Tag: Thrifting

Is Savers / Value Village A Charity Thrift Chain?
Business · Thrifting

Is Savers / Value Village A Charity Thrift Chain?

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I guess I’m in a spicy mood today to do a little revealing dive into the relationship that Savers has with charity. I will be un-partial in this article to whether or not I think Savers’ operation is good or bad and provide facts that are readily available to the public through various credible websites.

What we will cover includes if Savers is in fact a charity thrift chain, some relationships that they have been a part of and a general outlook on this type of business model.

Is Savers / Value Village a Charity Store?

The simple answer to this question is no. Savers is not a charity thrift store. In fact, they explain this in detail several times on their website. “We’ve chosen to keep our business model this way—to buy our supply from local nonprofits.” We pay our nonprofit partners for your stuff, helping them fund programs in your community.” “Shopping in our stores does not support any nonprofit.”

It sounds a little tricky, if Savers is a for-profit “charity” thrift store, what type of business model is this actually?

To be honest with you, the type of business model is actually genius from a capitalistic standpoint. Savers has a relationship with a charity organization within their stores and essentially pays the charity by-the-pound for your donations. Things they want and think they can sell; they pay a certain $ per pound (this information is unavailable to the public) and things that they don’t want and do not think fit their store standards they pay a less amount per pound and then “recycle.” Like I said, this amount is undisclosed to the public but certain partners have gone on record saying that Savers will pay $40,000 and then flip that donation for $1 million.

The recycling is where things can get a little tricky. If they take after the model of the textile recycling centers, what that usually means is that they would ship the unwanted clothing overseas to a buyer that will pay them more per pound than they purchased it for. I’m not saying that is exactly what they do at the Savers recycling warehouses, but it would be hard to convince me that they send clothing over-seas on their own dime.

Savers and Charity Relationships

Several of the nearly 100 charity organizations that have been associated with the Savers organization have severed ties. According to an NBC article, 3 of 6 have cited unfavorable terms and conditions. Director of the Boston area Big Brother Big Sister Foundation was cited saying the following: “If you’re making a million, and we’re making $40,000, how is that helping charities?” “It may be legal, but it’s not right.”

Other charities associated with the Savers organization have openly come out in the defense of the for-profit conglomerate stating that public funding for charities has dried-up and if it weren’t for Savers’ purchasing contributions, they may not make it.

It’s fair to say that the business model that Savers has developed has certainly benefited charities as well as itself. Although Savers does not report its financial performance to the public, their yearly revenue has estimated to reach $1.2 billion according to Moody’s Investor’s Service.

Outlook

As a business owner myself, I find this business model to be fascinating. The problem I could see would be if the general public is deceived into thinking that their donations go directly to benefiting the charity associated with the business, when actually it does not. In the case of Savers and Value Village, the charity does receive compensation by-the-pound when Savers pays for the clothing. They then put the clothing into their stores and price them to make a profit. What is unwanted goes into their recycling center.

I know in recent times; Savers has created an announcement that plays over the telecom during business hours reinforcing the fact that they are a for-profit company. The next time you are in Savers, try to pay attention to the telecom to hear the message.

-Ian Drake, Diversity Consignment

How To Successfully Sell on Ebay
Business · Thrifting

How To Successfully Sell on Ebay

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So, you’ve decided you’re done with the traditional 9-5 and you’ve decided you’re going to begin your new venture or side-hustle selling on eBay. Firstly, I would like to say Congratulations on taking a risk! Maybe you’ve decided you’re not quite ready to start diving head-first into selling, but you’d like to gain a little insight into the best way to navigate the e-commerce giant. If either of these cases hit home to you, you’re in the right place.

In today’s article, I’m going to get you started on how to sell on eBay successfully and provide to you the lessons I have learned throughout my eBay selling career that can help guide you! I will be going over why you should sell on eBay, my personal experiences selling on the platform, what things to avoid selling on eBay, and some of the Pro’s and Con’s to selling things online.

My History Selling on Ebay

I want to start this article by sharing a little information about my past experiences selling on eBay which has ultimately brought me to where I am today.

I began my eBay career in 2015, shortly after dropping out from college. At that time, I was in desperate need of a way to make some money to maintain my independence. I got a job across the street from the bedroom I was renting out at one of the 100 or so Dunkin’ Donuts in the neighborhood. At that time, making Dunkie’s coffee was really the only job I was qualified for. I had enrolled in nursing school around the same time to get myself involved in a potentially practical career. Juggling aggravatingly minimally paying work and long hours studying and going to classes became my new life.

I had always been a frugal shopper and my favorite brand to purchase at that time was Polo Ralph Lauren. I know, champagne taste on a beer budget. Luckily for me, I was always able to find my favorite brand hidden in the racks of my local Goodwill. $5 for a button down was all I needed to grow my wardrobe and trust me I grew my wardrobe. So much so, in fact, that I honestly had all the Polo I needed. My closet was full but the thrill of sifting through the racks to find my brand was left unnourished. That’s when eBay entered into my life.

I thought to myself that if I could find this expensive brand for only $5 at the local thrift store, there must be a way to sell it for at least 1/4 of what it costs in the retail stores, right? I downloaded the eBay app one night after class and began searching for what a used Polo shirt would sell for and quickly realized that there was a lot of potential.

I used all of my tip money that I would get from working at DD and began buying shirts, listing them on the eBay app, and was surprised how quickly they sold. Shocked, I thought to myself, “If I do some research, there must be a whole bunch of brands that I’m not even aware of that I might be able to find on the racks as well.” Days and days of research eventually opened an entire new world of second-hand fashion before my very eyes.

I eventually quit my job and finished nursing school, only to begin my thrifting career and go on to open multiple storefronts throughout the following years. I will save the minutia for my autobiography lol. The moral of the story is this: I utilized an e-commerce site to become an entrepreneur and so can you! The key is to find your own path and use some key insights. The things I wish I had known a lot earlier on in my career I will share with you today.

Why Choose Ebay to Sell?

There are many reasons why one would choose eBay as their primary means of selling. One reason may be that they allow you to sell used clothing (a category I took full advantage of). If clothing is your primary focus, the fact that you can sell used clothing on eBay is a huge bonus. I’m guessing that clothing is what has brought most of you to this article. 😉

Currently, eBay has one of the largest numbers of active shoppers out of all the online e-commerce giants. Reports show that there are over 180 million active buyers on eBay worldwide. That is a huge audience to reach as a prospective seller! Another shocking statistic is that there are over 1 billion active listings on the website! A whole lot of buyers mixed in with a whole lot of things available for sale. This can be both a positive and a negative respectively which we will get into more detail about further down in the article.

It doesn’t have to be used clothing to get you to consider selling on eBay. Many people find success in a whole laundry list of categories: Auto Parts, Electronics, Accessories, games, and many more. The principles that I will share with you in this article will hold true no matter what your category may be.

What Should I Be Selling on Ebay?

Now that we have covered why you should consider selling on eBay, we can move on to what you should be selling on eBay. The following list should serve you in narrowing down your selections regardless of what category you invest in:

  1. Rare products within your niche
  2. Products you can source for very little up-front cost or even free
  3. Products within your category that aren’t commonly listed
  4. Products that are sold at a high rate

I get that you may be saying to yourself, “Dude this is so general and obvious” but hear me out. I will give you some examples of each bullet point within the used clothing category.

  1. For example, rare products within the used clothing category may include certain eras of military clothing. Yes, they may be difficult to source and find, but the rarity itself makes them worth investing in; should you come across them.
  2. Many times you can find places that offer “by the pound” purchasing such as the “bins” at a Goodill outlet where you can get pounds of clothing for less than $1. Other times you may find people on Facebook Marketplace who are willing to give you things for free. It takes research, but these things do exist.
  3. An example of products within the category of clothing that aren’t commonly sold would be suits. I, personally, sold thousands and thousands of suits and suit separates simply because it is not typically a product that most people think to thrift. Find your “suits” in whatever category you choose to sell within.
  4. An example of a brand that is sold at a high rate (at least for now in 2022) within the clothing category is Patagonia. Patagonia is hot and so whenever you, as a clothing seller, can get your hands on it for a reasonable price; buy it. Find your category’s Patagonia.

What NOT To Sell on Ebay

Now that we have covered what types of things to research, let’s go ahead and cover what to not look for or try and sell. The Following is a list of things, that in over 6 years of selling on eBay, I have learned to avoid:

  1. Products that have thousands of search results – You’re simply going to get lost in the search results. Unless you are selling this product for the lowest price on all of eBay (people will search from Low-High for pricing). Most likely, if you have the lowest price point, people will either question the quality, or you will be losing out on profit margins. Don’t waste your time.
  2. Products with poor conversion rates – Do a quick filter under the “sold” section when you search for an item you want to buy. If there are thousands of listings that are active, and only a handful that have sold; don’t try to sell it. Low conversion can be subjective, but as a general rule of thumb, if you don’t see 500 active and at least 250 sold; don’t buy it to try to sell it.
  3. Custom made products or artwork – Ebay just doesn’t have the following for custom made goods or artwork. You would have much better results by switching over to Etsy if you’re looking to sell custom made goods or art.
  4. Inexpensive retail items – Why waste your time listing an item that you can realistically only sell for $5? Maybe if you have hundreds of them and do a bulk listing? Inexpensive retail items are better for huge eBay stores and most likely selling on Amazon.
  5. Generic Brands – People generally come to eBay in search of good deals on name brands. The platform has developed a reputation as a place where everything is heavily discounted. Generic brands don’t have the resale value that name brands carry. Unless it is a specific part or style that is needed or on-trend I would avoid anything generic.
  6. Products that you, yourself, can’t identify – If you don’t know what it is or what the use for it is why would anyone be searching for it or even know what to type in to find it? You would have to be insanely good at writing a description of what you thought it might be in order to get someone who might be thinking along the same lines while shopping. Low likelihood.
  7. Products that you dislike sourcing – If you don’t enjoy the process of the hunt, you’re not going to enjoy the sale. It comes down to burnout and lack of interest. These two things will make the entire process unenjoyable, and you’ll eventually give up.

Types of Tricks That Help Products Sell

The following is a list of some tried and true “tricks” that will help your listings sell:

  • The Title – This is easily the most important, frequently overlooked, and sure-fire way to get your listings into the eyes of prospective buyers. The title needs to have the following structure: Brand, Description, Type, Color, Size. Example: Hugo Boss Double Breasted Suit Jacket Brown Herringbone Size 42R. DO NOT just put “Hugo Boss Blazer” because you’re narrowing it down to about 500 other listings with that also included in the title. People might be looking for all the specifics mentioned in the former title and land right on your listing.
  • The Description – To avoid hundreds of unnecessary messages you’re going to want to create a pretty descriptive description. Always include measurements in the description. You’ll also cut down on your return rate by providing extra details.
  • Lowball to gain exposure – The way that the eBay algorithm works is that when you sell, you sell again. I’m not sure exactly what it is but anytime I would do a clean out of my inventory (starting bid .99 or $4.99) and sell hundreds of things after the 10-day auction, I would also get ensuing sales on regularly priced inventory. You need to gain sales in order to make sales and one of the easiest ways to do that is to clean house.
  • Stay Active – Post new inventory every day and answer messages. The eBay algorithm loves activity. There is also a way to “refresh” your listings! Edit in bulk. You don’t have to actually change anything about any of the listings, but by simply going through the process of “editing in bulk” you can create a whole mess of activity very quickly.
  • Free Shipping – This is a controversial one. It can be very smart to offer free shipping if you know your numbers and analyze your profit margins. Things sell quicker with free shipping. The downfall to free shipping is that people will take advantage of eBay’s return policy and you’ll be stuck paying return shipping regardless of your personal return policy. Those returns can add up to ruin your bottom-line the more you sell and the more that gets returned.

Conclusion

Ebay comes with a lot of fees. Be wary of what you are spending and sourcing and use the manager tools to track your profits and losses. Seriously, you need to treat this like a business if you want to be successful. Most people neglect this, and they wonder why they don’t make any profits.

The flipping game is difficult, if you’re doing it correctly you are hardly seeing any returns. You’re constantly using your profits to buy more products. This can seem like a never-ending battle of accumulating inventory. At some point, you need to start taking profits out and paying yourself.

Over time you will get better and better at sourcing products that work for you. Do what works best and source the things that sell quickly. Don’t hang on to inventory for too long in hopes that someone is just waiting 6 months to purchase it. Run a cleanout auction and get rid of it! You probably made your investment back on that haul anyway!

I have a love-hate relationship with eBay. The returns and messages overwhelmed me to the point where I finally gave up on it. I have love for eBay by helping me start my career, but I think it’s not the answer for the long-haul. It is always better to own your own than to have to use a 3rd party selling platform that eats away at all your profits. Best Wishes to you all!

-Ian Drake, Diversity Consignment

Art · Business · Community · Uncategorized

Why is Gender Neutral Clothing Important?

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Listen people, it’s 2022. Clothing really has no business being gender specific! Taking a look at the newest fashion lines coming out will give you a perfect example of clothing androgyny and the progression we have made in the past couple decades.

In today’s article I’m going to explain why gender neutral clothing is important. I will cover freedom of expression, some of the challenges with gender neutral lines, the stigma, and where I think the future lies.

This is not an article forcing you to wear gender-neutral clothing or to make you, as a woman, dress like a man or vice versa. It is only my opinion based on what I have seen during my time in the clothing industry and an alignment of what our store Diversity Consignment believes in within our core mission.

Freedom of expression

Freedom of expression can be defined as : You have the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of your choice without interference and regardless of frontiers.

I will define freedom of expression within the clothing industry as the following : The ability to express oneself freely, without restraints, and voluntarily, through the clothing you choose to dawn regardless of specific constraints. Side note: I am not a proponent of blatant disregard for the sensitivities of specific cultures or the use of historical garments for appropriation.

Freedom of expression, especially within the confinement of the United States is a beautiful thing that should be embraced. One of the simplest ways to express oneself is through the clothing that one wears. Want to dress in Crayola colors? Go for it! Want to wear a plaid skirt with Dr. Marten boots? I say, you better take a picture and send it to us so we can promote it!

Clothing should not have gender constraints. They take away the very principle of freedom of expression that has been founded.

Challenges with clothing binarity

One of the major difficulties a lot of men, in particular, may find when clothing shopping in a gender neutral environment is sizing constraints. You see a cute skirt that you want to try on, but find out that the sizing is only constrained to XXS-L in “women’s” sizing. As a 6’4″ 240lb guy that can be a real challenge! What are the options out there?

The same can be said for women. The clothing companies do not take into consideration body shapes, differences, and tastes. There should be no reason why a skirt is not manufactured for men’s bodies as well as women’s. In fact, men have historically worn skirts as well as heels!

The simple fact is this — people come in all shapes, sizes, and with different interests. It’s time for retailers to embrace this.

Stigma

Another major challenge within the retail world is the stigma. It is challenging for opposing sexes to find a comfortable space where they can shop in the “other” section. There is a lot of separation between areas; men’s and women’s. When the general population sees a man in the women’s section they tend to do a lot of gawking and staring. That is super uncomfortable for that individual. The same can be said for women in the “men’s” section.

As we progress as a society, I must say, this is becoming less of an issue in specific geographical areas. The fact still remains that the stigma is continuously a huge issue that deserves recognition. Living in a diverse community of NYC will show a big difference in the stigma than an area in rural America. That is unfair for individual freedom of expression.

I want to explain a little bit about how clothing styles and sexuality corelate. They Don’t! Just because a man finds a certain blouse nice, does not mean that man is gay. If they are, great! Just because a woman is wearing a Carhartt top with Timberland boots does not mean that they are gay. It is simply an expression of taste through style. Period. Regardless, it’s honestly none of your business anyway so why should you even care??

The future of clothing androgyny

I, for one, am hopeful for the future of clothing and the elimination of stigma and judgement. I have already witnessed lines of bags and accessories that positively embrace gender neutrality. Many of the lines on the runway for 2022 showcase femme skirts on men as well as wide-leg “dad jeans” on women.

I am hopeful that more gender neutral environments will be opening up that decrease the divide. I really am not trying to be political in this article, as I believe that politics have nothing to do with freedom of expression and the comforts that should come with the concept.

We, at Diversity Consignment openly embrace gender neutrality and focus on creating a comfortable environment where men, women, and non-binary individuals can express themselves freely without judgement. I cannot tell you the amount of times I have seen burly, bearded men (prototypical essences of masculinity) trying on a dress and KILLING IT. I hope that we can continue in a progressive direction where everyone feels comfortable as a society.

-Much Love, Ian Drake – Diversity Consignment

Business · Community · Thrifting

How to Style Yourself on a Thrift Store Budget

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You may find it difficult to stay on trend without buying the newest releases coming out of the department stores. I’m here to tell you that it’s not only possible to stay on-trend, but even possible to become a trend-setter!

All it takes is a bit of knowledge on where to go and what to look for. If you’re creative, you may even be able to up-cycle and create new designs never before seen! Who says you can’t stay stylish on a thrift store budget??

I have been professionally thrifting for the past six or seven years (since the release of this article) and I can tell you first-hand that some of the most stylish people I know shop exclusively at second-hand stores.

What styles do you want to create?

Remember, styles tend to be cyclical. The new lines out today are almost certainly recreations of some style seen in the past. One of the best places to go to find a unique outfit from past couple decades would, of course, be at your local thrift store.

Today, designer brands are showcasing wide-leg pants and jeans, embezzled tops, leather, leather, leather! A perfect era of clothing to be looking for to find what’s hip today would be to try and source early 2000s-late 2000s brands. Miss me jeans, juicy couture hoodies, Marc Ecko cargo pants, are just a few brands that pioneered the styles of today. The greatest part? The thrift stores are huge honey-holes of early 2000s styles as people my age finally decided to donate their high school get-ups.

It doesn’t stop there. If you wanted to go for the Pharrell Williams look, I can guarantee there is a vintage fedora at your local thrift store just waiting for the perfect home. Take any pop icon or celebrity and there are plenty of similar outfits that can be found at the thrift. In fact, many YouTubers and vloggers have made it a fun activity to recreate celebrity styles through thrift store finds!

What about the designer brands?

There are soooo many designer brands at the thrift store! Don’t worry about not having your polo. Excellent brands can be found out there in abundance.

“I hate showing up to a party wearing the same thing as someone else.”

Well, you’re in luck! No more playing the game of who wore it better. When you style yourself sustainably, there’s no chance that you’ll show up to the wedding wearing the same dress as someone else! Yours might even be an incredible vintage 1960s floral gown you found at 1/10th the price!

It is time to get Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” song out of your mind. Nobody is going to walk out of a thrift store wearing an antique fur coat and blinder-style sunglasses. You’re going to be frugal and find the same styles that are current today, only from the past. I, for one, think that’s way cooler than buying a new Givenchy top that you have to explain to everyone is legit.

She does look amazing though right?

Can you work a sewing machine?

If you can work your way around a sewing machine, you’re in luck! Countless people nowadays are reworking old clothing into new styles! All you have to do is type in “upcycling” into YouTube and you’ll find thousands of ideas of inspiration to cut and sew, dip dye, and tie dye your own creations!

Start doing something simple by watching and emulating a basic upcycling tutorial. You can get more advanced as your skills progress. It’s not only fun, but also a great way to become a style trend-setter in your local community!

Conclusion

Despite what you may think, you absolutely can find stylish trends at the thrift. Most of the time you’ll be able to pull out with an entire outfit easily under $30!

Try consignment shops to search through a more curated selection at a little higher price point. You can even find brand new styles at your local consignment shops at under clearance prices.

Don’t be like everyone else, feel free to dress in a unique way! Freedom of expression is one of the beautiful freedoms we have in this lifetime. It’s easy to express your creativity in the discounted racks of the thrift and consignment shops near you!

-Much love, Ian Drake – Diversity Consignment

Business · Community · Thrifting

The Potential Impacts of an Economic Recession on Thrift Stores

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With thrifting on the rise, more people are spending frugally and saving what they have. One would think that this would be a great thing for the thrift industry, right? Yes, and no.

In today’s article I am going to explain to you a problem caused by an economic recession that could potentially impact the world of thrift: supply shortages.

The Problem

During tough economic times people tend to save money in many ways, one of which being decreased spending on superfluous purchases. The fact is this, the cost of goods is continuing to rise while the economy continues to fall. Clothing, upgraded furniture, and other luxury expenses will become unaffordable (if not already) to the average worker and therefore be an unnecessary expenditure. Why spend money on clothing when gas, electrical bills, and other necessities are piling up?

Okay, I get it. People may not want to buy clothing at retail stores, that’s a good thing for thrift stores, isn’t it?

Not so fast. While people may be turning to thrift stores to make their clothing and household purchases, they will not be so quick to get rid of the things in their closet. If we hold onto what we have, we won’t really need to get more, right? Here lies the problem.

Thrift Store Supply Shortages

While it may be a great idea to shop at thrift stores, we need to remain mindful of how they get their supplies; from us! In today’s day and age, we have become so engrossed with spending, buying, accumulating, and storing. What happens when we hit a hard recession that forces us to hold onto what we have? We make the decision to hold onto that old couch for a couple more years instead of upgrading and donating the old one to a non-profit.

Thrift stores will suffer. They rely so heavily upon us to supply their stores with donations. Those donations essentially turn into charitable organizations being funded when they sell their inventory to the general public. What we will be faced with (and already are beginning to see) is a recession that underserves donations to thrift stores. You can’t sell what you don’t have!

Without consumer spending going to non-profit thrift stores, many services available to those in need will suffer greatly. Aids relief, funding for jobs for people with disabilities, housing services, and a myriad of other publicly funded services will take the hit as well. Of course, this is a terrible situation.

I’m not trying to be Mr. Doomsday prepper or trying to convince you that the world is coming to an end. I’m simply reminding you that there is an entire industry of charitable organizations that are funded from our contributions; both buying and donating. We need to wake up to the possibilities of the near future!

The Answer

I recently read an article (I can’t remember the source) that was outlining several thrift stores in the Pittsburgh area significantly impacted by the recession-hoarding mentality. They are suffering from lack of inventory because people in the community are holding onto what they have, as opposed to donating it and keeping the thrift ecosystem in motion. My answer to the problem is simple.

Switch the consuming mentality from buying new to buying used. I know a lot of you reading this article will already be on board with this. I am hoping that those who find buying used garments and household items “repulsive” will find under-served charities more repulsive.

You, as a privileged American citizen (assuming you live in the US) can feel the same comforts in having something that is “new” when you purchase second-hand. We thrifters call it “new-to-you.” Now, you can upgrade or replace what you have with something new-to-you and donate what you no longer need. Trust me when I say it feels just as good, if not better. Thus, saving the charitable organizations from supply shortages and simultaneously supporting a good cause that benefits those in need.

You’re welcome.

-Much love, Ian Drake- Diversity Consignment

Community · Thrifting

Is Thrifting for Clothing a Good Idea?

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Sounds pretty generic right? The basic answer I can give is that it depends on your intent and the way you go about thrifting.

Should I be thrifting more? What positive effects does thrifting have on the environment? I hate the idea of buying used stuff! Thrifting definitely has some pro’s and con’s you may never have even thought about.

In today’s article titled “Is Thrifting for Clothing a Good Idea” I am going to lay out some parts of thrifting that you may never have considered. We will cover thrifting to sell, the impacts of “thrift store depletion” and the effect thrifting has on the planet.

If you’re new to the page and want to get an idea on the basics of thrifting and how to get started as a thrifter, I suggest you read our previous article called “How to Get Started as a Thrifter.“

Is Thrifting-to-Sell a Good Idea?

Thrifting-to-sell has seriously taken off in the years since I began my personal consignment businesses. Early on, it was not very common to see younger people strolling through the door looking for “grail” pieces at “flip-worthy” prices. Now, more and more, we see this as an everyday occurrence. But the question is this; is thrifting-to-sell a good idea?

My answer to that question is yes, if done properly and mindfully. Thrifting-to-sell can be a great way to make money, recycle, curate, and even upcycle!

Upcycle: reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

The danger can come into play when you are not being mindful about what you are sourcing. An example of what I mean would be sourcing only plus-sized or extra small clothing for upcycling because you get more fabric for what you spend. This results in leaving minimal to no plus-sized or extra small clothing for people who shop at discounted places for themselves to wear. Of course, this is not being mindful, and has in fact, created a huge lack of plus-sized clothing being available to those that need it today.

Another example of not being mindful while thrifting-to-sell would be wiping out a store of all of the bottom priced inventory. Yes, I know we are trying to make a buck by thrifting-to-sell but you have to be aware of the fact that people rely on the thrift stores to buy clothing for themselves and for their families.

The Effects of Thrift Store Depletion

This may seem obvious to a lot of people but for those who don’t know what I mean, I will explain.

As covered in the previous chapter, thrifting-to-sell is probably the main contributor to thrift store depletion. Thrift store depletion is the term I will use for when a thrift store has been depleted of a large amount of any given category. It could be plus-sizes, all bottom priced items, or even a certain category of clothing.

The major downside to thrift store depletion is that it creates a void for the people who rely on the thrift stores to clothe themselves or their families. I know you may be thinking “why would someone need a 1992 Nirvana concert tee?” Well, the answer is simple; it’s really just a t-shirt to everyone except yourself and those willing to spend more on it.

More and more frequently are instances coming up in which people can’t find anything good or quality at thrift stores. The quality garments are being scooped away as soon as they hit the rolling racks and the only things left are fast fashion products or ugly dresses in sizes small and medium. It’s really not fair to those in need and it’s starting to get a little out of hand.

Is Thrifting Good for the Planet?

Again, my answer to this question is going to be yes; thrifting is good for the planet.

It keeps clothing from being tossed away into the garbage and ultimately ending in landfills where it is either burned or buried. It also slows down the production of fast-fashion brands pounding out millions of articles of clothing by the minute to the outstretched hands of over-consumers.

The life cycle of the clothing alternatively to thrifting is not a pretty one. Imagine a world where clothing is being produced in under-paid labor facilities, worn a few times, and then tossed into the garbage to rot.

The charity thrift stores that allow us to thrift also donate a portion of the proceeds they make to worthy causes. It is good to support the thrift stores regardless of your intent, but don’t take advantage of them.

Conclusion

To be perfectly honest with you I am getting sick of the question “why do they need an Armani jacket?” Well Mr. or Miss “privileged”; they don’t, and neither do you. Nobody needs an “Armani jacket” but some people simply need a jacket and could care less what the brand is. It’s not like the person who donated it brought it in for only you to take. In fact, if they wanted something for it other than good faith, they would have brought it to a different type of store!

end rant.

The point is this; thrifting is a good idea. You just need to be mindful about certain things. Thrifting-to-sell is totally fine, the money you spent goes to a good cause. You can make some money while supporting a good cause! Thrifting for curation of your closet is fine as well; you can get some dope $h!t you normally wouldn’t be able to afford! Thrifting to upcycle is also a sustainable way to make new creations!

Just remember, everything in moderation. There are people who would be better off if you didn’t clear our all the plus sizes or extra small sizes to feed your upcycling machine and people who need clothing to be priced affordably to support their families. Keep it to what you need or look towards a less harmful supplier of goods.

-Much love, Ian Drake – Diversity Consignment

Thrifting

What Qualifies as Vintage?

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You keep hearing that vintage is where it’s at but you really don’t understand what makes an article of clothing vintage vintage, or as those in the industry call it “true vintage.”

For the first half of my career in the consignment industry, I was in the same place as you. I focused primarily on sourcing designer pieces and had no true knowledge of what vintage clothing was, so don’t worry! It’s time to take a crash course in the vintage marketplace. This can be a sensitive topic for people who dedicate their lives in the vintage game. If you want to be a snob about it, the comments section below would be a great place to toss on the gloves.

I’m here to give you a basic understanding of what vintage means in terms of clothing. This will include the following; what dates qualify as vintage, single stitch tees, and what the future holds for vintage clothing.

Classification

Prior to getting started in dating vintage clothing, I think it’s important to give a little history on the term “vintage” itself. Prior to recent times (the past hundred years), the word vintage was predominantly used in the wine industry. When a wine was referred to as vintage, it meant that the wine was at least 20 years old.

“Aging like fine wine” is a common saying meaning aging well. This concept has been applied to clothing since the mid 20th century. It may seem novel today, but trust me when I say that your parents may have also been deep in the vintage game. Top celebrities of prior generations were also known to rock vintage couture.

I, personally, will accept the term true vintage being applied to any article of clothing produced at least 20 years in the past. This means that every year there will be a new production line of clothing being classified as “true vintage.” Some may disagree (including wikipedia) and say that true vintage only applies to items pre-dating the year 2000 or a range starting at 30 years in the past. In my opinion, 30 years doesn’t allow enough growth for the vintage market we live in today.

That being said, if you have a Dead & Co. Liquid Blue tie dye tee with the year 2002 imprinted on it, I would classify that as a vintage piece. In fact, these garments are now being appropriately labeled as Y2K pieces. Now, if you have a 2010 reproduction AC/DC t-shirt; I would not yet qualify that as vintage.

What is a Single Stitch T-Shirt?

A single stitch t-shirt is actually something that is pretty easy to identify. When you look at a t-shirt seamline by the cuff of the sleeve or at the base of the shirt (where the material was folded over to create a seamless ending) you will see 1 of 2 things. You may see a double seamline or a single seamline.

A single seamline (single stitch) does not always mean that a t-shirt is vintage. The same can be applied to a double seam line. I, personally, have seen hundreds, if not thousands of single stitch t-shirts throughout my career. Some brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Polo Ralph Lauren will actually include single stitch seamlines in modern-day t-shirts, while some Liquid Blue shirts and concert t-shirts that pre-date the 2000s will have double stitching.

More commonly than not, a single stitch t-shirt will be vintage. Brands that were commonly manufacturing t-shirts within the vintage era were using the single stitch method of production. Some brands that are commonly seen on true vintage t-shirts are; Screen Stars, Fruit of the Loom, and Hanes.

Made in USA

Another simple identifier for a true vintage article of clothing is the tag including the manufacturing location as “Made In USA” in some form or another.

Up until the late 90s and early 2000s most of the clothing seen worn by the general population was manufactured in America. I’m not going to go into detail about manufacturing being outsourced to other countries outside of the United States and the ethics involved. There has been a lot of coverage in this subject to the point where it is considered common knowledge.

The point is this; when you are out sourcing for true vintage, a helpful identifier is the piece being made in the U.S. Again, this is not always true. Many leather garments in the 90s, 80s, and prior were manufactured in Korea, Pakistan, and other areas. Hong Kong was also a common manufacturing place for designer brands such as Christian Dior and YSL in the 80s.

Oftentimes, someone “back in the day” needed to actually travel outside of the United States to source garments that were produced elsewhere. So, if you do come across an article of clothing that has all the tell-tale signs of being true vintage and was manufactured outside the U.S. don’t be so quick to count it out!

The Future of Vintage

This is where things get a little tricky. The future of vintage is starting to look a little shaky. The main reason is due to the quality of clothing being produced today.

With the rise of brands within fast-fashion industry producing poorly manufactured articles of clothing, I’m not even sure that clothing will hold together for at least 20 years. It’s almost literally being manufactured out of trash. Actually, I think trash might be manufactured stronger than some of the materials being used today. So what does that mean for the vintage game?

What I foresee this meaning for the vintage game is two-part.

The first option is this; we will really only be able to qualify aging designer pieces as vintage. To clarify, high end designer brands or collectible brands such as BAPE, Comme des Garcons, and Gucci will certainly withstand the wear and tear of time and will cross into a vintage era. Other brands will not be desirable enough to cross into that exclusive class.

The second option for “other” brands will be to become classified into eras. Think about what Y2K style has become. I really feel like this is the only other option. Maybe with more time they can cross over into the general classification of vintage, but I feel like we will have to re-define what the timeframe for vintage is at that point.

Conclusion

Vintage can be difficult to identify depending on the piece in question. Some easy identifiers are single-stitch and Made in USA tags but don’t automatically assume that every article that falls into these groups is true vintage.

The future of vintage is looking bleak. It’s hard to imagine classifying a Forever 21 top manufactured in 2014 as a “vintage piece” and I don’t think that it will ever be. I think it would fall under some variation of 2010’s style.

With this in mind, it will be ever-difficult to source true vintage pieces. The more time that goes by, the harder it will be to find vintage clothing in the wild. Hold on to what you have! Values may continue to reach all-time highs.

I realized while writing this article that there really is so much involved in the classification. Too much, in fact, to include in a basic tutorial. Maybe at some point I’ll write a book on the subject.

-Much love, Ian Drake – Diversity Consignment

Business · Community · Thrifting

What Does Consignment Mean?

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Consignment shops have been around for a while now but it still remains a sort of underground concept. I frequently come across people, talking a little about what I do for work, and come to find out they have never heard of a consignment shop!

I think that due to the rise in popularity of second-hand shopping, the term “consignment” is being thrown around a little more than it had in the past. People are starting to talk about the concept but may not fully understand it. The differentiation of a consignment store with a charity thrift store can be a little gray and I’m here to shed a little light on the subject.

Within this article, I will be providing you with the difference between a consignment shop and a charity thrift store. I will also go over the pros and cons of working with or shopping at a consignment shop and the different varieties of consignment stores.

Consignment Shop vs. Charity Thrift Store

Here’s where the confusion tends to lie. Many people like to blend the term consignment with the term thrift and in a lot of ways; a consignment shop is a type of thrift store.

My definition of a thrift store is any place where you can buy second hand goods at a discounted price. Within this threshold, consignment shops do fit under the blanket of thrift stores.

The major difference is comparing consignment shops to charity based thrift stores. Consignment shops are typically for-profit stores that return a percentage of sales to the consignor (person who drops-off inventory). Charity thrift stores are non-profit and proceeds directly benefit a dedicated cause. I say typically because there are definitely consignment shops that are partial charity stores or may donate a certain percentage of sales to any given charity.

At Diversity Consignment we frequently have incentives that directly benefit certain charities. For instance, in the month of June (pride month) we dedicated the proceeds of our “Buy The Pound” area to go towards Boston Glass, a local leader in social justice and community based services for progressing diversity and inclusion.

What to Expect at a Consignment Shop

Consignment shops are beautiful places that vary in shapes, colors, and offerings. They can range from higher-end priced items to bargain basement prices. I am going to keep this section more generalized and talk about what you can typically expect to see at a consignment shop.

Unlike a charity thrift store that takes in donations, consignment shops will have a more curated selection of items. They take in what are called “consignments.” Consignments are items that have been hand selected by the team working at the store. They generally will be more specific to the audience they are trying to reach; the customer base.

You can expect to find a larger selection of quality items that are free of holes, stains, snags, or even odors. This is a general rule of thumb but again, depending on the consignment shop, this can vary. I am also primarily referring to clothing consignment shops. You can also expect to see a lot of inventory that is brand new! Some consignment shops even take the boutique approach and source their own brand new inventory.

Different Types of Consignment Shops

The best thing about consignment shops are that there are so many different types! It is also pretty easy to find one within your local community or general area.

Here’s a list of some of the types of consignment shops I know about, personally, within the Boston area.

-Boutique Style- Covet Boston

-Sporting Goods- Family Sports Consignments

-Furniture Consignment- Second 2 None Furniture

-High End Designer- Castanet Consignment

-Unique Styles / Vintage- Raspberry Beret

-Men’s Clothing- ID Drakes Consignment

-Music Consignment, Vintage, Local Art, Men’s, Women’s, Non-Binary Clothing, Records- Diversity Consignment 😉

As you can see, there are a whole lot of different types of consignment shops, all with the same premise in mind; slightly used or new goods where the consignor gets a percentage of what the items they bring in sell for. There are also consignment shops for things like tools and power equipment. A quick google search will provide you with all the information you need!

The Pro’s and Con’s of Consignment Shops

The pro’s and con’s can vary greatly depending on the specific store you’re interested in. At times, prices can fluctuate greatly for one reason or another. Location and quality of the inventory can be a couple of the factors.

If you’re looking for a specific item or one with many size variations; consignment shops may not be the ideal place for you. They usually only have one of each item on the racks or shelves and there’s not much hope that they will get another one anytime soon.

Some of the pro’s can also be some of the con’s. The fact that everything is 1 of 1 and unique can also be a great thing! Don’t worry about someone else showing up to the wedding wearing the same dress you purchased from a consignment shop! Also, I can guarantee that you saved the most money with your frugal purchases.

Consignment shops can also be a great way of getting a little money back into your wallet! When you bring things in and they sell, you get a percentage of what they sell for! Percentages can vary from consignment shop to consignment shop as well as consignment periods (the allotted time for your items to sell). Don’t expect to make a living buying and selling at consignment shops, it’s a great and sustainable means for recycling clothing and household items, but not a huge money-making venture.

That being said, another great aspect of consignment shops is the direct link to sustainability. I go over this frequently in other articles. Consignment shops aren’t going to save the planet by any stretch, but they are certainly helping things move in the right direction. Keep clothing and household items out of landfills and take them to your local consignment shop!

Conclusion

Consignment shops are great. You can find a wide variety of different types and styles that have all kinds of unique treasures to find.

Expect to pay a bit more, but have a more curated selection than the local charity thrift shops. Most of these businesses are family operated so do your best to support them. They help out the community in many ways; one of which being providing the people a place to sell their used things.

Staying sustainable is something we all need to do a better job at.

-Much Love, Ian Drake – Diversity Consignment

Business · Community

The Passion Economy of Today

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This has been one of my favorite topics to talk about recently. Not too long ago I read a book called “The Passion Economy: The New Rules for Thriving in the Twenty-First Century” written by Adam Davidson, and I have to admit, I agree on many of the topics.

For those of you that know me personally, you’ve probably heard me mention the passion economy numerous times and are probably sick of it. For those of you who don’t, you’re in store for a treat of enlightenment as I take you on a journey of what I believe to be a simple generalization of the way people like to spend their money in 2022; “The Passion Economy of Today.”

Adam Davidson does an excellent job of going over an in-depth detailed outline of his interpretation within his book. I will do my best to explain how I view the way people like to spend their money in 2022 within this article.

What is the Passion Economy?

In 2022 we have just gone through a lot: pandemic, economic craziness, housing booming and then interest rates rising, and so on, and so forth. People now have more reason than ever to spend their money wisely, and more importantly, on the things they want to spend it on!

In today’s economy, generally speaking, we want to spend money on things that give us joy. We want to go out and see the world with all the exciting things it has to offer! Businesses can find it tough, especially nowadays, to compete in holding your attention against the vastness of the internet. As a business owner, I hear a lot of other colleagues complaining about how people just don’t spend money like they used to! In the passion economy that we live in today, people are just simply more willing to spend money on experience and with organizations that do good.

Experience

Forget the robotic nature of the past few decades. Today we want lights, camera, action! Why would I go over to Subway to get a sub when I could experience a hand-crafted artisanal sandwich from the Mae’s in Marshfield? After all, I guarantee I could take a photo of it and have people’s mouth’s watering on social media! Why would I go shovel my driveway in the dead of the winter when there are literally ice castles only an hour up north I should be seeing? Are you starting to get the idea?

We are willing to spend our money on a lot of things! The question is, what value does it add for me and my life? Of course, I’m not talking about basic necessities like a lawn mowers or water bottles, however, wouldn’t it be cool if there was a place that let you test out the ride-on mowers before you bought them?? That would be much more interesting than reading google reviews!

We want to experience something cool, something unique, something that aligns with what we believe in.

Do Good for the World

We also love spending our hard-earned money with places or brands that have a track record of doing good for the planet. Clothing brands such as Patagonia and Tom’s have dedicated a portion of their profits towards either the restoration of humanity or saving the planet. Taken from the Tom’s website: For every pair of TOMS shoes purchased, a pair of new shoes is given to a child in need in partnership with humanitarian organizations.

Those of us who are passionate about the mission that these companies offer are more than willing to support them! It has become almost non-negotiable to have a do-good association attached to your brand. We know, as consumers, that our money is going farther than just a fleece jacket or a pair of espadrilles and we love it!

With all the destruction we’ve done to our planet, us consumers really have no choice but to support the brands and companies that make it a mission to do good. Especially if we’re passionate about the mission!

Adapt or Die

More businesses need to take on the “adapt or die” mentality. Whether you like it or not, the world is changing and if you sleep on it too long, you’re going to be gone before you know it.

I went to a bar a few months ago in Ft. Lauderdale called “Glitch Bar Arcade” that was a prime example of what I’ve been talking about. It is a full-service bar that has a full-on arcade attached to it. You get carded at the door, once you’re in all you have to do is buy a drink and you have full access to unlimited retro arcade games. If I lived close to the area, why would I ever go to a typical dive bar?

Don’t be surprised if the bar next door closes down or sees an aging crowd. They weren’t willing to adapt to what the passion economy craves.

Conclusion

Countless new start-ups that have been opening have been taking on the concept of the passion economy whether they know it or not. Businesses that have been around a while need to start understanding the concept or else be doomed to get beat out by the new innovative idea.

If you’re thinking about starting a business in the future, think about what people are passionate about and what experience you can offer outside of the traditional norms. Your community will be glad you did and you’ll likely see success in today’s “Passion Economy.”

Much love, Ian Drake. If you have thoughts on this topic, agree, or disagree, feel free to leave your comments below!

-Diversity Consignment

Business · Thrifting

How to Get Started as a Thrifter

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So, you want to start thrifting but don’t know where to begin? What types of things should you be looking for? Do you want to thrift for personal use or for reselling? Can I start a thrifting Vlog? These are some of the questions we’re going to try to answer for you in today’s article….”How to Get Started as a Thrifter!”

Side note: there are a lot of details involved with professional thrifting we may go over in later articles. In this one we are going to focus primarily on how to get started thrifting.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

What Is Thrifting?

You keep hearing this term “thrifting,” but you’ve been living under a rock since 2010. That’s alright, we can explain. According to an upload on Wiktionary, thrifting may be described as, “The act of shopping for cheap items, as for example at a garage sale or flea market.” We, at Diversity Consignment, are going to define the term as, “The act of shopping at a second-hand store with the intentions of using your purchases for personal use, upcycling, content creation, or reselling.”

Thrifting is what we frugal shoppers enjoy doing in our free time. It is 1, good for the environment 2, fun to do and 3, can return you a profit if done correctly. I, personally, began my career in 2014, thrifting with the intention to resell for a profit. At that time, I had very little money to start up a business and enjoyed finding treasures at my local thrift stores. Little did I know that my frugal nature would lead me in the direction that it did! Back then, it was quite uncommon for younger people to be flooding the thrift stores and flea markets like they are today (I know, hard to imagine!). But I digress…

Thrifting is a huge step in the right direction for eliminating some of the textile waste we see negatively affecting our planet. It’s a practice that has been around for over 100 years but I can honestly say it’s great to hear that you’re finally taking on an interest!

Why Do You Want To Thrift?

In order to know what to look for, you’re first going to have to understand why you want to thrift. Is it because you understand the negative economic impacts wasteful companies such as the fashion industries progress? Is it because you want to stay stylish while saving money? Or is it because you’re looking to start a side hustle you can work on to call your own? It could even be a combination of all three! If your intentions are to become a thrifter who buys for reselling or Vlogging, we’re going to try to help you with today’s article.

What To Look For

Reasonably speaking, one can find all kinds of things at the thrift stores. Most places carry a wide range of second-hand products from clothing, accessories, CDs, stereo equipment, to artwork and much, much more.

If you want to start thrifting to resell, I recommend focusing on a particular category that you find especially interesting. That way when you find something unique or valuable, you will always get the same rush of excitement. Having a niche category that you look for can also save you a whole lot of wasted time and energy!

I would also recommend starting in a category that isn’t too overcrowded but also retains interest. Take some time to research on major ecommerce websites like eBay and video platforms like YouTube for some categories that don’t seem too competitive. By competitive what I mean is a particular category that has an overwhelming number of listings or videos already made or uploaded. For example, starting to thrift for vintage clothing may be great for personal use, but when it comes to resale it will be difficult to find the “grail” pieces first of all, and secondly, it would be challenging to make a footprint in the vintage market. If you were to get into vintage clothing, I would start with a more niche category such as “vintage travel t-shirts.” (I will go into further detail in a separate article on what constitutes an article of clothing as “vintage“).

You want to be able to get your content out there to people who are actually going to see it! The easiest way to get lost in the search results is to pick a broad category that already has a lot of coverage. Due to the algorithms set in place, in order to reach the top search results in ecommerce sites like eBay or video platforms like YouTube, you’re going to need a lot of listings and content with a proven track record. Of course, none of this you will have when you’re first starting out. The fastest way to be able to stand out is to choose something specific that shows interest but doesn’t have a lot of coverage.

Where To Start Sourcing

What you look for will also be important for where you go to source. For instance, if you’re intending on starting a Vlog about tractor equipment, going to the local Goodwill might not be the best place to start sourcing. Instead, research some barn sales going on in the nearby area (yes they do have barn sales) or yard sales in a more rural area if you live in the city.

This may sound silly but I’m being serious! Where you go to source will have a huge impact on preventing burnout. There are certain places that are honey-holes for specific things. You’re going to have to do some research to figure out where it is that may have what you’re looking for. You can find information online, through reddit discussions, or even in specific Facebook groups. Ask around! some people are more than happy to share where they go to treasure hunt.

Don’t be discouraged if other thrifters don’t share the information though! Thrifters can be notoriously territorial over their favorite spots!

How Much Should I Be Spending?

Now this is when things can get a little tricky. It depends. It depends on what your budget is for exactly what you want to do. I know this sounds ambiguous but bear with me.

Of course we all want to spend as little as possible when it comes to thrifting but you don’t want to give up quality for frugality. Some things you find might warrant a higher price! Don’t shy away from spending a little more to get something that you can flip for A LOT more. There have been plenty of times that I have wound up kicking myself because I left a store empty handed simply because I wasn’t willing to spend the extra $5-10.

Do a little research to find out what the market value is for what you’re sourcing. Have your smartphone with you the whole time you’re out there so you can quickly look up comps (completed sales) to see what the true value of what you’re finding is worth. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT think that asking prices are what things are worth. Anyone can ask any price for any thing! Figure out what it is actually selling for.

If you are creating a Vlog on a certain niche, the budget may be a little different. You may be willing to spend a little more for something special because you know it’s going to result in higher viewership or you have no idea when you’re going to find it again.

Conclusion

Find a category that interests you (tools, records, shoes) and narrow it down to a less competitive market that still has interest. Instead of “boots” narrow it further down to “cowboy boots.” Do your research. You may be saying WTF I came here as research! Trust me when I say that this is only the tip of the iceberg. There’s way too much detail that follows to include in this basic tutorial. If you want to be successful in Vlogging or Thrifting to resell you’re going to need to dedicate a lot of time to the craft.

That’s not to say that it isn’t worth it though! Thrifting feels amazing. It’s one of those activities that truly makes an impact beyond your personal achievements. So, I say, thrift on! Buy used shit!

If you found this article helpful, please feel free to comment your thoughts and ideas below in the comments section. Don’t forget to subscribe to get notified when new articles are being released!

-Ian Drake, Diversity Consignment