Secondhand Pros
It’s a crisp Tuesday morning in March and Station Street is bustling. A woman is rushing down the street with her arms full of books and bags. She stops to chat with a shop owner who has just stepped outside. There is laughter between them and then the woman continues down the street, adjusting her belongings as she fishes for her keys.
So begins another day for Laura Knecht, owner and artisan of Re De Find, a resale shop on Station Street. She brings out her signature mannequins, one by one, and sets them up around a table as if they will soon be playing a game of bridge. Each are decked out in vintage couture, heavily accessorized with beads and baubles. One wears a skirt made of forty-some scarves, and a strong breeze brings her to life. Cars slow down to take a second look and Laura’s Re De Find is open for business.
Re De Find is one of several secondhand stores thriving in Barrington. Some specialize in clothing, while others are all about furniture and home accessories. There is even a store called Rainbow Records that sells used record albums and recycled music. What is the draw to these shops and why are they growing in popularity?
What once had the stigma of being a place to go in desperate financial times now seems to be an accepted solution to paying full price. Is it all about stretching the dollar, or could it be that people are being more conscious about recycling? Are we making a statement against trendiness, which in fact has become a trend itself? We decided to find out.
Making your way into Re De Find evokes an “Alice in Wonderland” response. Every crevice of this shop is a creative display of retro, repurposed, and reinvented items. To the left are racks of clothing and vintage hats. To the right, jewelry, handbags, belts, eye glasses, cowboy boots. Laura is perched at her counter which doubles as a showcase for her high-end jewelry pieces. She takes a phone call from her pink 1950s telephone.
“Re De Find, this is Laura. Is it vintage? Yes, I’d love to see it. Oh I do it myself. Sure, I’ll take a look at it, gladly.”
All the while, Laura is busy infusing creativity with everything she touches. Customers come in and if they are not already a friend of Laura’s, they quickly become one. Her energetic spirit is welcoming and people linger for quite some time, just taking it all in. In between customers, Laura shares thoughts about resale boutiques and her belief that what was once old is new again.
Laura opened Re De Find in the summer of 2009 driven by a passion for fashion, antiques, vintage clothing and a love for recycling. A lifelong artist, Laura sees the value in helping others to reach their creative potential. She carries local artisans’ creations, including that of high school and college girls, who have showcased and sold their ideas at the shop.
Ellen Quade, an art major at Iowa University, has made clever skirts and decorative pins from men’s silk ties. Megan Karande, a 2009 graduate from Barrington High School who is studying molecular biology at Princeton, enjoys sewing for Laura while she is home on break. Her Anthropologie-like skirts, made from aprons, pillowcases and tablecloths, can be found at Re De Find. Aimee Mazzenga, a freshman at Columbia College who studies photography, was hired to help with marketing.
Laura feels it is her way of gathering kindred spirits. When asked why young women in particular are shopping the second hand racks, Laura believes that fashion-savvy girls are seeking out a unique look. The idea of going to the mall and buying something off a rack where there are twenty of the same is no longer appealing. The more unique you look, the more interesting you become. One of Laura’s youngest customers, Sarah Dombek, grew up with an appreciation for beautifully crafted jewelry and couture.
A junior at Barrington High School, Sarah shares stories about digging through her fashion-conscious grandmother’s jewelry boxes and playing dress up with the exquisite pieces. As a young adult, her interest in this vintage lives on. Sarah wore a custom-made necklace belonging to her grandmother with her homecoming dress.
“Imagine sticking your hand in a jewelry box loaded with necklaces, pulling out seven of them, all unique, and then twisting them into one – this is what it looked like,” Sarah said. “I wanted to dress differently. I stopped wearing pants,” she added.
Re De Find was waiting for her with open arms. Laura recalls the day Sarah came in and purchased a pair of men’s eyeglasses – a copper-framed pair from the 1950s that resembles a vintage Ray-Ban style. Discovered at an estate sale, they were buried amongst office supplies in the drawer of an old writing desk. She has successfully combined vintage, vogue, and her prescription. “I love the history behind them and to think that a man wore these so long ago,” she said.
Who doesn’t love a bargain?
According to American Research Group, 12 to 15 percent of Americans of all economic levels are spending their money at the 30,000 resale, consignment, and thrift shops in the United States. “The slumping economy may draw people in, but once they visit a resale shop for the first time, they are pleasantly surprised at the high quality of merchandise and are forever hooked on a new way of smart spending,” said Kitty Boyce, president of the Association of Resale Professionals.
As we progress from a disposable to a recycling society, people feel more comfortable consigning, selling or donating unused items rather than tossing them in the trash. Parents can buy their growing children clothing – a homecoming dress, suits for the workplace, and even high-end designer items for a fraction of the retail price – giving them more money to put toward vacations, college education, and retirement accounts.
Sandy Conrad, co-owner of Double Exposure Elite Resale, has been in business for five years. Specializing in women’s designer labels, she has a built following of both consigners and shoppers. Double Exposure’s 6,000-item inventory is run like a clock. Paula Conrad, co-owner and sister-in-law of Sandy, sits at the computer behind the counter and handles accounting. They have four employees that photograph items and plac them on eBay, sorting through, documenting and ticketing new arrivals. Sandy determines which items will be brought in to their inventory. Market research tools are used to determine an item’s value. The consigner’s privacy is maintained by using initials when identifying them in conversation.
Use of the Internet gives consigners a global marketplace. A Moda in Pelle Firenza pink leather coat is shipped to Sweden, and a blouse is packed for a customer in France. Sandy’s schedule for the next day includes a stop at Louis Vuitton to authenticate some hand bags, a visit with a regular consigner on Chicago’s North Shore, and a pickup of couture arriving from New York.
Just how sweet of a deal?
We decided to test the market and find out how far a one hundred dollar bill can be stretched if used solely for the purchase of secondhand clothes and accessories. It wasn’t hard to find three young ladies that were up for the challenge.
Caroline Donahue, 21, is the shopping guru and bargain hunter of the trio. A college student on a budget, Caroline manages to stay fashionable without spending a fortune. At 17, Sarah Dombeck has made vintage look vogue in the halls of Barrington High School. And 13-year-old Kellie Mullany, a seventh-grader at Prairie Middle School, is our most fastidious shopper. Tired of the mall, she is eager to shop the resale stores for the first time. So we gave each girl one hundred dollars and sent them to five resale shops in walking distance of the heart of downtown Barrington. Here are their found treasures:
For Caroline:
- 50s lace baby doll top Re De Find $40
- Urban floral scarf Catchpenny $3
- Gold/pearl clip earrings Catchpenny $3
- Steve Madden gray heels Kool Beans $7
- BCBG black jeweled flats Double Exposure $24
- Tulle embellished tank Double Exposure $12
- 70s sunglasses Re De Find $11
For Sarah:
- Late 40s organza dress Re De Find $35
- Sperry-like boat shoes Catchpenny $3
- Vintage-inspired French flair skirt Catchpenny $4
- Silk floral scarf House of Hope $2
- 50s inspired Francesca’s skirt Kool Beans $4
- Summer smock top Kool Beans $7
- Neiman Marcus Italian Double Exposure $45
- Leather oxfords
For Kellie:
- Vintage locket bracelet Re De Find $15
- Buckle embellished hand bag House of Hope $3
- Free People cargo pants Kool Beans $40
- Hollister ribbed tank Kool Beans $3
- Blush crocheted tank with bow Double Exposure $20
- Bubblegum pearl necklace Double Exposure $10
- Cut glass beaded sterling bracelet Re De Find $5
Resale, consignment, and thrift
What’s the difference between resale, consignment and thrift shopping? Resale stores buy merchandise outright from individual owners. A consignment or thrift shop can also be called a resale shop, but only a store that consigns their inventory can be called a consignment store. Only a store run by a not-for-profit organization is considered a thrift, which has an objective to raise money to fund their charitable causes.
Thrifts range from the large Salvation Army and Goodwill chains to individual school, church, or hospital thrift shops. Not-for-profits can obtain goods through donations, or can operate on a consignment basis; some do both. A consignment shop accepts merchandise on a consignment basis, paying the owners of the merchandise a percentage when and if the items are sold.
On the next pages, local resale and consignment shop owners and managers talk about what they carry, and the types of shoppers they attract.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Re De Find
Owner: Laura Knecht
Address: 115 East Station Street
Phone: 847-842-0123
Years in business: 2
Website: vintageredefind.com
Re De Find is an art studio and boutique brimming with treasures. We offer handmade, vintage, and repurposed apparel, accessories and art with the focus on green living.
Who shops here?
Our offerings appeal to kids, young adults and even grandmothers who have a true appreciation for creativity, quality and a touch of chaos.
Can you share something interesting about your store?
The shop has caught the attention of one of Barrington’s creative natives. Cynthia Rowley, a 1976 graduate of Barrington High School, makes a stop at Re-De-Find whenever she is in town. She has said: “Laura, you have the best edited vintage shop I have ever been in.” Cynthia lives in New York City, where there is a plethora of vintage stores to inspire her fashion lines, but has found much inspiration at 115 East Station here in Barrington.
What item best defines your store?
Victorian shoe-buckle cuff bracelets. A quick glance at your wrist, and it takes you back to the days of Jane Austin.
What is your mission statement or motto?
Our mission is to always realize the importance of recycling, reinventing and repurposing goods that have already been created. “The Sound of Music” had the right idea by making clothing out of curtains! We insist on keeping the piece green.
Hours of operation:
We have European hours, so if the lights are on, and the mannequins are greeting you, come on in! We also offer private appointments.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Double Exposure Elite Resale
Owners: Sandy Conrad and Paula Conrad (Sisters-in-law)
Address: 706 S. Northwest Highway
Phone: 847-756-4282
Years in business: 5
Website: doubleexposureresale.com
We are a high-end women’s consignment retail boutique featuring fabulous designer labels at a fraction of their retail prices. Our ever-changing inventory of casual to couture and contemporary to traditional styles provides a unique shopping experience for the discerning shopper.
Who shops here?
Savvy women of all ages who are searching for high-end designer brands at great prices.
Nikki Hilton was seen at a benefit in Los Angeles wearing a Chanel couture black silk dress sold by Double Exposure.
Can you share something interesting about your store?
Our clothing has been worn by celebrities on the red carpet and at President Obama’s
Inaugural Gala.
What item best defines your store?
Manolo Blahnik black silk and crystal rhinestone jeweled strappy evening sandals,
originally $530, selling at Double Exposure for $179.
What is your mission statement or motto?
Women’s Luxury for Less.
Hours of operation:
Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kool Beans
Owners: Julie and Robert Haller
Address: 200 N. Hough Street at Market Center Shops
Phone: (847) 842-4691
Years in business: Less than a year
Kool Beans carries trendy clothing and accessories for girls and guys, from teens through adults. Our items are either gently used, recycled or brand new. You’ll find name brands like Converse, True Religion, Levis, and Abercrombie & Fitch.
Who shops here?
Anyone who wants to keep up with the current trends
without breaking the bank.
Can you share something interesting about your store?
Every item is carefully hand-selected by our team for our valued customers. We buy items from our community, wholesalers, and retail closeouts.
What item best defines your store?
A charcoal colored Michael Kors coat with a fur rimmed hood, only $29.99.
What is your mission statement or motto?
We outfit those who like to stand out in a crowd, and those just wanting to fit in.
Hours of operation:
Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
House of Hope
Operator: St. Anne’s Project Hope Ministry
Address: 200 N. Hough Street, Market Center Shops
Phone: 847-756-4673
Website: hohresale.org
Email: hoperesale@gmail.com
Years in Operation: 10
House of Hope is a full service, non-for-profit resale store providing year-round funding for the mission of Saint Anne’s Project Hope: to provide emergency assistance to area families in crisis. Through the generosity of our donors and the talented efforts of our all-volunteer team of adults and teens, House of Hope has grown into the largest resale shop of its kind in the area. House of Hope resale offers a wide assortment of items from furniture and household goods to clothing and accessories. All proceeds from House of Hope are reinvested in our community. All donations made to House of Hope are tax deductible and a receipt is provided. Items not sold through our resale are passed forward to other charities.
Our Motto:
Every effort makes a difference; every kindness builds hope.
Our Customers:
House of Hope Resale serves a large and diverse customer base including savvy bargain hunters, trendy fashionistas, budget-minded families, art dealers and collectors, resale hobbyists and those looking for one-of-a-kind treasures. Brides-to-be will find sample bridal gowns originally priced in the thousands selling for just $50 each. Prom dresses are here as well, starting at $15.
Special Events and Offers:
In addition to our low everyday pricing, House of Hope offers weekly features and monthly clearance sales. Guests are encouraged to join our mail or email list and visit our website for more details on upcoming events and sales. There are always great deals to be found and every purchase helps local families in crisis – this is guilt-free shopping at its best.
Hours of Operation:
Wednesday – Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Catchpenny
Operator: Auxiliary of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Address: 118 E. Main Street
Phone: 847-381-7721
Email: auxilian@earthlink.net
Years in Operation: 40
From its humble beginnings in a store front on Park Street to its present location on Main, Catchpenny has held a unique place within the auxiliary and within the Village of Barrington. Thanks to its regular donors and faithful customers, Catchpenny serves a triple purpose – all of them good. Not only is it the largest money maker for the hospital auxiliary, but the shop serves the community as a source of gently used items for those in need, as well as those who enjoy a good bargain. Donors receive an income tax receipt for their contributions.
Our Motto:
Auxiliary: Partnership, Philanthropy and Pride
Our Customers:
Our regular customers come from all over the Chicago area. Some of them are your next door neighbors. Sometimes it’s the young clothing designers that benefit from Catchpenny. They may find a button-down shirt for six dollars, but the buttons made of mother of pearl alone are worth much more. As a high school student here in Barrington, clothing designer Cynthia Rowley would pick up items here and use bits and pieces of them to make her own creations.
Special Events and Offers:
Three times a year we have an open house where we feature our new merchandise. In between we rotate our inventory with Two Dollar Bag Days; these are dates our regulars never miss.
Important to Know:
The Catchpenny is entirely operated by volunteers. We have never even had a paid manager. This allows our entire income to be contributed to the auxiliary. We continue to render to those in need, so that they may purchase for pennies on the dollar. New volunteers are welcome to join Catchpenny for a rewarding venture.
Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m.-4p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m