Heading into a second-hand season
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| Volunteers (from left) Adella Timm, Nancy Beattie and Diane Schlegel restock items at The Closet resale shop, located on 2026 N. Main St. in Princeton. The store traditionally sees a 70 percent increase, or more, in business during the holiday shopping season, according to store manager Barb Wray. The Closet is one of several resale shops located in Bureau County and the surrounding area. (BCR photo/Donna Barker) |
Area second-hand shops are heading into an unusually busy shopping season.
In Princeton, The Closet resale store manager Barb Wray said business at The Closet typically goes up about 70 to 80 percent during these last three months of the year. Things look to be about the same so far this year.
Some days will double or even triple the amount of business as during the other nine months of the year, Wray said. A typical summer Wednesday could take in about $1,200. On a recent Wednesday, the store took in $1,800 in one day.
Wednesdays are usually the busiest days for general items, since The Closet is closed for restocking during the earlier part of the week, Wray said. The busiest days for clothing purchases are Friday and Saturday. There have been a lot of people in the store buying clothes for their families, she said.
The Closet, located at 2026 N. Main St., also provides clothing vouchers for needy families. That need has increased this year, Wray said.
Because the store is run through volunteers, many of whom are senior citizens, The Closet does not have increased hours during the holiday season. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The Closet is operated by the Church Women United, with proceeds from the store going back into various community donations.
In Walnut, Debbie Quinn, manager of the Pass It On resale store, said the Walnut resale shop has been open for nearly four years, and the volume of business has increased each year. This year looks to follow along with that increase, Quinn said Monday afternoon.
“I don’t know of anyone who can’t use a good deal, especially in these times,” Quinn said. “Our clothing is traditionally in the $1 to $4 range.”
In addition to its wide variety of clothing, from infant through adult, the store also carries household items, some furniture, knick knacks and seasonal items and decorations, as well as other items.
Store hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, as well as 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. Quinn said she’d love to have the store open more hours for shopping, but the other days are needed to sort and restock shelves.
The Pass It On Store, located at 117 N. Main St., has a loyal following of patrons, from not just the immediate Walnut area, but also from other towns including Princeton, Manlius and Ohio.
All proceeds from the store go to support the community’s after-school program. Also, the store does provide items free of charge to families in need and emergency, Quinn said.
At Sheffield’s Too Good To Be Threw resale store, Mary Ann Cernovich said she’s not so sure any increase in business is due to the Christmas shopping season, but rather to the generally tough economy. There are some busy times throughout the year at the store, she said.
In an interesting note, Cernovich said there has been an increase in gift certificates sold at Too Good To Be Threw, located at 109 S. Main St. In the light of the economy, people are definitely wanting to get the best bang possible for their dollar, she said.
As far as store hours, Cernovich said the Sheffield shop will keep its regular hours during the holiday season, which is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
Operated by the Sheffield Pride organization, the Too Good To Be Threw store meets a need for people who can’t afford, or don’t choose, to pay full retail prices. As an added benefit to the store, all proceeds from the resale shop go back into community for various projects, Cernovich said.
In Spring Valley, Upscale Resale, operated by Freedom House, is located at 214 W. St. Paul St. The store’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Freedom House Executive Director Connie Doran said Upscale Resale has been busier than usual. Some of the hot items include Christmas decorations and trees, children’s items, clothing and furniture.
While the need for the area’s second-hand store has gone up, Doran said donations are down.
“I think people are having to make a choice between maybe their own needs and being able to give to charities,” Doran said, adding the agency’s long-time donors are still coming through with regular donations, whether it’s for Upscale Resale or Freedom House’s “Adopt a Family” drive, where people “adopt” one of the agency’s families and help them to have a wonderful Christmas by buying gifts for them.
At Upscale Resale, Doran stressed only quality items are offered in the store. The store, manned by two paid employees and several volunteers, also sells some of its more unique items on e-Bay.
All proceeds from the store benefits the clients of Freedom House.
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