Jen Torpie, the new executive director of Bird in Hand, has ambitious goals for the nonprofit Chestnut Hill consignment shop. Since taking over the role in June, Torpie has been reflecting on ways not only to modernize the store, but also expand its impact.

She looks to Housing Works, a New York City-based nonprofit that runs a series of thrift stores, as an example.

“Housing Works started to raise money for AIDS awareness and treatment, and they went from one place to many locations,” Torpie explained in an interview with the Local. “The Bird could be that. We just need to up our game.”

A new chapter

Prior to her time at Bird in Hand, Torpie had a varied career that took the Mt. Airy native to Prague, New York City, and Washington, D.C., with roles in the film and television field and the nonprofit sector. She also worked as a criminal analyst with a focus on crimes against children.

After moving back to Philadelphia, Torpie got into flowers, which she found to be a “very rewarding creative outlet.” Most recently, Torpie worked for Four Seasons Philadelphia under the direction of floral designer Jeff Leatham. According to Torpie, this wide range of jobs has been beneficial.

“It keeps things interesting and fun,” Torpie said. “Every experience really adds to this new chapter.”

Torpie heard about the executive director role at Bird in Hand through word of mouth. The transition from the resources at the Four Seasons to the smaller budget of Bird in Hand was “definitely a pivot.”

“It wasn’t something that was on my radar, but when I learned more about the mission and the opportunity to have a beautifully curated store that relies a lot on creativity and grassroots involvement in terms of our volunteer support, it seemed like a really nice challenge,” Torpie said. “I went from losing two to three hours a day commuting downtown to being able to be door-to-door in five minutes. So it’s a much different pace, but rewarding in terms of its connection to the community and the ability to give back.”

Giving back to the community

Bird in Hand was founded in the 1970s as a nonprofit consignment shop with a goal of raising money for the Chestnut Hill Garden District Fund to beautify Germantown Avenue. Over the years, the shop has grown to support other Philadelphia-based organizations, such as Awbury Arboretum, SquashSmarts, and Face to Face Germantown.

According to Torpie, Bird in Hand “runs on generosity and community.” A small staff, volunteers, and a six-member board all work together to keep the shop running. The merchandise — jewelry, china, antiques, furniture, art, collectibles — may bring more money online, but consignors choose to support Bird in Hand’s mission of giving back.

“We’re passionate about giving beautiful, high-quality pieces a second life — keeping them out of the landfill and into the hands of people who’ll love them again,” Torpie said. “You’ll find one-of-a-kind items here that you just can’t get at the mall.”

In today’s retail environment, with online shopping thriving and tariffs causing high prices, Torpie said Bird in Hand has several unique advantages. The items sold at the shop tend to be older, one-of-a-kind, handmade objects available for a fraction of the typical retail price. Rather than shopping at the King of Prussia Mall or Amazon, this retail model is sustainable — items are given a second life. Plus, customer experience is another factor to consider.

“The board members, volunteers, and staff really make the experience warm and personal, and you may not get that in terms of just going to a big box store where it’s transactional,” Torpie said.

Future goals

Torpie said her main goal at Bird in Hand is to continually evolve and stay fresh, bringing in new customers, consignors, and merchandise.

“We can’t stay stagnant in order for The Bird to thrive,” Torpie said.

Another aim is to expand the shop’s outreach to more local organizations and create a clear and cohesive mission in terms of what nonprofits will receive money. Torpie is also looking ahead to next year — Bird in Hand’s 50th anniversary — and thinking of ways to celebrate and continue thriving for another 50 years.

According to Torpie, with Matines Café’s recent arrival and 50 Watts’ opening last fall, the “hidden nook” of West Highland Avenue is seeing more foot traffic. This means more customers are coming into Bird in Hand, and Torpie is eager to share her mission with them.

“I just want people to feel good about shopping here, because when they shop here, their purchases give back,” Torpie said. “And when they consign here…they’re also making the conscious choice to give back to the community.”

Bird in Hand is located at 9 W. Highland Ave. Contact the shop at 215-842-5624 or birdinhandconsignmentshop@gmail.com.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.