Fratz Consignment in Fenton Wins Contest for Housewares

Fratz Consignment is known around Fenton for having one of the best housewares selections in town, and now it has the recognition to provie it. In addition to the first place award for housewares, Fratz Consignment also took third place in the antiques category.

Online public voting, via City Voter A-1 Detroit, determined the awards. Fratz Consignment celebrated its 10th anniversary in June.

Fratz, 1442 Torrey Road, Fenton, is a household consignment store, so customers can find everything from brand new items to vintage, antiques and even primitives. There is furniture, pottery, glassware, hardware and a men's section, said Linda Nielsen, who owns Fratz with her sister, Yvonne Gay. In addition, Fratz Consignment recently added helium and latex balloons.

Online voting took place from the end of May to Aug. 12, said Nielsen. The contest takes place in major metropolitan areas around the U.S., and Fratz Consignment has taken third in Antiques last year and the year before that.

"We've stayed steady in that and grown in housewares," Nielsen said. "It's really pretty great."

This year, Fratz competed against around 49 other candidates for the award in Housewares, and against about the same number for Antiques.

The store's main focus is housewares.

"You could actually furnish and decorate a home with things that you find at Fratz," Nielsen said. "There are people who say, 'I should bring a picture in,' because their whole house is full of things from here."

The store operates on a 90-day consignment period, so merchandise rolls over quickly and customers will find new items regularly, she said. In addition, there are seasonal items in right now for Halloween and fall. And Christmas is coming up.

"As the seasons change, you'll find seasonal items here," she said.

Just as Fratz Consignment is a place to find housewares, it's also a location where people can bring items to sell them, on a consignment basis. The store accepts consignment items from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, via a back entrance especially for customers bringing in items. If an item doesn't sell, the owner can pick it up at the store.

If someone has a question about whether an item will sell on consignment, Nielsen encourages them to "bring it in."

"Right now, we have three kitchen sinks," she said. "We'll try everything at least once to see what kind of market it is."

For its City Voter A-1 Detroit awards, Fratz held a party with a giant watermelon on display for customers to guess the melon's weight. The top three guessers won Fratz Consignment gift certificates.

"We try to have fun throughout the year, to share our appreciation with our customers," Nielsen said.

The festivities will continue with the 8th Annual Hunter Widows Weekend, Nov. 12-13. It will feature a chili cook-off, drawings for gift certificates and a dart game challenge that customers can compete in to earn discounts on their purchases. Chili Cook Off participants can sign up at Fratz, and first through third place winners will receive gift certificates.

In addition, the store has a new Birthday Club. Those who sign up will get a birthday postcard for free balloons for their birthday.

Store hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m., and Sunday is the only day of the week the store doesn't accept consignment items. For more information, call 810-714-0588 or see www.fratzconsignment.com