The hottest trend in shopping this year may be resale retail, making something old become new again for your home or closet.
Whether you shop in consignment stores, resale or thrift shops, this trend has become a national phenomenon, as customers re-use and re-purpose items that might otherwise end up in landfills.
For some resale shoppers, it’s a sustainability issue; for others, it’s the “thrill of the hunt.” Some are in search of vintage items or things that have meaning in their lives.
Even in a strong economy, resale shoppers are looking for value, unique one-of-a-kind items and quality. It’s the exact opposite of the times when thrift shops boomed when the economy was down and people shopped there out of necessity, according to a recent story in The Detroit News.
“Our customers really want cool things, but they don’t want to pay a ton for them,” said Allen Ryckman, owner of Community Threads of Fenton, a thrift-resale shop that opened in November, 2017. “They’d rather save their money for experiences, not ‘stuff.’”
Last week, he sold The North Face, Marmot, UGG and Hunter brands, all brand new, at a fraction of the regular retail price, from a handful of his closeout sources. “This week, it’s brand new area rugs that were retail priced at $200 on up and are for sale for $40 to $100,” he said.
Thrift stores, which were once viewed as a place where people shopped when they couldn’t afford to shop at regular retail, have totally upped their image. Now they’re attracting shoppers with more financial means, who have different priorities than from generations past.
Today’s resale shops now tend to offer a more upscale shopping experience than in years past, with lots of light, clean and organized shelves and racks.
Mirror Image Consignment is one example of a resale store that has created an image of quality in an upscale atmosphere. “About 25 percent of what I take in with clothing and accessories are new with tags on them,” said owner Debra Meek. “My store does exceptionally well because people are very mindful of being thrifty. They can get amazing quality for a discounted price.”
With a demographic of women from 25 to 60-plus, Meek said she has noticed a lot more younger people coming in. She has also doubled her consignor list since opening three-and-a-half years ago, now numbering more than 4,100.
She also believes people like to support resale shops with a cause. At Mirror Image, it’s Wigs for Wonderful Women. She’ll give a free wig to any woman in need because of a medical issue, whether
it’s hair loss, or chemotherapy-related. Her daughter, Chelsea, a hair stylist, will provide a new cut and style.
Not only are there more resale shoppers now; donations are coming in at a record pace, thanks to the popularity of the Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” Kondo, a Japanese organizational consultant, advocates that items which don’t “spark joy” be donated or given away.
This craze is all over social media, encouraging people to “tidy up” around their homes.
The new emphasis on sustainability has struck a chord with younger people, who are shopping at resale stores in record numbers. Millennials are the most likely age group to buy resale, and 40 percent of shoppers between the ages of 18 and 24 did so last year, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
“The average demographic of my customer is a female in her 30s,” Ryckman said. “It’s so cool to see customers being able to decorate and freshen up their homes and closets at a fraction of the retail price.”