Recycling has gone beyond pizza boxes and beer cans for those with an environmental outlook. Gently used clothing is a way to keep textiles out of landfills and to save some green at the same time.
A visit to a thrift, resale or consignment store is not the same for modern shoppers as it was a decade or two ago. Many consignment stores make very attractive boutiques and a consumer may even be surprised the items have been previously owned.
Navigating Second Hand Shopping
Second hand shopping requires a little forward thinking, and some extra time. One mother who frequents secondhand clothing stores notes “I keep a list of my children’s clothing and shoe sizes in my wallet as a reference so I don’t purchase the wrong size by looks alone.” Another good tip is to consider seasonal shopping, ahead of time. In Taos, New Mexico an annual “Ski Swap” is held at the Arroyo Seco Community Center. This event draws parents and adults looking for a good deal on gently used winter clothing and outdoor sports wear and accessories. Since it is held prior to the ski season opening parents take into account the rate of growth a child may have when he needs the garment in January, several months later.
There are several forms of secondhand shops, classified by the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops (NARTS). They are:
- Thrift Shops – those run by non-profit organizations such as Salvation Army and Goodwill chains or by churches, schools and other not-for-profit’s.
- Consignment Shops – a store where items are sold on a consignment basis: the owner of the garment shares the profit of a sale with the owner of the store.
- Resale Shop – can fit either category and is a general term describing stores which sell previously owned items.
Tips for Finding Deals at Resale Shops
A visit to the resale shop is unlike a trip to the mall. At the Salvation Army in Saugus, Massachusetts clothing is sorted by colors, not sizes. Most second hand shops will organize garments into men’s clothing, women’s clothing, children and baby clothing as well as shoes and accessories.
For a successful shopping trip to the resale shop consumers should keep these tips in mind:
- A visit to the store during non-peak hours will help to avoid crowds or lines for uninterrupted shopping.
- Some consumers bring a friend or family member to “divide and conquer” the store when shopping for multiple items or sizes (say boots for a child and a skirt for a woman).
- Larger thrift stores add new items to the inventory at routine intervals – an inquiry can be made to the staff to find out which days new garments will be available.
Amy Kreydin - Amy Kreydin, NBCRT, CCAP, BD is a Board Certified Reflexologist and Clinical Aromatherapist.
Join the Conversation