Consigment shops find new customers

By Katie Cole (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Local resale stores A Second Act and the Salvation Army have seen an increase in both donations and customers as a growing number of local residents discover recycled shopping during the ongoing recession.

Rita Barry, the owner of A Second Act, recently returned from the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops’ (NARTS) annual convention in Scottsdale, Ariz.

“I just got back from our national convention. They said, ‘This is our year. We have arrived,’” Barry said.

Thrift and consignment stores have seen significant increases in sales and donated or incoming clothes in the last year, according to a statement released by NARTS. Of the 149 member stores, 63 percent saw increased sales and 83 percent attracted new customers in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008.

“People are getting smart. They are getting very conscientious,” Barry said.

A Second Act is a consignment store, which allows people to give their clothes to the store to sell in exchange for a percentage of the profits, which they can keep or donate to their favorite charity. Barry noticed an increase in customers about three to four months ago, and she attributes it to people’s desire to make the most of their purchases.

“People want their money to go further,” Barry said. “Everybody’s got stuff and what we need to do is recycle that stuff.”

A Second Act “recycles” clothing for men, women and children. Mothers and grandmothers are the most frequent customers at A Second Act, often shopping for their children.

“Everybody is really careful with their money now, but the thing is the children still grow,” Barry said.

The Salvation Army has also seen an increase in customers over the last year.

“We have seen an increase. There’s so much need now with the economic recession,” Susan Hardy, the Salvation Army’s director, said.

As a non-profit thrift store, the Salvation Army depends on donations to provide inexpensive clothing and furniture to people in need.

“Donations are coming in really well, and I’m really thankful people are thinking of the Salvation Army,” Hardy said. “We’re holding steady, but we’re always looking for more donations.”

Hardy believes more people are coming to the store because money is tight and the store offers a wide variety of goods at a reasonable price. In addition to clothing and furniture, the store also sells kitchen appliances, books, décor and other odds and ends, such as musical instruments, lawn mowers and sporting goods.

“A lot more people are trying places like this,” Hardy said. “We have a lot of brand-new things here,”

A Second Act is also attracting shoppers in search of a good deal, Barry said.

“The store is great for people who like to shop,” Barry said. “It’s hard to go into a consignment store and just say I want a size eight. You have to have a little bit of time.”

To retain her new customers, Barry has to keep them happy, which means providing a large selection of clothes and being flexible with purchases.

“If it has the ticket on it and was bought in the last few days, we’ll exchange it,” Barry said. “It’s not a bargain if it doesn’t fit.”

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