Imagine
by Jillian Daniels
Imagine a place that combines beauty and price, professional designs and options. It’s all at Canton’s Fun Finds and Designs, a different kind of consignment store. Its contents are upscale with quality furniture lining the walls. “People are surprised at the quality of our consignment,” says the owner Betty Anderson with a warm smile. “We have over 600 consigners!” With such an amazing client base, Fun Finds and Designs has a huge turnover in merchandise each week. Regulars come in every week to see the new merchandise and get their frequent shopper card stamped. Once it’s filled, it can be used for an additional discount. But, that’s just one of the advantages Fun Finds and Designs offers.
When you walk into Fun Finds and Designs, one of the first things you’ll notice are the large signs with their discount policy. In order to provide speedy clearance of items and give customers the best deals, every 30 days an item sits in the store, the price drops another 10%. There is a 50% discount corner and if the item still doesn’t sell, it’s given back to the consigner or donated to the charity of the consigner’s choice. With a four month contract, there is plenty of time for the consigner to find the best price and home for their items. Betty believes in personal communication with anyone who becomes a seller. “We’re specially connected with all our consigners,” she emphasizes. “Sometimes items come in that are very personal—the result of an estate sale or downsizing. We try to make the transition as easy as possible and with understanding.”
Betty has personally been in business since 1983 as an interior designer. Five years ago, she and her husband of 44 years, Terry, moved to Canton. “I’ve always shopped consignment and I realized when we moved here that there was very little in the way of interior design shopping,” says Betty. They completely remodeled the 50-year-old building behind Dairy Queen. With a store of 80% consignment and 20% new merchandise, there is upscale consignment with antiques, new and used home décor. There’s nothing broken, stained or smoked-damaged. Betty finds samples, auctions, and model home items for her customers at lower than wholesale prices. “We’re very selective with our merchandise.”
Another thing that makes Fun Finds and Designs stand out from other consignment stores is its relationship with consigners and customers. The consigners are able to get on the website anytime of day and see if their items have sold and when they can pick up a check. It’s an amazing communication tool to keep them informed at all times. For customers, Betty uses an email newsletter to tell people about sales, new items and store events. There are fresh cookies and refreshments in the store to make each customer feel at home. “This just isn’t a business,” Betty asserts. “It’s a people-to-people kind of life.” The friendly staff is always available to answer questions and even solve decorating dilemmas.
All the staff at Fun Finds and Designs have retail or estate sales experience. So, they can bring knowledge and experience to the customers. Betty and 
Donna Honkomp are the two interior designers in the store. To help customers find the perfect home décor, Betty and her staff offer free design workshops every other month on different home topics. The evening is always complimented by cheese, wine, chocolates and coffee. “There are usually 50-85 people each time,” smiles Betty. “We always have such a good time.” For those who need individual help, customers can bring in photos of their home or the room that needs decorating and Betty does FREE consultations in the store. She does in-home consultations in the area for a nominal travel fee (normally $50 per hour) and travels out of county occasionally for special cases.
Opened in March of 2009, the store is thriving. In the middle of a recession, Betty found a niche that appeals to people of all walks of life. Whether adding to a home or downsizing, Fun Finds and Designs is a place of eclectic taste—from shabby chic to formal entertaining. Art, rugs, furniture, glasses, pictures and more fill the corners, all tastefully arranged by Betty and her staff. Ideas and creativity fill every nook and cranny. The possibilities are endless when you shop at Fun Finds and Designs!
Fun Finds and Designs is located at 2765 Marietta Highway in Canton behind the Dairy Queen. For more information, visit their website at www.funfindsanddesigns.com or call (770) 704-0448.