Meet Nicole and Shayla Lorio, the owners of Labels Consignment in Seattle’s Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood. Labels Consignment has been providing fashionable and affordable second-hand women’s clothing for over three decades! The boutique first opened its doors in 1988 and is family-owned and operated. Labels was created to combat the devastating impact the fashion industry has on climate change.
Get to know more about Nicole and Shayla and Labels Consignment. in this week’s Business Spotlight Q&A.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the community in business is in and why?
Consignment shop life isn’t your average retail experience….it is so much more! Our customers and consigners are part of a supportive, positive, sustainably-minded community with strong values and the belief that shopping should be inclusive, good for the environment, and FUN!
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLkeitMatters?
Systemic inequity can be overwhelming for individuals to tackle on-own. That’s why every dollar consumers spend COUNTS! When folx choose who to give their hard-earned money to, it matters. Not only is it supporting communities that have been historically underrepresented, underserved, and discriminated against, it builds up neighborhoods and improves comradery and compassion during unprecedented times of super-capitalism and inequity.
As a business owner, what’s the strangest or craziest idea you’ve ever tried?
Being political. Period. It’s an internal struggle between breaking out of the old school “the customer is always right” mentality and realizing there are more important things than business as usual. As white business owners, we have the privilege of staying silent when it comes to important social movements and political issues and not feeling any repercussions as a result. However, after the George Floyd killing in 2020 and the reckoning of racial inequity and the social revolution it brought about, we pivoted by donating and endorsing socially progressive campaigns, candidates, and organizations. Speaking up about issues negatively impacting the community we care about, and celebrating positive moments as well, has been the scariest yet most rewarding decision we’ve ever made.
What’s something your customers may not know about you or your business?
We are a true family business for over three decades! Our mother started Labels in 1988 with the help of some of her siblings over the years. She had three daughters at the time, two of whom (Shayla, oldest daughter, and Nicole, youngest daughter) grew up to take on the task of managing and growing this wonderful secondhand shop! We’re now going on 34 years in the same family.
What are some of your favorite local businesses and why?So many to choose from! For secondhand, there’s Beats and Bohos, Childish Things, Kym’s Kiddie Corner, Cherry Consignment, Katybird, Eres, Between Friends, Funky Jane’s, Dollhouse Collective, Lucky Vintage, Ballard Consignment, Lucky Dog, Gather Consignment. For coffee shops, Black Coffee NW and Herikimer Coffee. For grocery and food, Olympic Provisions, Ken’s Market, Nutty Squirrel Gelato, Yanni’s Greek Restaurant, Raiz, Frelard Tamales, Bongos, Delancey, Flintcreek. For local makers, Samantha Slater Studio, Tuesday Shop, Liberate and Lather.