Secondhand shops now often are first choice
By Tiffany Hsu, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 2, 2008
www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-consignment2-2008sep02,0,6853779.story

At Lucky You, sellers have ramped up their spring cleaning, some coming in weekly when they once swung by twice a year. Even wealthier customers who once donated now consign, spreading the extra cash to baby sitters or housekeepers, Kimmel said.

After a while, most consignment stores offer to donate a seller's items to charity. But these days, sellers opt to take back the goods and try their luck elsewhere, store owners said.

And the consignor list at Lucky You gets crowded faster than it used to. Kimmel and co-owner Gina Canepa just bought 200 more hangers and now accept only brand-name items. "Everyone's calling and wanting to sell stuff, and we've had to push them back," Canepa said.

"I can't imagine what it must be like for pawnshops," Kimmel said. "We're lucky to be buying, but we also feel terrible because people are selling something so beautiful just because they need the money. It's bittersweet."

[...]

"We have the same stuff as department stores, but who's going to know if it's been worn once or twice?" Canepa said.

It's easier for some customers to think of it as venturing into "gently used" vintage. Secondhand fashions catapulted into vogue several years ago, and "now it's the thing to do," Kimmel said. "People can't buy the stuff fast enough."   ( full story )