Kinsey Meyer planned to move to Idaho after graduating from Iowa State this past May. She was hired as an intern to work in the merchandising department at Coldwater Creek headquarters, until her plans completely changed.

Coldwater Creek sent Meyer an email stating that the company had gone bankrupt and was closing.

When Meyer was a junior at Iowa State, she worked at a store called Miss Meyer’s Clothing Consignment. The owner at the time, Katherine Kerns, who was also a mother of two young children, became very busy. Meyer said Kerns struggled to balance her time between motherhood and her shop, so she made the decision to sell Miss Meyer’s.

Shortly after Meyer found out that she was not moving to Idaho to work for Coldwater Creek, the woman that was lined up to buy Miss Meyer’s backed out.

“After Coldwater Creek didn’t work out, I took that as a sign,” Meyer said. “I’d worked here and loved it. It’s completely different from other chain stores and I liked the environment better. So Katherine and I sat down and talked it out, and here I am.”

Meyer officially became the new owner of Miss Meyer’s in August 2014.

Miss Meyer’s is located on Fifth Street in downtown Ames. The shop sells consigned women’s clothing, jewelry, shoes, purses and other accessories. Miss Meyer’s only accepts items that are in good condition and those that were purchased within the past two to three years. In order to bring in items to be consigned, an appointment must be made in advance.

When the shop opened in 2010, Miss Meyer’s was, and still is, the only consignment shop in Ames that caters solely to women. Miss Meyer’s offers an array of items for women ages 20 to 60. It carries well-known brands such as J.Crew, Free People, The North Face, Miss Me, BCBG , Fossil and others.

Eventually, Meyer said she would like to expand the shop and sell housewares and maternity clothing. In the meantime, however, she said she would like more college students to come into the store.

In an effort to get more students to come in, Meyer began a promotion she calls “Student I.D. Saturdays.” Every Saturday, students will get 10 percent off their purchases when they show their student IDs.

“That clientele is what we are missing,” Meyer said. “I don’t think a lot of people know and it is a great way for college women to come in and make money.”