A Firsthand look at Secondhand Shopping

Thriftiness is an emerging virtue in the midst of this tanking American economy. Penny-pinchers, misers, cheapskates, or whatever you choose to call that coupon-clipping, bargain-hunting, secondhand-shopping class of Americans are beginning to break free of the stigmas associated with frugality. Now, being thrifty is nifty and those who cash in on secondhand savings are savvy.

Jen Bayles, co-owner of Witch City Consignment and Thrift Store located in Salem, has seen some growth in the resale industry since her and her father opened their store five years ago.

"A lot of thrift stores are emerging, but they're not really competition instead they draw us more business," says Bayles.

With the growing popularity of "thrifting" (shopping at thrift stores and resale boutiques), resale shops are becoming more appealing. On the North Shore, there's a growing number of thrift stores and consignment shops cashing in on the resale industry. In Salem, there are at least four resale shops: The Witch City Consignment and Thrift Store, Modern Millie Vintage and Consignment (pictured at right) , The Second Chances Thrift Store, and the Re-find Boutique.

In neighboring cities, there are a variety of smaller resale shops as well as several resale chain stores. There's Savers in Danvers, a Salvation Army in Lynn, and both a Goodwill and a Buffalo Exchange in Somerville. Savers, Goodwill, the Salvation Army and Buffalo Exchange are meccas for secondhand shoppers. Previously used furniture, housewares, and clothing that have been discarded and donated to these organizations are tagged with prices and resold. These four thrift store giants are merely a few of the many stores specializing in turning trash into treasure, and turning a profit in the process.

According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops (NARTS), the number of resale shops (stores selling secondhand goods) has grown 7 percent per year in the last two years, which is an increase of 2 percent a year from 2009. NARTS attributes the growth of the resale industry to an increased awareness of both the economical and ecological ramifications of secondhand shopping. People are getting more conscientious of their purchases.

Cathy Fahey, humanities librarian at Salem State University, said she initially started "thrifting" because the dress code of where she worked demanded her wardrobe to meet a certain standard. However, her finances limited her ability to pay retail price to meet this standard. So she began to scour thrift stores and consignment shops for high-end trendy clothes priced below retail value. As Fahey's continued to immerse herself in the "thrifting" world, she grew more aware of the wastefulness of not only individuals but the entire retail industry and her motivation for shopping resale transformed from being solely economical to being dually economical and ecological.

"I can barely shop retail anymore," said Fahey, who describes the retail industry's prices as "disgusting" and their production practices as "wasteful."

Such sentiments as these are shared by many in the "thrifting" community. However, the economical and ecological benefits of shopping resale aren't the only factors fueling this subculture. For some, it's not money or the environment that drives them to do this, but one motivating factor is fashion.

Some fashion genres such as hipster, mod, steam punk and various DIY (Do-It-Yourself) fashions emphasize the importance of individuality and non-conformity. The retail industry can't offer the (more) individualized uniqueness of rocking a sweater that isn't defined by the standards of he modern fashion industry, and isn't limited by the patterns, colors, and fabrics gracing the runways of Milan, Paris and Tokyo. Additionally, "thrifting" is a way to be fashionable for fashionably less.

"In one consignment store in Littleton, NH, I found a pair of Hudson jeans, which retail starting around $180, for $6. At a consignment store in Winchester, MA I got a Gucci belt for $75 that would normally be  in the hundreds of dollars range," said Amanda Siciliano, a Salem State student.

However, for Elisabeth Green, a junior at Gordon College, "thrifting" is her way of not supporting unethical labor practices.

"Thrifting is a more ethical way to shop for me. I'm guaranteed that I'm not supporting slave labor in cotton or sweatshop production, at least not directly that is," said Green, a vocal supporter of not only "thrifting," but also buying from retailers whose products are of Fair Trade or produced ethically.

Aiding the sick, enslaved and downtrodden is undoubtedly a noble motivating factor fueling the "thrifting" subculture, but for many this is merely a bonus feature of shopping resale. The thrift store giants (Savers, Goodwill, Salvation Army and Buffalo Exchange) pledge a percentage of their proceeds to charitable works. Some of the smaller resale shops also donate a percentage of their earnings to various nonprofit groups.

The Second Chance Thrift Store donates a portion of their profits to Lifebridge (formerly the Salem Mission), while Witch City Consignment and Thrift Store donates a portion of their earnings to Dana Farber. Not only are people saving money and the environment by shopping resale—they're helping people.