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Photography courtesy of Chris Haston/Style Network
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In December, the cameras started rolling at Women’s Closet Exchange, the designer-resale staple in Sappington run by Sue McCarthy and her two daughters, Laura Maurice and Diana Ford. Tentatively titled Resale Royalty, the reality show is set to premiere on Style Network this spring, with celeb stylist (and store customer) Rachel Zoe serving as the show’s executive producer.
Photography courtesy of Chris Haston/Style Network
How did you decide to do a reality show?
LM: [NoCoast Originals] approached us and were very interested in the fact that we were a family-run business, women, and we hire a staff of 28.
DF: And the fact that people were flying in from New York and L.A. regularly to shop us.
Does the show take place at all of your shops—Purple Cow, Clique, and Women’s Closet Exchange—or focus on one?
SM: It takes place in all of our stores, but mainly at Women’s Closet Exchange, which we call the mother ship.
DF: But it’s not just confined to the store: They will be following us to New York for Fashion Week, and we do closet buyouts in New York, Chicago, Paris…
How would you describe the show?
LM: It’s a little bit like Pawn Stars meets American Pickers—but sexier. We look at more than a thousand items a day to buy. They’re watching us: how we buy items, what we pay…
DF: And events. We do a ton of events: a Spring Fling fashion show, private shopping parties…
How did Women’s Closet Exchange get its start?
SM: Many, many years ago, I shopped rummage sales. I happened on a consignment shop, and it was a step above what I was used to. I thought, “This is great. I think I can do this, but I know I can do it better.”
What has been most surprising about the filming?
LM: It’s kind of like the three of us have picked up an extra job, because we have really doubled our working hours with the camera time.
What are you most looking forward to about the show?
LM: It’s really going to show St. Louis and women business owners in a great light. We focus on a ton of other small businesses in St. Louis, which this show is going to highlight.
