Where: Hibiscus Place, 1406 East Las Olas Boulevard, Ft Lauderdale. (954) 463-6688

When you're born-to-shop, even a short fix is good one. If I happen to be at the post office on Las Olas (between the Dairy Queen and the Floridian,) there's a consignment shop right next door, on the east side. I can't be within feet of a consignment store and not run though it, can you? They get things in daily, they are one of a kind, so if you don't get there while it's there, you missed your chance. How many times have you asked in a shop for something specific, only to hear,"Oh, we had a really nice one last week." When its followed by some really low unbelievable selling price, that is even worse.

Manny and Paul, the owners of Hibiscus Place, stock lots of ready-to-hang framed art, a very eclectic mix. But they don't buy just any old print. Their things are mostly original or, if a print, they are signed and numbered, like the Richard B Williams 'Regatta' print pictured here. It's marked $200. There are 2 Richard Williams signed sailing prints in stock right now.

If something has been in stock for awhile, they will mark it down, so be sure to ask about that. You are taking a chance, if you wait for the price to come down, but that's all part of the thrill of bargain hunting. I bought a beautiful Baker table here last year because I could finally afford it after the third markdown.

Did I mention eclectic? They had loads of these Bali masks from a customer who collected them, before they downsized to a condominium. I'm not sure where I would go to find a Bali mask if I was in need of one? But it's all part of the surprise of consignment store shopping. These are marked $35 each, and as of this writing there are 7 left.

There are a few other interesting looking consignment stores on Las Olas west of Hibiscus Place, toward downtown, but I'm usually on my lunch hour when I stop by, so there isn't time to do them all. Why don't you stop by and let us know if they have anything we can't live without.

Hey, the latest dirt on saving money at Hibiscus Place: Go to Valpac.com/coupons, type in your zipcode and you'll find a Hibiscus Place coupon for 20% off. You can print it yourself.

Kathy (Born to Shop) Haines

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