Behind the Scenes at Embrace Consignment

The Kankakee County CEO class toured Embrace Consignment in Bradley with co-owner Damon Routson, gaining a firsthand look at the operations of a successful local business. Students were able to see what it takes to manage a consignment store that processes thousands of items each month.

CEO students learned about:
- How cost of goods sold (COGS) is calculated in a consignment model
- Strategies for managing large volumes of inventory
- How analyzing sales trends influences buying decisions and inventory acceptance.
- The pros and cons of owning versus leasing a brick-and-mortar storefront
- And more practical insights from real-world entrepreneurship

A big thank you to Damon and the Embrace team for opening their doors and sharing their expertise with our future business leaders.

9/2/25