“I have wonderful consignors,” said Dallman. “I have wonderful shoppers who mean so much to me. For so many people, it’s saved them and helped them to be able to clothe their children. I’m so thankful that so many people believed in my business and have supported us.”

Secrets, 514 Front St., opened 25 years ago in a room above a hair salon in Moorland and soon outgrew the space. Dallman purchased the land next door and began construction on the new building, where Secrets remains today.

“When I started, I had little kids,” said Dallman. “I wanted to be there for my kids and I’d had a consignment business in Decorah previously, so I just knew that I could make a go of this. I’m glad that I did.”

Secrets currently has more than 4,500 consignors on record, with many being second generation customers.

“I’ve seen parents who came in with their babies for clothes and now those babies are adults coming in with their babies,” said Dallman. “It warms my heart. There are children who have taken over their parents’ consignor accounts too. So many of our consignors have become our friends too.”

“We had two grandmas who used to come in every Wednesday,” added Jen George, who has worked for Dallman for more than a decade. “We’ve really enjoyed the people and the business.”

Dallman, who will turn 70 in February, said she wants to spend more time with her grandchildren and to relax more. When she posted earlier this fall that Secrets might be closing, she received four offers shortly thereafter from people wanting to keep the successful clothing consignment business going.

“We’re telling people to stay tuned,” said Dallman. “We’re working out the nitty gritty. But I’d love for it to continue to help people and to be a successful business. It’s brought me so much joy. You see parents with their newborn babies and then they turn eight and they’re in here and then they’re teenagers, and they love to come here. That makes me feel good. That makes it all worth it.”

Winter consignments are in and on the floor for Christmas shopping, said Dallman.

“It doesn’t have to be new to be awesome,” she said.