Secondhand, First Choice

Thrift store shoppers opt for high end labels and low end prices.

by Allison Tyra

As Americans everywhere tighten their belts, retailers can rest assured those accessories will still have fashionable labels. Women are throwing down cash at secondhand stores for better qualities and bigger quantities of clothes.

"The bottom line is that people want value, and people know that at Goodwill they can find quality items at affordable prices," says Lauren Lawson, media relations manager for Goodwill Industries International. "They can shop Goodwill and look just as good as the person who paid $100 somewhere else."

Brands like J Crew, Talbots and Banana Republic offer shoppers better labels for the price they pay, says Joanne Counce, owner of Back on the Rack consignment store. Many women can purchase three outfits for the price of one outfit from a regular retail store. St. John's Knits, a popular line of knit suits, cost $2,000 at Neiman Marcus and Back on the Rack resells the same suits for $300.

"People bring in a lot of things they've never worn," Counce says. She estimates 20 percent of the Back on the Rack's stock can be purchased new.

Although these stores are great for saving cash, making money by selling clothes might be difficult. Counce pays her sellers 50 percent of her selling price, and other consignment shops pay a similar fraction of their charges. Many thrift store donations are tax-deductible because of their charity work - more than 80 percent of Goodwill's revenue finances job training programs and the Salvation Army offers drug rehabilitation. "I think people are looking for cash. They don't see the deduction for the whole year," Counce says.

The age, label and condition of clothes might make clothes difficult to sell.

"It's a win-win situation as consignment shops typically accept only high-end furniture or clothing," says Lawson. "Goodwill accepts any type of item but recommends checking items to ensure they have not been banned, recalled or don't meet current safety standards."

Shopping at secondhand stores also presents an option for green living.

"Utilizing the organization's services from both sides - donating and shopping - keeps items out of local landfills while also greatly reducing carbon emissions created by manufacture and transport," she says.

For personal shopping at consignment stores, consider whether the clothing is in style, the right color and fit for your body and clean enough to wear. Some stores may launder the clothes themselves. Goodwill resells items as received, while Back on the Rack requires all items washed and, if needed, ironed before buying them.

Despite the extra considerations involved in shopping at thrift stores, many women still enjoy the variety and quality of clothing that thrift stores offer. "It's like a treasure hunt," Counce says.