KENTON
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 12 — FEBRUARY 16, 2024
THE VOICE OF NKY
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Trash to Treasure: Resellers in Northern Kentucky By Robin Gee
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ickers. Flippers. Thrifters. Treasure hunters. They go by many different names, but resellers — those who buy and sell used, returned or overstock items directly to consumers — are a thriving segment of our economy. A 2021 survey of adults in the U.S. reported by Statistica showed there were 52.6 million clothing resellers alone in 2020, and that number was expected to more than double over the coming few years. Clothing is bread-and-butter for many resellers, but you’ll find people who buy and sell shoes, housewares, antiques, furniture, collectibles, tools, toys and just about anything that has value to someone. Resellers truly prove the old adage, “One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” There’s obvious value in gold jewelry, working electronics or gently used musical instruments, but there’s also a market for old medicine bottles, original Star Wars figures and ’80s bands tour T-shirts. You’ll find resellers throughout Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky. In fact, for the last three years, a group of
resellers has hosted a “Resellers Rally” on a BB Riverboat that draws hundreds of resellers from all over the U.S. The online explosion Before the Internet, those looking for second-hand bargains found them at flea markets, yard and garage sales, rummage sales, estate sales and thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. All of those remain options for buyers and sellers today, but the explosion of online marketplaces has kicked the whole process up a few notches. Resellers have a variety of outlets from which to sell. For larger items especially, they may sell locally through online services such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. While it is possible to have items shipped to a customer farther away, these platforms are great for local pickups. Sellers list their items, buyers find them through searches and together they make arrangements for an exchange. The granddaddy of the online selling market is eBay. Started in 1995, the site boasted Continues on page 3
A volunteer tests and preps donations to ensure they are in good order for the Be Concerned thrift shop. Photo by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor
NKY route one of several ideas for Cincinnati streetcar expansion By Robin Gee
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incinnati streetcar advocates are spurring discussion on both sides of the river about potential expansion routes, including an idea for a route across the river into Northern Kentucky.
The Kentucky Corridor would run from downtown Cincinnati across the Taylor Southgate Bridge and into Newport, about 1.6 miles, then potentially across the Fourth Street Bridge into Covington, adding another mile to the route. Photo provided | Sustainable Cincy
Proponents presented their ideas on Feb. 1 at a public forum held at the First Lutheran Church in Over-the-Rhine. About 300 people attended the event, hosted by the Coalition for Transit and Sustainable Development of Greater Cincinnati, a program of the Covington-based Devou Good Foundation.
Kentucky Corridor. It would take the streetcar across the river from downtown Cincinnati, over the Taylor Southgate Bridge and into Newport, about 1.6 miles. Organizers were careful to say the forum was an early attempt to garner interest and gather public reaction and input into the nine expansion ideas. “Our objective today is not to make the case for building nine streetcar lines,” said Galen Gordon, a member of the coalition and emcee for the event. “We’re trying to get a consensus on which line we believe as a community should be built next.” He noted that funding would not be dis-
One of the ideas presented was called The
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