When Diann Scanga decided to open a consignment clothing store, she said it was “like taking that step off the cliff.”

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said. “But I’m glad I did it.”

Now, after three months in business, Scanga’s store, Lucky Star Consignment Clothing, is well on its way to being a success.

Scanga’s store is the second Lucky Star in Kitsap County. The other one is in Kingston and is owned by her friend Stacy Patrick.

“I’d stop by Stacy’s store two or three times a week,” Scanga said. “One day she said, ‘Diann, you’d be good at this. Why don’t you open a consignment store?’ ”

So Scanga went to work to locate just the right place. She thought about Poulsbo, but found there are eight consignments stores there. And, there are four on Bainbridge Island and three in Kingston. But there were none in Silverdale.

“Silverdale is centrally located and there are lots of military people here coming and going, so I knew it would be a great place,” she said.

She found a large store – 4,500 square feet to be exact – in a strip mall, near Kitsap Mall.

She is carrying on the name of her friend’s store, Lucky Star, which Patrick said came from the words to a Madonna song.

Scanga’s store has exposed pipes and steel beams in the ceiling which she loves and has made them to be part of the ambience. Her husband was able to nab large wooden reels that once housed wiring, which she’s turned into tabletop displays for shoes and purses.

“I decided that I wanted the atmosphere in here to stay open and authentic,” she said.

Her merchandise all comes in the door from her supporters. She uses a software program called Consignment Store Software which keeps track of who brought the item in and on what date, and what the item is priced at.

“I take in new and gently used clothing, shoes, purses and accessories,” she said. “The store gets 60 percent and the consigner gets 40 percent.”

Items stay in the store from 60 to 90 days and then, if they haven’t sold, they are returned to the consigner or donated to the Kitsap foster care program. Consigners also have the option of taking store credit instead of cash.

Scanga has clothing in sizes extra-small petite to plus sizes. She has a department for men’s clothing and a nook for infants and children’s clothing.

Her inventory is always changing and she’s recently had so many items brought in that she has about a two-week backlog of items she needs to price and get on the floor.

Her 18-year-old daughter, Jordon, works in the store with her, too.

“She’s a fashionista,” Scanga said. “She has a darling sense of fashion.”

As for Scanga herself, she said she was always a “tomboy” growing up. She’s a former social worker and never really got into fashion until she was an adult. Her weakness is boots.

“Boots and purses,” she said. “I’ve got 26 pair of boots in my closet at home.”

And speaking of purses, Scanga points to a wall filled with high end purses.

“I’ve got a purple Michael Kors bag that would retail for $580,” she said. “It’s barely been used and I’ve priced it for $225.”

Most of the items in her store are name brand things that are reasonably priced.

“And one thing I can tell you is that Kitsap knows how to dress,” she said. “Sometimes I can’t believe the great stuff that comes through my door.”

Starting a retail business was a scary prospect, she admitted.

“But this kind of a business is great for the economy,” she said. “This is all about recycling and saving money, and looking good at the same time.”

With more than 300 consigners so far, Scanga thinks she’s done a pretty good job of organizing items and making the place look good.

“My husband came in the other day and said he couldn’t believe that it looked so good in here,” she said. “And then he asked me why my closet at home is such a nightmare.”

Although her husband is one of her greatest supporters, he wasn’t sure about the store when she first mentioned the idea to him.

“He went to work and told his friends what I was doing and they told him ‘Dude, she’s not opening a store. She’s just renting a bigger closet.’ ”

But Scanga’s been good at not taking home much.

“Just a pair of designer jeans that I loved,” she said. “I had them out for a bit but when they didn’t sell, I knew they were meant for me.”

The store is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 3276 NW Plaza Road, Suite 104. She can be reached at 360-692-7499. The store is closed on Sundays.