inventory;
met 14 years ago in the halls of
Renee has a real estate license and used
we need to support each other,” Janet adds.
Lake Sybelia Elementary School
tools to target their desired demographic.
But what they love most is supporting
while enrolling their children.
“We had looked all over Orlando, but we
nonprofits by donating unsold items to
It was Janet’s first day in Orlando as she
were down in Audubon Park; it was a
organizations such as BASE Camp Chil-
had moved from Houston.
rainy Sunday, and the cars were just going
dren’s Cancer Foundation, Coalition for
Fast forward a few years and the
by. We looked in this place — it needed a
the Homeless, House of Hope, Women’s
friends decided to open a consignment
lot of love to make it what we wanted but
Resource Center, Health Care Center for
shop together. “I said let’s do something
we were determined the location was worth
the Homeless, Devereux Advanced Behav-
where we want to go to work. I want to
it. We’re near Baldwin Park, downtown
ioral Health, One Purse, and more. “We
love it and have fun at it,” Renee says.
Orlando and Winter Park,” Renee explains.
are always open to new charities. Just give us a call,” Janet says.
“With my background [in fashion mer-
They had just one month to collect inven-
chandising] at Neiman Marcus Houston
tory before opening and drove around
The “Lucy and Ethel” of consigning
and working in small boutiques in Texas,
town picking up items from people’s door-
love what they do every day and it really
I told Renee I wanted it set up like a bou-
steps — something they are still willing to
shows. “Never in a million years did I
tique, unlike other consignment shops. It’s
do. Chic Boutique Orlando opened in 2010
think it would be this successful. We have
organized by sections with different
and offers an upscale selection of women’s
won the best consignment award from
designers on pop-up. Everything is clean
apparel, handbags, shoes, sunglasses and
several publications and our popularity
and organized. It was important to me that
jewelry. Its ever-changing inventory in-
has really grown with all age groups,”
it looked fresh all the time,” Janet adds. A
cludes designers such as Chanel, Prada,
Renee says.
testament to that is sometimes people will
Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Dolce & Gabbana,
walk in and request something in a differ-
Christian Louboutin, David Yurman,
Chic Boutique Orlando
ent size. “And we laugh because it doesn’t
Gucci, Dior, Pucci and numerous other
2818 Corrine Dr., Orlando 32803
work like that,” they say.
preferred labels. They also accept items
407-286-2949 | chicboutiqueorlando.com
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