Business spotlight: Oakley's Styled Home Consignment focuses on furniture

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

Name of business: Styled Home Consignment
Type of business: Home decor and furnishings
Owners: Wagma and Frank Safi
Founded: July 2010
Address: 3330 Main St., Oakley
Phone number: 925-679-3700
Hours: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Number of employees: two
Products and services: Home furnishings, furniture, dining tables, gallery consignments, art imported from Europe and home decor. Styled Home Consignment offers a wide selection of new and gently used items.
"We have a lot of unique pieces that you aren't going to find in other local stores," Wagma Safi said. "Some of the pieces come from galleries that only had one item left and brought it to us."
How did you get into the business: "We never really planned to get into this business," Safi said. "I was going through a short sale on my house and had to sell off five bedrooms full of furniture and realized after I was done that I could have sold it for more with a little time on consignment somewhere."
One day the Safis were driving through Oakley from Brentwood and saw the store space for lease and decided to stop in and ask about it. In a matter of days the business idea was off the ground.
"There are so many people who are in the position I was in," she said. "I want to help them get the best price for their stuff."
Best part about the business?: "Meeting all the different people who come in looking to buy or not buying. I like talking to them and getting ideas from them," Safi said.
She also said that she is happy when she hears that her business is just what Oakley has needed.
Worst part about the business?: "All business has its ups and downs," Safi said. "It is hard to say that there is a bad thing about the business. Really it has been a blessing."
Key to success: "Customer service, making sure whoever walks in and walks out of the store is happy," she said. "People talk. A good reference from someone can mean a lot."
Biggest misperception about the business: The concept of a consignment store is hard for some people to understand, Safi said. She said that people are always interested in how the business works. She also said that people are surprised at some of the fine quality merchandise that is available.
Future plans: Safi is working with the local schools to help raise money for them. On certain days, schools will be able to earn 15 percent of sales. "I've lived in Oakley for six years and my children go to school here. I know how badly the schools need support and this is a way I can help," she said.
In the future she hopes to expand here business and even branch out into making it a chain store.
-- Roni Gehlke