Elite Repeat an Extraordinary Resale Shop
UPSCALE BARGAINS: Margaret White, who served as the executive director of the Rotary Club of Tulsa for 27 years, is now managing Rotary’s Elite Repeat. The store offers excellent brands such as Saks, Miss Jackson’s, Ann Taylor and Talbots. The store is located in The Plaza shopping center, at 83rd Street and South Lewis Avenue.
A person steps through the doorway of this south-side store and quickly realizes this is no ordinary resale shop.
Elite Repeat, a fund-raising project of the Rotary Club of Tulsa, promotes upscale resale and features names like Saks, Miss Jackson’s, Ann Taylor and Talbots. A myriad of gently used household items and men’s clothing and shoes are also on display, each with a price tag that reflects a tremendous discount.
“Since our opening a few months ago, we’re growing in sales,” says store manager Margaret White, “but still more people need to know about us.”
For 27 years Margaret was the executive director of the Rotary Club of Tulsa. After she retired, plans were announced for the 480-member club to open an upscale resale shop to raise funds for its charitable foundation. White agreed to come out of her retirement to run the store and many Rotarians have been involved in planning the opening and helping with ongoing operations.
Elite Repeat is located on the south end of the Plaza Shopping Center at 83rd Street and South Lewis Avenue. It is positioned between Arvest Bank and the Bourbon Street Café. It is open from 10 a.m.—4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
“All proceeds from the store go to charity,” explains White. “Since its beginning, Rotary’s Community Fund has given more than $1 million in grants to area charities, and funds from this store contribute to that foundation,” she adds.
The Rotary Club discovered an additional benefit after the store opened. Elite Repeat has become a funnel to Tulsa area charities for excess clothing and household items.
“We get high quality contributions,” says White, “but we keep only the very best for our store.” A large percentage of overflow items are distributed to other charitable organizations, such as John 3:16, the Laura Dester Children’s Shelter and the clothes closet at the Rotary Club of Tulsa’s adopted school, Celia Clinton Elementary. “We estimate $50,000 of thrift store value in used clothing and items have been given to other organizations through our Elite Repeat,” she says.
White says one of her most pleasant surprises has been the loyalty and friendship developed with customers. “People are so nice, especially when they know we contribute all store proceeds to charity.” Customers say they know only top designer brands of the highest quality will be on sale at Elite Repeat and the inventory changes weekly.
“We accept all cleaned and pressed items as a charitable, tax-deductible contributions and will provide the giver a receipt,” says White. “But we always need more small appliances and household items,” she says. Articles can be dropped off during store hours.
For more information on Rotary’s Elite Repeat, please call 298-1081.
Updated 07-25-2005
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