by
Zinta Aistars
photography by
T
d
dhan SeconNews
‘Green’ and thrifty shoppers fuel growth of resale stores
ERIK HOLLADAY
hrift stores, secondhand stores, vintage stores. Call them what you will, but stores selling gently used items — from clothes and furniture to children’s gear and building materials — are popping up everywhere. In Kalamazoo alone, an Internet search will turn up nearly 50 listings of secondhand stores, from shops that sell items on consignment to those that sell donated goods. And this trend is happening not just in Southwest Michigan but nationally. According to the Association of Resale Professionals, the business of selling secondhand goods has become a $13-billion-a-year industry in the U.S., expanding about 7 percent per year over the last two years and attracting shoppers from all economic levels. According to America’s Research Group, a consumer
24 | Encore MARCH 2014
The Clothing Connection’s window features a mix of fashionable, vintage resale clothing.