It wasn't that many years ago that people would not dare tell anyone that they purchased clothing from a consignment shop. It may have been a great place to take clothes to sell on consignment, but not a place where you actually would go to shop. Times have changed, and so have attitudes about where to shop. Getting a good deal on designer clothing at a fraction of the retail cost is considered not just acceptable but trendy.
People No Longer Embarrassed
Today, people are not at all embarrassed to tell others how much they saved by shopping for high-quality, designer clothing at consignment shops. In fact, they're proud of it. More and more consignment shops are popping up across the country, from large cities like New York to smaller communities. They range from men, women and children's clothing to vintage, designer and brand-name clothing at a fraction of store prices. And consignment shop owners are noticing that more of their customers are shopping at their stores rather than paying the high prices at retail clothing stores. So, it seems there is a growing consensus that we are all in this economy together, and the stigma about shopping for slightly used clothing is fading fast.
How to Buy More For Less
The key to buying more for less is to look around for a consignment shop that carries better brand name clothing. This generally indicates that the clothing on consignment is coming from wealthier clients who want to sell items they no longer need. It's not unusual to find items that have never been worn at all and still don the original price tag from the retail clothing store. In addition, consignment shops also have sales. They need to move their merchandise just like regular stores do. Some will even put unsold items on a dollar rack, which gives customers a great opportunity to save an even bigger bundle.
Consignment Shops Increasing
Consignment, thrift and resale shops have grown at least seven percent a year over the last two years. About 12 to 15 percent of Americans now shop at consignment shops, compared to 21.3 percent that shop at department stores and 19.6 percent that shop at apparel stores, according to the Association of Resale Professionals. With the economy still struggling, these numbers are likely to continue growing.
