Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Knight.
Cassie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Castanet is an evolution of The Closet, which was in business for 38 years. We opened in spring 2016, in a bright, new parlor level space, at 175 Newbury Street, just upstairs from our former home. The store features high end “gently worn” clothing, culled from the closets of discerning women across the country. I worked at The Closet for 15 years, and brought the best elements of the old store upstairs; an elegant consignor base and always interesting inventory.
Has it been a smooth road?
For the most part, I have been very lucky. I was given the opportunity to take over an established, successful operation, so I didn’t have to start completely from scratch. However, there are a lot of challenges in the beginning no matter what, especially when I was searching for a new space that was probably the biggest one. When the building sold and the clock started to tick…I couldn’t imagine being anywhere other than Newbury Street! I also really wanted to stay close to the old space, I love this block! I had never negotiated a lease, but I did my research and knew what kind of space I wanted, so when I was offered the 2nd floor of 175 Newbury, I knew it was a perfect fit.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Castanet Designer Consignment story. Tell us more about the business.
Castanet is a high end designer consignment shop. We carry European brands such as Chanel, Brunello Cucinelli, and Valentino as well as avant garde Japanese designs like Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake. Unusual fashion fills the room! We have clothing that is both classic and edgy, fun and original. Our selection is really diverse and we get new merchandise every day. The most special thing about the store is our consignors, because they have incredible taste. Our racks are filled with clothing from the best dressed women in Boston.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The consignment industry has absolutely exploded over the past few years, it is such a popular way to shop! Although there has been a lot of focus lately on how fashion is such a polluting industry, shopping second hand actually benefits the environment. It has also been wild to watch the expansion in the online market and I expect that growth will continue. At the same time, this kind of shopping is particularly suited to a brick & mortar. When you’re shopping second hand, you have that thrill of the hunt factor that just can’t be duplicated online. It’s not the same as scrolling through pictures, finding that unexpected one of a kind item is an experience, especially fun for people with strong personal style. So although online has a huge market share, there will always be something special about coming to a place like Castanet. It’s a real treasure hunt, you never know what you might find!
Pricing:
- Merchandise is usually priced at 1/3 of the original retail, you can find some amazing deals!
- Our price points range from $50 -$1000, there is something for every budget
Contact Info:
- Address: Castanet, 175 Newbury Street, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02116
- Website: shopcastanet.com
- Phone: 617-536-1919
- Email: cassie@shopcastanet.com
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