THRIFT STORES OFFER BARGAIN PRICES PLUS VARIETY

Willie Mae Walker shopped for clothing for her grandson Quitman Magbriar, 4, at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store at 10 N. Sprigg St.

Several styles of used men's ties can be found at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store.

One way people have found to stretch their paychecks is to shop for clothing at consignment shops and thrift stores.

Consignment shops and thrift stores also offer a selection that have many shoppers switching from new clothing to used clothing.

A lot of college and high school students are looking for vintage clothing to wear as costumes to parties and even to class. Some are looking for clothes that no one else is wearing, according to Debbie Harris, manager of The Salvation Army Thrift Store.

"Some want rare shoes you can't find anymore," Harris said.

Sheila Kaiser, volunteer supervisor at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store, agreed.

"College students are looking mostly for older clothes from the sixties and seventies," Kaiser said.

But used clothing stores offer more than a chance to wear retro clothing not offered in other retail clothing outlets. They offer quality clothes at a lower cost.

"Customers come in to buy name brands at much below retail prices. Generally, at half the price of new clothes," Kim Robinson, co-owner of Encore, a consignment shop in Jackson.

The customers at these used-clothing stores are as varied as the population, according to Emma McAlister, assistant manager of Designers & More in Jackson.

The customer base of these stores depends on what types of clothes they offer.

Ella Dowd, owner of Cast-A-Ways in Cape Girardeau, said she gets business from college students, young women, middle-aged people, but not many senior citizens shopping for used clothing.

Many consignment shops in the area said they have moved several times to accommodate their growing business.

Cast-A-Ways has moved four times since it began in 1979. Today it has 8,647 consigners that take 50 percent of the sale when their clothing is sold.

At Designers & More this month has been the best month in business, McAlister said.

These shops will vary with selection, but all types of clothing can be found at used-clothing stores.

Some stores don't offer men's clothing, while others do. Some stores specialize in children's clothing while some offer it, but it isn't a big seller.

Some consignment shops in the area will not accept clothing that is out of style, and only clothing that is in good shape and saleable is taken.

The Salvation Army Thrift Store will take anything. "If people are kind enough to donate it, we are going to be kind enough to take it," Harris said.

Shopping at thrift stores and consignment shops isn't just a one-time thing for a lot of shoppers.

"It gets addictive. We have a lot of repeat customers," Kaiser said, adding: "People like bargains and they come here. We get all kinds of people in here."

"They have nice bargains here and they carry nice clothing," said shopper Willie Mae Walker, who was shopping at the Teen Challenge Thrift Store.

With prices cut 50 to 75 percent from the retail value, it is easy to see why many people have started to shop for used clothing at consignment and thrift stores.

"Lots of people just grow out of their clothes. I mean expensive good clothes. I love to come in," said Kathy Scallion, a shopper from Sikeston.

They offer people a chance to buy bulk clothing with suits for as low as $5 and jeans for as low as $1.

"I found a suit over there with slacks and a skirt for $4," Lucille Sullivan said as she shopped at the Salvation Army store.

Harris and Dowd both said they get customers looking for work clothes and uniforms.

"It's a very good business and a very interesting business," Dowd added.

The consignment shops also move the inventory when it doesn't sell. Dowd said her store gives its clothing to the Teen Challenge store after 60 days.

McAlister said she also doesn't keep clothes around longer than two months, and Teen Challenge changes its clothing selection with each season.

Thrift stores generally get clothes through donations, while consignment shops split the money with the people that place their clothes in the consignment shops. Generally, the take is 50-50 of the sale price.