Thrift Stores See Rise in Business as Economy Sputters

While many retailers may be feeling the pinch of a sluggish economy, business at some stores is booming.  Thrift stores, consignment stores and second hand stores are bustling with consumers looking for deals as a way to stretch their shrinking dollar.  And these kinds of businesses are attracting a new class of customer. 

Kids’s Market and Mom is a huge consignment sale that’s held twice a year.  The fall/winter sale is at the old Food World building on Valleydale Road.  The racks of clothes, toys and children’s supplies are jam packed into the 47-thousand square foot building. The business owners say they’re already seeing a big increase in customers.  About 2000 people shopped there in one day.  But they say they’ve also seen an increase in the number of people who brought in items to sell.  According to co-owner, Paigh Robinson, “I think it doesn’t matter what your income status is, everybody needs money right now.” 
Here’s how it works, people put a price on their children’s clothes, toys and equipment when they’ve outgrown them.  They bring them to Kid’s Market and Mom to be sold.  The business owners organize and take care of the sales and in return keep one-third of the profit.  The owners say buying at a consignment store can save you 50% to 75% compared to retail. And lately that’s attracting shoppers who have never had to be bargain shoppers before.  One of those shoppers told us, “All mothers, doesn’t matter what social class you’re in, they come here to shop.”   
Co-owner Kim Meadows adds, “They come in and look for the bargains and they can clothe their kids in the name brand items for cheaper prices.”   
And it’s not just used items.  You don’t have to look too hard to find brand new items with the original tags still attached.  And most of the customers say the dismal economy is one of the reasons they’re here. Odenville resident Crystal Duncan says, “I like to shop at Old Navy or something like that for her pants because they’re just cute but with the economy the way it is I’m glad we have things like this where you can come and you can get little girls jeans for maybe $2 or $3 dollars.  I can get a ton of stuff for about $40 bucks.”  Lainie Smith from Springville adds, “I wouldn’t want to spend a whole lot of money at a regular store when I can get it here for so much less.”   

Tracy Colvin from Moody has been bringing her daughters outgrown clothes and toys here for three years.  She says she sells…then she buys.  “I average (making) about $300 to $350 so it works about pretty good because I, in turn, buy about that much, sometimes more and it evens out.”

And it’s not just clothing that you can find at these consignment, second hand and thrift stores.  You can even find building and home improvement supplies, everything from paint to windows and doors.  Charles Moore with Habitat for Humanity Outlet Store in Irondale says, “W have everything here from high quality name brand flooring, beautiful wood columns, nice vanities, I’m talking about some of the latest types and designs, brand new cabinetry.”  The Habitat Outlet Store is a specialty thrift store.  They often get donations from homeowners who have remodeled, but also have a lot of contractors and distributors who often send them brand new over stocked items.  Moore says, “The greatest advantage of shopping here is you get a great product for a great price and that’s always important to our customers.”   
The Habitat Outlet Store has also seen a surge in business.  Moore says more people are buying but they’re also seeing an increase in donations.  He says as the new housing market slows down, builders and distributers have more of a back stock to donate. Economists say as the economy gets worse, businesses like these will likely thrive. 

The Habitat Outlet Store is open year round.  The Kid’s Market runs till October 18th and the spring/summer sale is held in March.