Your handbag can make you a hero

"There's change in your purse."

Love the clever duality, it's the perfect summary of Purses with a Purpose. The local, annual sale of gently used handbags started six years ago, when Kelly DeMario was fundraising for her Relay for Life team. 

Uncomfortable asking others for money, even for a reputable cause, DeMario was looking for “an easy ask, something you could ask a girlfriend,” she said. “Everyone has a purse … We take everything as long as it's still intact and someone can get a little life and use out of it.”

Kelly DeMario among a wealth of donations

All proceeds, then and now, go to the American Cancer Society. Purses with a Purpose always holds its annual sale the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend.

This year's sale will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ballantyne Hotel and Lodge, 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway. The website is under construction, but the video link is live.

That first year, DeMario only asked friends and family for donations. She hosted the sale in her front yard, with hundreds of purses strung on a clothesline between two trees. The inaugural sale brought in roughly $1,000 and loads of contacts.

The next year, DeMario tapped those contacts “and it became very organic,” she said. “They asked their girlfriends … we had so many (purses) we moved to my daughter’s preschool.” By year three, DeMario knew the sale would require a large space. A blurb ran on the evening news and by the end of the night, DeMario said, “There were people lined up, willing to donate space.”

For the next several years, the former Blake Hotel in Uptown was the site of the sale and groups would hold “girls’ nights” and book rooms so they could be at the sale first thing, DeMario said. As a Mother's Day gift, one gentleman sent a friend at midnight the night before to be the first in line, so his wife could have first dibs when the sale opened.

The majority of bags are priced between $10 and $18 and higher-end bags such as Coach and Michael Kors usually sell for $50. But DeMario said it’s the volume of donations that allows them to raise money.

"People think ‘My purse is from Target or Macy’s it’s not high-end.’ That’s not what we’re shooting for. So many people just want a cute handbag,” she said. “Prices are very approachable, there’s (even) $1 purses.”

Just a few donations available for sale at the 2014 Purses with a Purpose sale May 10.

In the event's fourth year, DeMario called it a miracle when CLT-based handbag designer Martha Clifford donated her entire inventory as she transitioned into jewelry.

DeMario wasn't sure what to expect (five bags? 10 maybe?) and was floored when she picked up more than $30,000 worth of Italian leather, silk-lined handbags, donated by Clifford.

The M. Clifford designs were priced at $100, a steal considering many originally retailed for more than $400.

"I called my husband and said 'There is more value in the trunk of my Jeep than (the vehicle) is worth.'" That year, the sale raised $13,700, DeMario said.

The annual Purses with a Purpose donation kickoff will be 5-8 p.m. April 10 at The Boulevard in South End, (1440 S. Tryon Street) and will feature wine and nibbles. Those who bring a purse donation will receive 15 percent off any full priced item. (If you can't make it to the kickoff, that offer is good through April 30.)

Or, those with a donation can email to schedule a pick up, arrange to meet/drop off, or take your bags to designated donation spots, such as Boulevard. “We make it as easy as we can.”

For about four months each year, DeMario's garage becomes a holding pen for literally thousands of handbags. It's not unusual to receive a donation of 500 all at once.

Together with some friends, Relay for Life team members and volunteers, DeMario said it takes about a week prior to the sale the make sure each bag has been cleaned out, wiped down and tagged.

Last year, DeMario and friends also lobbied celebrities for their hardly-used handbags. "Based on how many requests we sent out, I wouldn't call it a success," she said. I have to beg to differ, considering they did receive donations from Carly Rae Jepsen, Patricia Heaton, Gloria Gaynor, Vivica A. Fox, Catherine Bach, Jane Seymour and Susan Sarandon.

Susan Sarandon autographed her donation to the 2013 Purses with a Purpose sale.

Vivica A. Fox sent three bags and an autographed picture for the 2013 sale.

Patricia Heaton, who played Ray Ramano's wife on "Everyone Love Raymond," was one of the celebrities to donate a bag to the 2013 Purses with a Purpose sale.

Sound like a recipe for shopping disaster? Thankfully, there’s never been any Black Friday-esque madness or what DeMario calls “purse drama.”

Happy shopping!

“It’s really funny, people are very strategic.” The first round of shoppers rush through and scoop up anything that remotely strikes their fancy, DeMario said. “They’ll have like 25 purses on their arm.” They’ll meet up with friends and sift through, while “sharks in the water” stand behind them, waiting to start negotiations. Meanwhile, other shoppers take their time, perusing the tables.

So many choices...

And after five years, aside from finding a location to host the sale, DeMario said the fundraiser essentially runs itself.

"You ask one person and it turns into a 'Let me ask my friend.' It's been organic and fun to do," she said.

"We've got a good team of people, it takes lots of hands to make it happen ...  It's fun to watch it grow as purses come in."

Free dresses for prom

No one should miss prom because they can't afford it.

That's the mentality behind Kiss 95.1 Presents Drex & Maney's Gown Town this Saturday. Your old cocktail, evening, bridesmaid or prom dress can help ensure high school girls in the area - who otherwise might not be able to afford it - have something fabulous to wear this prom season. For free.

Gown Town is first-come, first-serve, so there's usually a line of girls waiting to get in.
Photo courtesy of Kiss 95.1

Morning show hosts Drex, Maney and their cohort, Cassiday, said it’s the 15th year the station has hosted Gown Town, but the third that it's been under their purvey.

They’ve been surprised and pleased with how many dresses have been donated in about three weeks, especially from the gown-getter bins placed at local school. "I think we went from zero to 400 in a week," Drex said.

Photo courtesy of Kiss 95.1

Photo courtesy of Kiss 95.1

Seeing the mother/daughter duos shopping for the perfect dress at previous Gown Town events is something Cassiday said she personally relates to, having had the same experience with her own mom.

“I saw the same excitement with moms and daughters and their friends, of ‘This is the one,’” she said.

“Every girl wants to go to prom.”

Photo courtesy of Kiss 95.1

But how do two guys feel about herding all those dresses? Pretty awesome, in fact.

“It’s been fun to see people call in, who are so excited to give,” Drex said. “Bob, yes, Bob, in Lincolnton called and said he had 48 dresses.”

“Everybody deserves the prom experience,” Maney said. “No one should sit at home.”

In the past, between 1,000 and 3,000 dresses have been donated each year. Average attendance at Gown Town is between 400 and 700 girls, and more than half find a dress to take home.

(What about the rest? Some are donated to charity, but the majority go into storage for next year, Drex said.)

More than 1,000 dresses in all sizes will be at Saturday’s Gown Town, which will be first-come, first-serve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the store space between the Body Shop and Dick’s Sporting Goods on the second level of Northlake Mall, 6801 Northlake Mall Dr.

“I can’t wait to see all the people lined up,” Drex said.

Dresses are grouped by sizes and dressing rooms are available so girls can try them on. “We make it really easy for them,” Cassiday said. “It’s more than just a dress, we’re creating the experience.”

The hosts will be on hand playing music, shoes and accessories will also be available and the only thing missing will be the cash register, Maney said.

“Because it’s free. Everything is 100 percent off.”

Photo courtesy of Kiss 95.1

While the event isn’t only for those with a limited income – any high school girl is welcome, Maney said – they’ve tried to make sure every guidance counselor in the six surrounding counties got the info about Gown Town.

“It’s cool the counselors are so in tune with knowing who (could benefit,)” Cassiday said. “There’s no shame in it. We make it like a real store experience. We don’t want anyone to feel embarrassed.”

The morning crew hopes to get a photo album online after the weekend, so listeners can see if their former frocks have found new life, Maney said.

Technically, dresses were only being accepted at area locations through the end of the day Wednesday. "But we would never turn down a dress,” Cassiday said.

Cassiday finds treasure to try on at a previous Gown Town.
Photo courtesy of Kiss 95.1 

So those with special occasion dresses in their closets have till the end of business on Friday to bring them by the CBS Radio studios in SouthEnd.

More than anything, Drex said, it’s about area women helping girls make a memorable experience. “It’s great to see that empathy for a listener they’ll never meet.”

Dress donations for 'Gown Town' Charlotte

I'm the world's biggest fan of this concept. (And I have two dresses to drop off.)

Kiss 95.1's Drex & Maney's annual Gown Town will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Northlake mall.

Your old cocktail, evening, bridesmaid or prom dress can help ensure high school girls in the area - who otherwise might not be able to afford it - have something fabulous to wear this prom season. For free.

Last year alone, more than 600 dresses found new homes.

Through the end of the day Wednesday, dresses, shoes and accessories are being accepted at the Kiss 95.1 studios, 1520 South Blvd. Suite 300 in Charlotte; at Charlotte Skin and Laser, 130 Providence Road Suite 100 or these area Ultra Tan locations.

More details to come...

Party post-Super Bowl with former NFL players

Gentlemen, (and female football fans) you’re about to find yourselves in a win-win situation.

What if I told you that this Sunday doesn’t have to be the end of football season? Suppose instead there’s a post-Super Bowl party featuring drinks and discussion with former NFL players, who will break down the biggest plays from Sunday’s game?

Oh, and P.S., you’ll simultaneously be helping area women break the cycle of poverty.

You’re all in, right?

Next Wednesday, Dress for Success Charlotte and The Charlotte Former Player Foundation will host their first “Football Finale” event at Charlotte City Club. Cocktails start at 5:30 p.m. and the program will start at 6:30.

What exactly is Dress for Success Charlotte? It’s the local affiliate of an international nonprofit that helps disadvantaged women achieve financial independence – by providing professional attire, career development resources and more – all at no cost.

The Dress for Success Charlotte location is a former hardwood floor showroom that didn't survive the recession, Barr O'Connor said. The interior design was done pro bono and utilized donations such as the dressing room curtains.

Kerry Barr O’Connor, executive director with Dress for Success Charlotte, said at least a dozen players (maybe as many as 20) will attend Wednesday’s party and give first-hand perspective on the game, be available for autographs, one-on-one networking and more.

Through Friday, tickets to the party are $40. After that, the price goes to $50. Either way, all proceeds go toward helping local women be successful in the workforce.

“A lot of these (NFL alum) get it, they were raised by single moms,” Barr O’Connor said. “They’re teddy bears off the field who want to open a door for women in the community.”

I toured the Dress for Success Charlotte boutique off Clanton Road this week and was surprised and impressed with what I learned about the organization.

Bobbi Brown, founder and CEO of the internationally-known cosmetics brand, is a board member of Dress for Success. The Charlotte location features a Bobbi Brown counter, part of the no-cost "suiting" each client receives.

Through community donations, volunteer help and agency partnerships, Dress for Success provides women with little to no income at least two interview-appropriate outfits for free. Job training resources, professional and leadership development are also available at no cost.

“We say women leave here four inches taller than when they walked in, and it has nothing to do with the shoes we give them” Barr O’Connor said, adding the right outfit helps to build a woman’s confidence.

Yeah. Clothes can do that.

Dress for Success Charlotte is one of 130 affiliates worldwide and works with more than 40 referral partners locally. Every affiliate is different, Barr O'Connor said, but the client suiting program is the one thing they all have in common.

Once she’s landed the job, Barr O’Connor said, Dress for Success tries to make sure each client has up to five work-ready outfits when inventory allows.

Featuring six private dressing rooms, Dress for Success Charlotte helps to build client confidence at their boutique with interview-appropriate clothing. Last year, about 500 volunteers spent roughly 5,000 hours acting as personal style consultants, providing professional development, helping to process donations and more, Barr O'Connor said. "We passionately believe everybody has something to give, however they want to plug-in."

1) I think I found the solution on where to donate clothing in the future and

2) Dress for Success Charlotte has an incredible inventory: Suits, separates, dresses, bags, accessories, shoes, etc. in a huge range of sizes.

And it’s not like these items are visibly worn castoffs that are outdated.

Donations are taken by appointment only, Barr O’Connor said, and their inventory was impressive with its sizes, styles and brand representation.

While I was at the boutique, waiting in a plastic bin to be processed were a brand-new pair of Manolo Blahniks, still in the box. They were in good company with a pair of Salvatore Ferragamos, Tracy Reese and the like.

You’ll be happy to hear that three times a year Dress for Success Charlotte hosts an “inventory reduction” event and the next one is March 8.

During the first two days of the sale, clients get first dibs, as their need for professional clothing is greatest. “We try to do inventory reduction at the first part of the month so clients can extend their wardrobe,” Barr O’Connor said.

But the third and final day is open to the public and Barr O’Connor said there are “some fabulous deals.”

Entire outfits (shoes, slacks or skirt, shirt and jacket) for $20; shoes (such as the pair of Stuart Weitzmans that Bar O'Connor found), blazers, purses and slacks for $5; two scarves for $1 and more. All proceeds go back into the program.

Other services provided by Dress for Success Charlotte include job preparedness, such as having an email account set up, understanding social media and resume building, Barr O'Connor said. "Sometimes just getting them set up with an email (account) could be the difference between getting a job or not. Who's taking paper applications anymore," she said. "That one hour can change the direction of somebody's life."

By the numbers

In 2012, Dress for Success Charlotte:

• had 950 women referred to the organization locally, and 842 used at least one of the career transformation services.
• On average, clients are 46 or older, 80 percent of those clients are single heads of households, Barr O'Connor said, and 10 percent are grandparents who find themselves in a parenting role.
• Of those who participate in the professional women's group - which offers free membership, financial literacy, leadership training and more - 75 percent of participants retain employment.

Time to consign?

So I've been cleaning out some closets.

To be fair, I'm pretty good about weeding my clothing. (We live in an apartment and the closets aren't the biggest, so I rotate clothing in and out of our storage unit by season.)

When it gets unpacked and when the season is over, I take a look at what I haven't worn, what I don't really even like anymore, if anything got ruined/doesn't fit.

Obviously that doesn't mean I don't have sentimental things I've held on to for no logical reason (That would be you, drawer full of old T-shirt) but I make a conscious attempt not to hoard.

I keep a bag next to the closet at all time for things that can go and live elsewhere. When it's full, I put it next to the front door so I get a daily reminder to get it out of our living space.

Sometimes the bag rolls around the back seat of my Subaru for a few weeks. But since we moved to  Charlotte, I've (eventually) dropped everything off at my neighborhood Goodwill.

(It's between Target and my branch of the library, so it's a relatively easy and convenient way to get things out of my hair.)

But lately I've come across some things that I don't want/need, but wonder if I might be able to recoup some of the purchase price.

I'm not talking about the one-season trend tops that were bought inexpensively and have outlived the "cost-per-use" purchase justification formula.

(While in law school, a friend who lives to shop had to get a grip. So she started using this formula as a buying guide. 'Would I be willing to pay $1/$10/whatever amount each time I want to wear this? If so, will I wear it enough times that it'd pay for itself?' Classics such as boots and suits yes, trends such as neon statement earrings or patterned designer skinny jeans, no.)

Because I've not always had this method, the closet still has some handbags I'm not wild about and barely-worn shoes I can live without.

When we were living with Nashville, I had a network of friends roughly the same height/size that I'd swap stuff with. (Miss you, Bess and Alaska.) Same thing in Knoxville during college.

So now what?

Clothing swaps were really popular a few years ago, did they have any staying power? You'd pay a small fee, bring all the stuff you didn't want and could leave with what you liked from what others brought.

A quick Google search for CLT wasn't terribly successful, though there was at least one group on the social forum Meet Up that had upcoming swaps and "consignment shop hops" on its 2014 calendar.

But what about those who don’t feel like swapping? I’m told there’s always consignment.

The one and only time I’ve gone that route was in college when a roommate talked me into it. Once there, “buyers” have you browse their inventory while evaluating what you’ve brought in.

I suspect this was deliberate, but by the time they called me to the counter, I’d found a number of things I couldn't part with. The visit ended with me spending all the store credit I’d just accrued and then some. (Was not impressed with myself or this process.)

But Charlotte has a seeming plethora of consignment shops. Some accept housewares, others only designer label clothing. Everything I’ve got seems to fall somewhere in between.

So perhaps consignment merits another try? This weekend might be a good time …Will keep you posted.