Ceramic figurines, glassware and various knick-knacks cluttered the tables in the office and back room of the not yet opened Home Again Consignment Shop.

The owners, Steve and Julie Runyon, said the shop had been a dream of theirs for several years and had started getting serious about the business in October.

Steve recently retired in July after working as an administrator for the Vermillion County Association for Special Education, an administrator at the Danville Community Schools, and a school psychologist in Indiana.

Julie works full time as a disability specialist in Eastern’s Office of Disability Services.

“Once we get it going, I’m hoping she can devote the majority of her time,” Steve said.

Steve said he hopes to officially open the store soon.

“We’re probably at least a week away,” Steve said.

Julie said they have always loved visiting consignment shops and looking for a good bargain.

“If the price was right, it ended up in the car,” Steve said.

Steve said the store will include framed art, vases, glassware, lamps, chairs, tables, dressers, desks and various other home goods and furniture items.

Steve said he hopes the store acquires a lot of different items.

“We don’t want people to come in 30 days after their first visit and everything is the same,” Steve said.

One thing the new store will not be accepting is clothing.

“Clothing is a whole different business,” Julie said.

Julie also said the market for used clothing is already covered in the area, with many resale shops dedicated to selling used clothing.

Steve said the store offers a variety of styles from different time periods and mentioned that the store is hoping to add a separate section for retro pieces and bargain shopping.

Steve said he hoped the bargain shopping would attract more college students who didn’t want to spend a lot of money furnishing their apartment.

Steve also said at the end of the year, students could put their used furnishings and décor items on consignment before they leave, and could receive a check in the mail if their items are sold.

Steve said opening the shop also would not require a tremendous financial burden.

“Obviously, the economy is not the best at this time, so anything is risky,” Steve said.

Steve said the consignment store will also allow people to make extra income by selling their used furnishings and home décor items.

He said the store works on a tiered commission policy, meaning if an item on consignment has an initial price tag of $99 or less, than the profits from that item will be split 50 percent between the store and the client.

Profits from items with an initial $100 to $199 price tag will be split, with the customer receiving 60 percent and the store receiving 40 percent.

Additionally, the profits from items with an initial price tag of $200 or more will be split, with the customer receiving 70 percent and the store receiving 30 percent.

“We’re going to price things reasonably,” Steve said. “We want to have things in here everybody can afford.”

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or kjrichter@eiu.edu.