Feroce Luxury Consignment Boutique is Alison Park’s Kelly Costa’s latest business venture.
A lover of handbags, Costa never leaves the house without carrying a beautiful handbag. She is on a mission to make owning a quality handbag easier and more affordable.
She opened Feroce at 405 Freeport Road in Aspinwall earlier this month.
“Every year I buy a few name brand handbags. My general wardrobe is hoodies and leggings, but you won’t see me without a name brand handbag,” Costa said.
Through her boutique’s consignment concept, customers can make an appointment to see items they would like to have on consignment.
Costa, 40, plans to focus on luxury handbags, scarves, wallets and fine jewelry, but will also accept clothing items.
In addition to Feroce, Costa operates two Churn Homemade Ice Cream & Coffee Shops in Indiana Township at Heartwood Town Center and along East Carson Street on the South Side.
Costa grew up in South Park and graduated from South Park High School in 2002.
She earned a triple major degree (Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Accounting) from Duquesne University in 2006 and worked in the corporate tax industry for 10 years.
Louis B. Ruediger | Trilive
Kelly Costa pictured at her newly opened luxury consignment shop at 405 Freeport Road, Aspinwall.
Costa chose Feroce as the company name after accepting international students from Italy.
Feroce means fierce in Italian.
“I’m very outgoing and she was a little shy and she always called me Feroce, so that’s how we ended up,” Costa said.
Feroce commissions designer handbag brands such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Free People, Michael Kors, Burberry, and Tory Burch.
All bags are inspected for authenticity and the price is approximately 50% cheaper than buying new.
“That’s my big fear, that someone will bring in (a fake) and I’ll have to tell them,” Costa said.
Since our grand opening, we have been steadily increasing our business.
“We want to bring traffic here,” Costa said. “Please bring us your once-loved work.”
Costa has signed a three-year contract and said the Aspinwall community has welcomed him.
“People are very friendly and everyone seems to be very welcoming and supportive of small businesses (),” she said.
The goal is to ship items quickly.
“We aim to flip people’s content in two weeks. Our contract is 60 days and 50/50 on handbags,” Costa said.
All handbags are cleaned and assigned an A or B level rating for quality, the industry’s consignment ranking criteria.
All items must be clean, free of holes, and in good overall condition.
Unsold items can be returned to the owner, or the owner can “donate” the item to Animal Lifeline Pittsburgh Thrift Store, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk animals .
The thrift store, located at 139 E. 8th St. in Homestead, sells donated items and uses the proceeds to support pets, Costa said.
“I’m an animal advocate,” she said. “I love anything that helps them, whether it’s animals or children.”
Costa chose Aspinwall because of its walkability and established residential community.
What is her message to new customers?
“If you want to update your wardrobe, this is the place. You can even find something cheap without dropping $200,” Costa said.
To make a consignment reservation, email feroceconsignment@gmail.com or call 412-426-9888. Store hours are Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Joyce Hunts is a Charleston, South Carolina native and features reporter covering the Pittsburgh area. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with a major in media arts. Contact her at jhanz@triblive.com.
