• What are
  FAVORITES?
  Bookmark any page of our site conveniently in this one area.
  
  Sign In or Register so you can take advantage of all of the features of After Fifty Living

The Great Recession has taught us all to be more frugal and to rethink the "throw-away society" mentality.

Perhaps the greatest evidence of this change is the growing popularity of consignment and clothing resale shops. "Used" no longer has the taint it did a decade ago.

Consumers have plenty of outlets where they can shop for "pre-owned" goods. There are 45 Tulsa-area shops listed in this year's Yellow Pages. In addition, Tulsa is home to a nationwide consignment event franchising business that was founded in 1997, which annually holds 112 events in 22 states.

Most of the shops listed in the Yellow Pages are consignment shops: storefronts selling used purchases and unwanted gifts for one-half to one-third of their new values.

They sell everything, from antiques and regular household furniture to men's and women's apparel and accessories, baby and children's clothes, toys, school uniforms and even Persian rugs.

Today's consignment businesses are far removed from the bargain basement and thrift shops of years ago. Much of the merchandise typically is in like-new or gently worn condition. And, store owners strive to have the latest styles, rather than items whose popularity has waned.

Shoppers also run the gamut, from bargain-hunters to more upscale consumers who like the variety of brands available in one place.

In the following stories, leaders of three local operations offer their thoughts on the modern consignment and resale business.

Bargain examples $12 to $15 new; $5 to $6.50 consigned

$170 and up new; $67 consigned

$80 to $90 new; $17 to $25 consigned.

Coach purses: $300 and up new; $57 and up consigned.

BCBG flip-flops: $75 new; $15 consigned.

-----

Copyright (c) 2011, Tulsa World, Okla. 

Most Recent First Oldest First Most Popular First

Sassa My friends and I have been shopping at consignment shops for over 30 years, it started for the same reasons as today, money was tight.
Sun Mar 13, 2011, 12:55:14 AM EST

AnnML I could not agree more, but what is nice now is that there are nicer consignment shops around. By me there are 2 that only hand furniture and house hold good, and they have to be in good shape for them to take it in. It is well worth looking into these places for good items at a good price.
Sun Mar 13, 2011, 8:49:43 AM EDT

NJJazz I have transformed my wardrobe by using consignment stuff. I love the new ME ----- and mostly great labels I could not afford new.
Fri Apr 8, 2011, 8:30:36 AM EDT

Leave a Comment -

Guidelines: We welcome your thoughts, but for the sake of all visitors to AfterFiftyLiving.com, please refrain from the use of obscenities, personal attacks or slurs. All comments are subject to our terms of use and may be removed. Repeat offenders may lose commenting privileges.