Rocktown's Upscale Thrift Stores
By MADISON ROBINSON
HARRISONBURG, Va. - When you walk into Second Time Around, there is no reason to think that it is not a traditional retail store. Clothing is arranged neatly on racks, and each item is priced with a tag. Artfully assembled outfits decorate the walls, and jewelry, accessories and knickknacks are sprad over the counter. Behind the counter stands a helpful-looking young woman.
But Second Time Around is not a traditional retail store. It is a thrift store, one of many in Harrisonburg that offer second-hand goods. And it's part of the second generation of thrift stores.
Over the past several years thrift-store shopping has developed into a national trend. People have become more interested in shopping at thrift stores for eco-friendly reasons, bargains and style trends. The resurgence of interest in vintage items has brought in young faces and led to the creation of new boutiques offering used clothing, prompting the old stores, including those in Harrisonburg, to make improvements. The city has been home to more than seven thrift and consignment stores for the past decade. They have been trying to improve the conditions of the quality of inventory, as well as spruce up their shops.
The term thrift store basically includes two types of stores. Thrift stores that are typically run by a charitable organization receive merchandise through donations and use the proceeds to help those in need. Consignment stores are for-profit organizations that receive their merchandise from consigners, or people who wish to sell their used items for a profit.
Martha May, manager of Second Time Around, a consignment store on High Street, has noted the increase in the popularity of second hand stores “Our sales are growing every year,” she said.
Much of the increase is due to the fact that Second Time Around caters to young ladies and professional women. “They are learning fast how to save money and yet they want to dress nice,” said May.
Second Time Around, which carries clothes and accessories, as well as household and decorative items, looks for items that are either name brands or have little to no wear. “We pick what our customers are really looking for so that you aren’t looking through things you don’t want,” said May.
She believes that it is selection that sets the store apart from others. “We organize our things by sizes, ” May said. “We have them color coordinated. We don’t let our inventory get old because we replenish it everyday. You will find a fresh store every time you come in.”
May she said that it is clean and well-organized enough to compete with retail stores in the area. “You have the very best of all the stores, all together. And I think that’s what really sells,” May said.
Despite the difference between consignment stores and thrift stores, Second Time Around does its part to help the community. According to May, they donate left over and unsold clothes to local clothes closets such as The Trendy Clothes Closet or the Church of the Nazarene Clothes Closet. Those who qualify based on financial need are able to choose the clothes they want.
Second Time Around has been privately owned and operated for the past 13 years.
Charity-based thrift stores appear to be slower to catch the increase in thrift store buying.
According to Peggy Roy, manager of the local Mercy House, there has not been a noticeable increase in customers, but there has been an increase in donations over the past two years. Roy does not know why this change has taken place, but she is happy about it. “I’ve been choosing and making better choices to make it a higher quality retail,” she said. Unlike what many think, charity based thrift stores don’t take everything. “We have to follow state bedding and health regulations,” said Roy.
Another change that Mercy House has made to improve their store is to hire a full-time pricer in order to be consistent. “That person knows what they do...you have to price [the item] what its worth,” said Roy. The store is also cleaner and better organized than in previous years, according to Roy.
Having recognized a market for more select brands of second-hand items, Mercy House opened a second location in Harrisonburg, Granny Longlegs in the heart of downtown. “It’s a whole different world, a whole different clientele,” Roy said of the store.
According to Mercy House, Inc., its mission is to help homeless families in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. The organization uses the proceeds from the Mercy House thrift store to help support a local soup kitchen they run.