PVCC Lynx Publication

Resale stores offer thrifty ways to create a wardrobe
By Lisa Racz, November 09
Environment Editor

When deciding to go clothes shopping, consider shopping at resale stores instead of regular retail stores. Besides gently used clothing, new items can be found at resale stores at half the price or more than regular clothing stores along with brand name items such as Guess bags, Calvin Klein shoes, Tommy jeans and more.

One should also consider shopping at resale stores that have a clean appearance for a better shopping experience like the Goodwill at Seventh Street and Union Hills Drive. There are several resale stores known to resale shoppers such as St. Vincent de Paul, Savers, My Sister’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill that take in an array of used items as well as clothing.

Clothing items end up in resale stores for many reasons. For instance, someone may lose a receipt, so he or she can’t take that shirt back to the original store, or that pair of jeans just isn’t the right style or size. What about those shoes that just had to be bought and two weeks later they’re on the do not wear list. Many times children’s clothes in good condition end up in resale stores because they were outgrown and hardly worn.
How does one create an acceptable wardrobe from resale stores? Here are a few tips to help with locating quality clothing at a reasonable price.

Know the pricing system

First, step into a resale store, you notice racks which have signs that list the clothing type and the price for each rack. Pricing managers are conscience of which brand names are more expensive, such as bebe and Guess, and which are popular this season, like Hurley, and price accordingly. Items are also priced by what color is in for that season and what is not. For instance, you can find a Guess purse for $15 that has nothing wrong with it other than a color that is out of season.

“Each Goodwill has their own pricing production managers who are trained to price gently used items according to quality, brand name and what type of clothing item it is,” states Sarah Turley, public relations specialist for Goodwill.

Look carefully at merchandise

Check seams of clothes to ensure they are tight and not stretched out, especially around buttons, the seat of pants, soles of shoes. It’s important to check pants and purse zippers for dysfunctional or broken zippers because they are costly to replace. Also, consider that there might be some shrinkage from previous washings on some clothing items, so a larger size might be needed. Look closely for tags because many times new clothing items can be found with their original tags still on them.

“Many clothing items that end up in resale stores are brand new because sometimes people buy things, take them home and don’t want it anymore,” says Turley.

Target your purchase

Think of what clothing item is in mind before going into a resale store because there is much to look at and this will cause less impulse buying. For instance, if you’re looking for jeans, there are plenty of brands to choose from. So, instead of paying $50 or more for torn, tattered jeans, buy some from a resale store for $10 and cut and tear them yourself. Also, don’t forget to try on clothing items before you purchase.

“We get all types of clothing in for all age groups and styles from sportswear to evening wear and even clothing items that can be altered to fit your style or cut up and used for crafts or costumes,” says Turley

Check Often

Clothing items are constantly donated to resale stores either by drive-through, donation windows, in person at stores or placed in donation boxes by the store’s entrance.

“People can come every day and the clothing items will change… and you never know what treasure you’ll find,” says Turley.

Shop on sale days

Resale stores have sale days just as retail stores do to make room for clothing that has just arrived. Depending on the resale store, there will be marked sale racks with colored tags clearly posted as the 50 percent off sale color tag for the day. Many stores have senior discount days as well as student discount days on already discounted resale or new clothes. An example includes Goodwill’s student-discount days on Sundays.

“Every Sunday we have our student discount days, which gives students 25 percent off any regular priced clothing item,” says Mike Hawes, manager of Goodwill at Seventh Street and Union Hills Drive, “even from our better quality clothing racks.”

Ever wonder where clothing items go that don’t get sold in the regular resale
stores?

“What clothes we don’t sell in our regular stores go to our clearance center at 421 N. 16th Street or to salvage dealers where they break down clothes into rags for car washes and other things,” states Turley. “We are very ‘into’ recycling and that’s what resale stores are actually doing.”