This August, LACASA Collection boutique will be marking its first anniversary in its new location at Kensington Valley Outlets in Howell.
LACASA Collection, a resale store and extension of LACASA Center, provides support, protection, and advocacy for survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Proceeds raised from donated items sold in the store goes toward the center, which is located at 1920 Tooley Road, Howell, Mich 48855.
When it first opened in 2017 in the Kroger/Crossroads Plaza in Howell, LACASA Collection was 6,000 square feet, giving minimal space to not only store the donated items, but to sell them as well.
“We were stacking things to the ceiling, sometimes 12 or 15 feet high. We were out of space years ago, but it took us time to move and work on getting the right space for us to be able to grow into,” said Amanda Loomis, LACASA Collection’s store manager.
LACASA Collection moved to its current location, which encompasses three storefronts in the Kensington Valley Outlets, formerly Tanger Outlets, in August 2024. Loomis joined the team as store manager in early 2019, and has seen the store grow in customer base and donations, alongside the growth of the physical space. From clothing and accessories, to houseware and furniture, LACASA Collection now has space for it all to be displayed in a way that is “pleasing to the eye.”
“There aren’t just shelves full of stuff,” Loomis said. “It is set up to where the customers can visualize the items in their own home and how that would look.”
In addition to its new physical store location, LACASA Collection also has an online store component for some of their higher priced items. In a back section of the store, there is a small makeshift photography studio where items are processed to be sold online and then shipped. Sometimes the determining factor of which items would be best sold in store or online is based on weight of item, size, or shipping cost. With the help of Google Lens, EBay lens, and more, the staff looks up the item and then comes up with a price that is fair for their customers. Loomis describes it as a “balancing act,” being that LACASA Collection is a resale store and if an item is a higher dollar amount than what the customers in store might be willing to pay, it is placed to be sold online.
“We’ve had a Chanel jacket that sold for thousands of dollars…we get art and rugs and things that sell for good money, that they [the customers] are willing to part with and donate to LACASA because they know it goes toward a good cause,” Loomis said.
When donations first come in, they are sorted through and checked to be sure they are in good condition. CDs are checked to be in working order; games and puzzles are checked to have all their pieces; clothes are run through the dryer and brought up in temperature to kill bacteria before being sprayed with sanitizer. Other items are wiped with sanitizing wipes before being put on the sales floor.
“We make our own in-house sanitizing spray with witch-hazel, water, lemon oil, and lavender oil, so the store doesn’t smell,” Loomis said.
If an item is not taken by LACASA, it will be donated to another local nonprofit in the community.
LACASA Collection offers the community a place to “shop for good,” where the customers know their money goes toward an important cause. One of the ways the store increases community engagement is with their Semi-Annual Bag Sales. Twice a year, the store will clear out seasonal items in order to flip over for the next season. Customers can buy a bag for $30 plus tax, and fit as many clothes, shoes, and accessories into the bag as they can. There are even ‘cram and jam tables,’ at which customers can roll up clothes or reorganize their bags with all their items in an effort to fit even more into them. The next Semi-Annual Bag Sale runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 29-31.
LACASA Collection also offers a program strictly for LACASA Center’s clients, called Shop With Dignity. This program provides clients the ability to shop at no charge.
“If they are escaping a situation in the middle of the night with absolutely nothing for themselves or their kids, they can come here and shop for whatever they want,” Loomis said.
In addition, the store also provides those moving out of the shelter with help in renovating their new home. From providing furniture, kitchenware, house decor, and more, LACASA Collection is there to help.
Outside of donations, if one wishes to be involved with the store, LACASA Collection welcomes volunteers to help out. Whether it be sorting donations, cleaning around the store, or helping with customer service, Loomis said no volunteer is turned away as there is always something to do.
“LACASA is a fantastic organization and without the community’s help we wouldn’t be able to do what we are doing,” Loomis said.
To apply to volunteer at LACASA, click here.
To learn more about LACASA and the services offered, click here.
