The Ledger

By Becky Holland

COCHRAN, Ga. — Once upon a time, there was a little girl who dreamed of having a store of her very own.

She loved old things. Things with stories. Things that someone else might have overlooked but that she could see were still beautiful, still useful, and still deserving of a second chance.

She loved yard sales, thrift stores, and the thrill of finding something special among the ordinary.

That little girl grew up.

And somewhere along the way, her dream found a home in Cochran.

Today, 39-year-old Brittany Smith Davis is the owner of Tenth House Consignment Shop, a business built on secondhand treasures, hard work, and a belief that people, much like the items on her shelves, should never be judged by appearances.

But to understand Tenth House, you first have to understand Brittany.

She’s a wife, a mother of two, a former custom cake maker, and a woman who believes that loving people isn’t supposed to come with conditions.

And she has built a business around that belief.

A Dream Finds Its Address

Brittany wasn’t looking to create something fancy or exclusive.

She simply loved the idea of having a store.

For years, she enjoyed shopping at thrift stores and yard sales, finding treasures that other people might have passed by. She was also a customer of the very consignment shop she would eventually own.

When the previous owner decided to sell, Brittany asked about purchasing it.

Conversations followed, an agreement was reached, and suddenly the little girl who had dreamed of owning a store was holding the keys to one.

But she wasn’t interested in simply opening the doors and continuing business as usual.

She had a vision.

Brittany and those helping her invested considerable time, money, and love into making changes. The shop received a facelift, improvements were made, and the consignment process was updated.

She wanted a store that was clean, organized, inviting, and filled with opportunities for customers to find something wonderful without spending a fortune.

Tenth House is now open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., making shopping more convenient for local customers and the many visitors who travel from outside Cochran.

But the most important change Brittany wanted to make couldn’t be accomplished with paint, new fixtures, or rearranged merchandise.

It had to do with how people felt when they walked through the door.

Dignity Doesn’t Have a Price Tag

There is something particularly beautiful about Brittany’s philosophy.

She believes that having a limited budget should never mean having a limited shopping experience.

A person looking for an affordable outfit deserves the same kindness and respect as someone walking into an expensive boutique.

A mother stretching her paycheck shouldn’t have to feel embarrassed about shopping secondhand.

And someone simply looking for a bargain should be able to enjoy the experience without judgment.

At Tenth House, Brittany wants customers to feel comfortable taking their time, browsing the racks, and discovering something they love.

She doesn’t want anyone to feel less than because of what they can afford.

The price tag might say $5 or $10.

But dignity?

That’s priceless.

A Place Where Everybody Belongs

Ask Brittany what Tenth House means to her, and the answer goes far beyond clothing, accessories, and household treasures.

She wants it to be a place where people feel safe.

A place where they can relax.

A place where they don’t have to pretend to be someone they aren’t.

And that philosophy applies to the people who work there just as much as the people who shop there.

Brittany believes people deserve kindness regardless of their circumstances, backgrounds, or differences.

Her reasoning is rooted in her Christian faith.

God told us to love one another.

To Brittany, that isn’t a suggestion that comes with a list of exceptions.

It’s a responsibility.

She has demonstrated her commitment to the community through support of local schools, scouting programs, athletic teams, and other causes.

But living out that philosophy hasn’t always been easy.

When Love Comes With a Cost

During Pride Month, Brittany displayed a rainbow flag at her business.

For some people, it was a welcome gesture.

For others, it was a reason to stop shopping there.

Brittany says she lost customers over the decision, including some who have not returned.

She also gained new ones.

It was a difficult experience and one that taught her lessons about people, business, and the consequences of standing by her convictions.

In a small town, where businesses depend on relationships and word of mouth, losing customers can hurt.

But Brittany’s explanation remains rooted in the same belief that guides her treatment of everyone who enters her store.

God calls us to love everybody.

Not just the people who look like us, think like us, worship like us, or live like us.

Everybody.

And while not everyone agreed with her decision, Brittany believes a person’s differences should never make them unworthy of kindness.

It’s a lesson that reaches far beyond the doors of a consignment shop.

More Than Things With Price Tags

Perhaps that’s what makes Tenth House special to Brittany.

It’s not merely about giving clothing, furniture, or other belongings another chance to be useful.

It’s about giving people a place where they feel valued.

The woman looking for an affordable dress.

The parent trying to make a dollar stretch.

The employee who wants to feel accepted.

The customer who simply needs a friendly face and a little kindness.

They all have a place in Brittany’s vision for Tenth House.

And in a world where people are often quick to judge, quick to criticize, and quick to draw lines between themselves and others, she is trying to create something different.

A place where the welcome mat really means welcome.

The Little Girl and Her Dream

Somewhere in all of this is still that little girl who loved old things.

The little girl who saw possibilities in discarded treasures, who wandered through thrift stores and yard sales imagining what she might find.

She couldn’t have known then what her dream would eventually become.

She couldn’t have known about the renovations, the long hours, the difficult decisions, or the customers who would come and go.

She probably just imagined a little shop filled with interesting things.

And she got one.

But she also created something she believes is much bigger.

A place where people matter more than price tags.

Where a bargain can bring a smile.

Where differences don’t have to determine whether someone receives kindness.

And where love is something to be practiced, not merely talked about.

Tenth House may be a consignment shop.

But to Brittany Smith Davis, it’s also a place to remind people of something we sometimes forget.

Everybody has value. Everybody deserves dignity. And everybody deserves to feel welcome.

Sometimes, the most beautiful thing you can find in a secondhand store isn’t on a shelf at all.