Darlene Rowlison, owner of Thrifty Treasures, 3191 Birch Row Drive, sorts merchandise during downtime in her store. Even though the store has its regular business hours, some of Rowlison’s regulars come into the store when they see her car out front. Rowlison runs a one-woman show, purchasing all of the treasures she sells.
For shoppers during a recession, it’s out with the new and in with the old.
Resale and thrift stores across the country are pulling in more customers and claiming high profits despite the economic slowdown. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores, or NARTS, 74.2 percent of resale stores nationwide reported increased sales late last year.
“Whenever there is a slow time in the economy, people need to find a way to save money and this is usually the place they turn to,” said Adele R. Meyer, the group’s executive director.
“It’s one of the only true recession-proof industries. Not only can people save money by buying from here, its also a way to sell back or give back the old clothes that aren’t worn anymore. People are attracted to buying quality merchandise at a fraction of the original price, and the financial incentive to sell is always there.”
And for cash-strapped students, thrift stores are an increasingly popular way to curb the high costs of living.
“I’m a broke college student,” psychology freshman Chelsea Gordon said. “I need cheap and cute clothes.”
Retailers have reported decreased sales and predict even further drops in 2009. The retail industry projects sales growth of 2.2 percent this year, the slowest growth since 2002, according to the National Retail Federation.
But the survey from NARTS shows an opposite trend for resale shops.
“People need a way to save money and this is the way they can pinch pennies fairly easily,” Meyer said. “More people are going who didn’t before. They tell their friends and they tell theirs, and so on, spreading the word that this is a way to easily save money without really giving up all that much quality.”
Elementary education freshman Erika Behrman said she doesn’t like to shop at thrift stores, but sometimes it’s unavoidable on her budget. So instead of neatly organized racks of new clothes, Behrman opts to dig through piles of gently worn styles.
“The idea that I could possibly find something that is a really good brand name for cheap definitely inspires me to look at stores like this,” Behrman said Saturday as she shopped at Plato’s Closet, 2843 E. Grand River Ave.
“I like brand names, but on a college budget I definitely can’t shop like I used to.”
Owners of area thrift stores said they have noticed positive effects of a slowed economy. Darlene Rowlison, owner of Thrifty Treasures, 3191 Birch Row Drive, said she hasn’t noticed a big change in foot traffic, but she has noticed an increase in inventory, as people look to make some quick cash.
“A lot of people bring stuff in to me nowadays, too,” Rowlison said. “I find most of my stuff in estate sales and auctions, but I do get a lot of people coming in selling me their things.”
Other stores like Valueland, 5400 S. Cedar St., in Lansing, have seen large increases in their customer base. Assistant Manager Stacy Jackson said difficult economic times have caused more people come in to look for good deals.
“We have so many different kinds of things that people need,” Jackson said. “And we offer great prices.”
Owosso resident Jan Vantassell, who shops at thrift stores and discount grocers to save, said increased thrift store shopping is a sign of the difficult economic times he and others are going through.
“We cut back where we can cut back,” Vantassell said. “We don’t go out as much, if we make a trip we make sure that we make a day of it. I pay with cash more often, and I shop at places like this.”
Staff reporter Pat Evans contributed to this story
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