Uniquely yours...for less!
This month we delve into the industry statistics and trends surrounding resale. Before you stifle a yawn on the basis that you think this subject is boring, you should read on because in fact, from our research it is actually very interesting. We promise!
So resale or retail? Can you tell the difference? Probably not! Today resale shops look the same as mainstream retailers - except for one big difference - they sell high quality goods at lower prices. The resale industry, as we stated in last month's blog, offers quality at what can be enormous savings and don't forget the element that resale is green!
Resale is a multi-billion dollar a year industry and with this in mind you begin to realize the vast scope and advantage to shopping and getting that "must have" fashion item for less. Resale shopping attracts consumers from all economic levels. There is no typical resale shopper and no-one is immune to the excitement of finding a treasure and saving money at the same time. Shrewd shoppers take advantage of the opportunity resale offers - to save money. These savings can help add to quality of life when used for vacations, entertainment, funding of college, the list goes on.
According to America's Research Group, a consumer research firm, approximately 16-18% of Americans will shop at a thrift store during any given year. For resale shops, it is approximately 12-15%. To put these figures into perspective, consider that during the same timeframe, 11.4% of Americans will shop in factory outlet malls, 19.6% in apparel stores and 21.3% in major department stores.
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| Advertise your store with consignista.com |
Resale has become destination shopping with the recent industry trend of clustering and this leads us onto the newest piece of consignista.com's business model, The Consignista Network. In simple terms, consignista.com will allow other apparel resale/consignment stores to gain an online presence without the need of them building and managing a website themselves. This in turn allows these stores to list their inventory online at consignista.com and gives, as an example, a shopper in Texas to purchase that "must have" item from a store in Iowa. By creating The Consignista Network at consignista.com, it adds efficiency for the shopper and additional sales for the resale/consignment store who is part of the Consignista Network who would not necessarily have been found by that savvy shopper otherwise.
Shoppers can visit a variety of resale/consignment stores at one site - consignista.com.
The resale market is blossoming thanks to value-conscious consumers and with the increasing awareness of the importance of reducing pointless waste, we are progressing from a disposable society to a recycling society - a change that has enormous market potential for the resale industry as a whole.
While bricks and mortar stores close their doors at the end of every day, online stores, just like consignista.com operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Online stores are the Gordon Gekko of Wall Street Fame. To coin one of Mr Gekko's phrases, consignista.com "never sleeps".
