Keeping Margaret’s Fine Consignments Magic Alive with Cara Shelton

By Alisha Proffitt Photos by Matt Johnson 

For many in Louisville, Margaret’s Fine Consignments is a beloved tradition. For over 30 years, the consignment shop has been a staple for stylish locals seeking one-of-a-kind finds. Now, with Cara Shelton at the helm, that legacy is in good hands and evolving with the times. 

Cara officially took ownership of the shop in 2020, stepping into the shoes of her stepmother, Margaret, the store’s namesake and founder. 

“It feels really good that Margaret trusted me to take the reins,” Cara says. “We came to the decision after she decided she wanted to step back from working so much and I was just really excited to own my own business and I hope to carry on her legacy for another 30 plus years,” says Cara of the transition. 

Cara isn’t new to running the show. Armed with an MBA from Bellarmine University, she brought both business savvy and family history. That education, she says, gave her tools she still uses today. “We did a lot of case studies at Bellarmine, where we would read about the company and the position they are in, and we worked to determine the future course of action the business should take to move forward in the future. I’ve looked at Margaret’s like one of those businesses,” she explains. 

Part of moving it forward has meant honoring the strong foundation Margaret laid. Some things at the shop remain sacred, like the time-tested consignment process and those iconic window displays. 

“There is a lot of asking myself what would Margaret do?” Cara shares. “The store itself is still built around Margaret’s vision.” But that doesn’t mean everything’s stayed the same. In fact, Cara’s been busy behind the scenes implementing tech-forward upgrades (like an improved website, an online portal for consignors, a color tag system, and quarterly sales) to bring the business up to speed without losing its soul. 

It’s a delicate balancing act: preserving a much-loved shop’s personality while also making it competitive in an increasingly digital world. Cara’s learned that firsthand, especially as she’s tackled the challenges of building Margaret’s online presence. 

“I think our largest competition is online shopping,” she says frankly. “I think that’s something that all brick-and-mortar stores face today. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of building the website. It’s been a learning process for sure. Learning about how to drive traffic to your site and how to increase your ranking on Google. I’m still learning how to be competitive online, but I believe it’s something we need to do to grow our business.” 

Still, for all the benefits of digital, nothing quite compares to being in the store during a peak season like Derby. “The energy is electric and exciting,” Cara says. What makes Margaret’s a race day go-to? Unique pieces, lots of them. “We only have one of every item, not a rack full of the same dress,” she says. Hats, shoes, dresses. Shoppers can walk in and walk out with an entire outfit, likely without matching anyone else at the track. 

Margaret’s also rides the wave of one of the most important trends in modern fashion: sustainability. For Cara, giving clothes a second life isn’t only smart economics, it’s community minded and earth friendly. 

“We call it recycling!!” she says enthusiastically. “Bring in what you don’t want to wear again, but it still has tons of life left in it, and purchase something new with the funds from selling your gently used items. Why let an item sit in your closet and get sick of looking at it? Consign it and start looking at something someone else no longer wants in their closet! It’s a win-win for everyone, and we aren’t filling up our landfills with treasures someone else wants!” 

While the store welcomes many brands, a few favorites always stand out: “Lilly Pulitzer, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Lululemon, and Ann Taylor have their own dedicated racks,” Cara notes. And if you’re shopping online, you can even browse by brand, a new feature designed to bring that curated in-store experience to web shoppers near and far. 

Of course, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Taking over a small business is no small feat, and doing it in the middle of a global pandemic? Even tougher. 

“Opening back up after quarantine will probably always be considered the biggest challenge I have ever faced,” Cara says. “The second biggest challenge is competing with online shopping and resale apps such as Poshmark and Marketplace.” 

But she’s quick to express her gratitude, for the store, for the team behind it, and especially for the community that continues to support it. “I will forever be grateful to our local customers who are so loyal to us and make us their first stop for all things shopping!” she says. “And I’m extremely grateful to anyone who supports all of us small, local, family-owned businesses! We wouldn’t still be here without them!” 

Looking ahead, Cara has her sights set high. “Five years from now, I hope that we are stronger than ever, and we still hear ‘Oh, I love Margaret’s, I’ve shopped there for years from twice as many people as we hear it from now! I’m really hoping that Margaret’s grows into an online consignment boutique as well. I’d love for people all over to get to enjoy shopping at Margaret’s the same way our loyal local customers do!” 

Want to give back to the community while shopping Margaret’s? You’re invited to a special celebration in honor of Margaret’s generous spirit and lasting legacy of giving. On Friday, August 22nd from 4–7 PM, Margaret’s Fine Consignments will host an anniversary party featuring wine, delicious snacks, and door prizes. In keeping with Margaret’s philanthropic heart, a portion of the day’s proceeds will benefit Hosparus of Louisville.