Resale shop a labor of love

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Naperville resident Nancy Tyl (left) and Oswego resident Dawn Aagesen (right) opened a consignment boutique called Savvy Fashions and More in the Mason Square Shopping Center in Oswego. Proceeds from the boutique help out the American Cancer Society, the Kendall County Food Pantry, Wayside Cross Ministries and more. | Marianne Mather~Sun-Times Media

Updated: October 29, 2011 12:42AM

Too many people close to Dawn Aagesen and Nancy Tyl have passed away from cancer. There’s Bill Stoehr, a friend of Aagesen, whose daughter was flower girl at her wedding. He died a year and a half ago from testicular cancer and a brain tumor. Aagesen’s father succumbed to cancer 11 years ago.

Tyl’s father-in-law also passed away. Four teachers at Aagesen and Tyl’s kids’ school, Boulder Hill Elementary, have dealt with or are currently dealing with cancer.

“It’s very close to our hearts, so we decided to help out,” said Aagesen, who has lived in Oswego since 1973.

About six months ago, Aagesen and Tyl opened a consignment boutique called Savvy Fashions and More. It is at 1238 Douglas Road in the Mason Square Shopping Center in Oswego. The two women have known each other about five years and decided to open the store because they wanted to help the community. Also, Aagesen was frustrated with other resale shops not taking her items because of their less-than-designer labels.

“Dawn had been thinking of doing this for a long time,” said Tyl, who is originally from Naperville. “I overheard her talking about opening a store, and I thought that was something I’ve always wanted to do, too.”

The shop not only helps the American Cancer Society, but the Kendall County Food Pantry, Boulder Hill and Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora. It also helps small businesses showcase their products, including Angie Hibben, a jewelry designer who just so happens to work full time at the Oswego Chamber of Commerce as a special projects coordinator. All she has to do is pay a small fee each month to house her jewelry, and the shop gives her 80 percent of her money back.

“I love the store,” Hibben said. “I love the fact there is a charitable element to it. It’s a nice way to give back to the community.”

In the past two months, the shop has raised $200 for the American Cancer Society. Also, each time someone makes a purchase with a credit or debit card, a special company donates part of that money to the ACS.

One of the biggest donations to the Kendall County Food Pantry came from consigner No. 156. Tyl said an “older gentleman whose wife passed away” donated all her designer goods to the shop. Every time someone buys something with that number on the tag, the money goes to the pantry.

The shop accepts clothing, toys, purses, jewelry, shoes and more, regardless of age, as long as it is in good shape. When something does not sell after 90 days, Tyl and Aagesen offer a consignment agreement after which the owner can pick up their goods or have them donated. Most of the time, these items end up at Wayside Cross Ministries in Aurora.

Browsing the store, one may come across a vintage wedding dress, a designer label scarf or purse, a costume suited for a theme party, an authentic sports jersey or the perfect piece of jewelry never used. Some of the items have the original tags on it. For collectors, a basket of troll dolls or Matchbox cars can be a find.

“There’s something for everyone here,” Aagesen said.