Lately, when a business fails, nobody blinks. But one local business niche has survived the economic downturn: thrift and consignment shops. The model is simple; adapting to the public's unpredictability is another story.
"Our customers are pretty conservative. They're not shopping with the abandon that they had a few years ago," notes Maryann Kratochvil, manager of .
"We held our own last year. Part of that was by adding furniture," she says. "But it's unpredictable."
Business at is down from last year. "People are really counting their pennies, and they'll try to bargain—even here," observes a volunteer who asked that her name not be used. The shop, selling mainly clothing, housewares and bedding, is not currently taking clothing donations.
Donations remain important, though, at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Thrift Boutique. Business is going well, says Helga Maggiullli, volunteer sorter.
Maggiulli notes that the boutique would miss out it stopped accepting new items. "If we said, 'No donations'—we had three St. John outfits come in. We get a good price for them," she said. That day, an excellent price—$450—was fetched for a lamp.
At Twin Pines Food Co-op and Thrift Shop, Edna Turner ("I'm in management—I'm everything," she says) knows her clientele well.
"A lot of people have been moving. The population is aging out. Parents are dying. People lost their jobs and have relocated," she points out. Result: more donations, fewer purchases.
People are buying suits or dresses to look for work –"especially the men." She explains that thrift items were added three years ago, and "thrift sales have gone up in the last year."
Sales have been very good this season, says Cecelia Renga, who owns Time & Again Family Consignment, specializing in family clothing. Again, donations are up.
"Before, people were donating to charity, and now they're trying to sell their items – high-quality items," she says. One example: a Harvé Benard suit, worth several hundred dollars new. "We sell it for $35 or $40, and nobody knows it wasn't new."
As Kratochvil at St. Stephen's emphasizes: "I'd say it's less than predictable."
Thrift Stores in Port Washington
St. Stephen's Church Consignment Shop
9 Carlton Ave.
516-944-8829
Saint Peter of Alcantara Church Thrift Shop
1327 Port Washington Blvd.
516-883-9277
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Thrift Boutique
93 Main St.
516-944-3623
Twin Pines Food Co-op and Thrift Shop
382 Main St.
516-883-9777
Time & Again Family Consignment
101 Manorhaven Blvd.
516-883-6067
