Secondhand is increasingly becoming shoppers first choice in U.S., Rockford area
Thrift stores took in more than $20 billion in 2023, and things don’t seem to be letting up any time soon.
Local experts say there are several reasons why secondhand stores are becoming so popular.
First, Gen Z shoppers understand sustainability better than their Gen X parents and Baby Boomer grandparents.
“We are seeing young people who are thinking about our environment,” said Craig Steege, director retail for Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois. “They’re thinking about when they’re buying something that’s lightly used, it’s saving something from going to the landfill.”
More people are donating their lightly used clothing, furniture, housewares and electronics than ever before, as well.
“We definitely see things heading in a positive direction for retailers,” Steege said.
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'Anything vintage is a huge deal'
With shelves full across the Rockford area, inflation is also driving more customers to choose thrift stores.
According to a recent report, 52% of U.S. consumers purchased secondhand apparel last year. Half of those sales were rung up at brick-and-mortar locations.
The uptick is business is allowing some stores to specialize in certain items.
“A big thing here is vintage,” said Kelly Whitham, store manager at Carpenter’s Corner thrift store in Rockford. “Whether it’s furniture to games to household goods — anything vintage is a huge deal. Every week our sales are growing.”
Whitham said things are going so well, her staff has a hard time keeping up with demand.
“Our furniture truck just got about back an hour ago, and already half of what was on the truck has been sold,” she said. “We have people waiting in the store knowing when we unload the truck. We can’t get things out fast enough onto our sales floor.”
200% growth in secondhand market
There also drawbacks to being that busy.
Stores have seen more quality issues as donations have increased. That’s because the number of newer, name-brand merchandise that ends up on sites like ThredUp and eBay is also on the rise, leaving workers to weed through piles of unsellable items.
Not all is lost though.
“Last year, we estimate that we saved over 19 million pounds from going into the landfill by selling through our stores, and by recycling stuff that doesn’t sell or can’t be used,” Steege said.
The overall secondhand market, which has grown by 200% in the last decade, is worth about $40 billion. Traditional thrift stores that operate primarily on donations account for $22 billion of that total.
There are approximately 25,000 resale shops in the United States.
Jim Hagerty writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for the Rockford Register Star. Email him at jhagerty@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford-area thrift stores are booming. Here's why
