How Sonya Nix Can Help You Find the Perfect Gift This Holiday

When it comes to finding just the right gift this holiday season, it is more than helpful to receive expert advice based on nearly 25 years of resale buying and selling experience.

This is why Sonya Nix, the owner of Better Than Before Consignments. a premiere resale shop in Cullman and Decatur, Alabama, should be at the top of your list.

Some 25 years ago, Sonya walked into a consignment store while she vacationed in Tennessee with her husband, Glenn. She had already loved the community-based business model in which friends and neighbors are both your suppliers and your customers.

Soon after, she found a small space for rent in her hometown of Cullman, Alabama, (driving distance from Hunstville) and left behind her nursing career to open Better Than Before.

However, she didn’t leave behind her inherent love of caring as she dishes out the same nurse-giving tender loving care to her customers. Now, instead of bandages and medication, through her stores, she is eagerly providing mega-doses of affordable high-quality fashion — clothing, shoes, and accessories — for the entire family.

"This is our tribe and our family," Sonya she proudly of her customers, consignors, and staff. "It has always been my intent to establish a positive and encouraging environment."

When you walk into the two spacious Better Than Before consignment stores you can immediately see that customer service is a priority; which with so many stores nationwide currently running with reduced staff, has become a rare commodity.

The devoted wife of 38 years, supportive mother of two, and Glamma, (a glamorous grandma), of seven grandchildren ages two to 12, Nix pursues every aspect of her life with energy, vitality, and a passion for helping others feel good about themselves. During the fall and winter holidays, you will also see cheerful decorations, hear holiday music, and feel the positive spirit from Sonya and her devoted team of employees, who are clearly one extended family

With Sonya’s natural compassion, she easily brought that to her online game. Creating a meaningful connection with every online customer has been one of her secrets to success and has catapulted her business into being one of the top consignment stores in the country.

Nineteen-year-old Gracie Smith, who runs the Instagram account for one of the Better Than Before stores, appreciates Sonya’s positive energy. “I love that she does her best to make the work environment positive and that she makes everyone feel like we are one big family. Sonya empowers us to use our strengths, and for me, it is my artistic abilities.”

When it comes to the holidays Better Than Before is front and center with Christmas music and a joyful ambiance. “I love that we decorate the stores for each holiday because changing our work environment makes you feel better and the customers love it, too. And every year it’s different. Two years ago, we had painting and wine and last year we had Gingerbread houses. Sonya is super creative and puts on all of these festive events and parties at her home where she makes us feel special.”

Here is a look at Sonya Nix and how her nurturing attitude, genuine care, and concern for others have turned Better Than Before into a loving extended family, and how her expertise can help you find the perfect holiday gift for yourself, friends, and extended family members.

Sonya, How do you pick just the right holiday gift this year?

Sonya Nix: Don’t be afraid to choose something fun and different because that’s what makes gift-giving more of a surprise element. You can feel confident buying at a resale store when you box up the items in beautiful packaging. For those discerning people on your list who are new to resale or unfamiliar with it, we also have thousands of items that are New With Tags that you can buy and wrap up with the original price tags on them. This of course is fun, too, because your friends and family will think you spent a ton of money on them, but you didn’t really.

What holiday shopping trends do you see coming up this year?

Sonya Nix: The message that the press is putting out is to shop early, so I think we’re going to see people not waiting until the last minute. We are already selling a ton of gifts on our FB LIVE Selling shows. We also created a New With Tags department in our store and on our website. People are loving it. Some people just really love giving gifts that have the original tags on them so we’re so thrilled we can offer that as well. We get a lot of boutique buy-outs, these are brand new items from boutiques that had an excess of inventory so we’ll buy it and sell it at a fraction of the original retail cost. All of these items are brand new.

Please tell me more.

Sonya Nix: More and more people are jumping on the sustainability bandwagon. They love shopping thrift stores & consignment stores because it’s ultimately saving the planet. Once upon a time, it might have been faux pas to buy a gift that was pre-owned or pre-loved but now it’s very trendy. A lot of celebrities have consigned their clothing and their home decor and furniture, bringing it into the forefront of everyone’s mind and making it stylish.

What are your customers looking for this time of the year?

Sonya Nix: People are buying handbags and jewelry are still topping the list. All things embellished with stars or bling are really on-trend right now. This is also the year of “The Shacket.” For those of us who are a little bit older, we would simply call this an oversized Flannel shirt but today it’s called the Shacket, and it’s big. Flannel is high fashion right now.

Why do you do what you do?

Sonya Nix: Women tell me every single day how much we mean to them and how much we help them and how they don’t know what they would do without us. What a great way to spend your days, helping others.

What have you learned about yourself from being a business owner?

Sonya Nix: I have learned to delegate more and empower my capable staff; they are bright and intelligent women and just because I think a certain way, it doesn’t mean that a lot of things can’t be done differently. I’ve learned you have to step back and devote time to things other than work. I love to work, and it is hard for me to pull back, but I know each of us needs balance in our lives. We have to make time for ourselves and our loved ones. By empowering others, I can be a better mom, grandmom, and business owner.

Tell me about your popular Facebook Live shopping videos that are held several times a day.

Sonya Nix: We have a loyal following that has been shopping in the stores for years. As social media became more of a thing, we took our in-store relationship-building to Facebook and then Instagram. We had been casually doing Facebook Live Selling shows which are real-time, in-person shopping. When the Pandemic was in full force and our stores weren’t open, we were able to offer multiple shows per day, and once our stores did open our online audience kept the demand for the shows going. Now, we feel like we know them, even if we’ve never met them face-to-face. The videos are a kind of addiction and a social outlet.

Why do you urge customers to come to your two stores or shop online with Better Than Before consignment?

Sonya Nix: We offer southern hospitality and charm. We want the experience to be friendly, fun, personal, and approachable. I want my customers to relax. We set the 8 p.m. time for the videos on purpose because our customers are done with dinner, homework, and the kids’ baths and are in sit-down mode. Either most of the important stuff is done or you are too tired to do them. People can stop to take a breather and enjoy themselves. I want to become a habit in the lives of my customers. Someone will say, ‘I couldn’t make it to the 2 p.m. video; what did I miss?’

What do you look for when buying new and used items for the store?

Sonya Nix: Quality, demand, and salability. I can have something come into the store that is a nice brand but is very old and outdated and I know it won’t sell well, so I will turn it away. It’s about knowing your market.

Tell me about the community aspect of the customers who join your live videos.

Sonya Nix: They are like members of my family. Even if you are broke and can’t afford to buy anything, it’s okay. There’s always next time. Everyone doesn’t always buy; I just love getting on there and enjoying the conversation and interaction. It’s entertaining and funny. They enjoy the comedy. It’s not always about making money; it’s about connection!

You can shop with Sonya at Better Than Before Consignments and check out her Facebook Live Videos here:

Website: Better Than Before Consignments

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betterthanbeforedecatur2/

Twitter: twitter.com/BTBConsignments

To shop at the stores, please go to:

Better Than Before --Downtown Cullman

124 4th Street SW

Cullman Alabama 35055

256-739-3550

Better Than Before Decatur

Gateway Shopping Center

1820-A2 6th Avenue SE

Decatur Alabama 35601

256-351-0666