Area schools resume classes in a matter of days and that means parents are scrambling to complete back to school shopping. The average American family is projected to spend $635 dollars this year, an 8 percent decrease from last year despite a 7.3 percent increase in cost of goods. So how are families managing to get more for less in 2013?
While some are buying less, others are shopping “outside the box.” Instead of buying clothing and electronics at big box retail, many are turning to gently used shops, consignment, and thrift stores.
Richland County has two gently-used shops, one consignment, and six thrift stores where area residents can find bargains. There are some misconceptions about these different types of stores. Often people believe all three are similar and assume the quality of products and shopping experience is substandard, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Gently used and consignment shops specialize in carrying brand name clothing that is in like-new condition. Gently used shops will buy high quality items for resale and consignment shops carefully select quality items and pay the owner of the item a percentage or set amount upon sale of the garment.
Shoppers can be guaranteed in-season fashionable brand name clothing that is new or like-new at prices 70 percent below retail. Thrift stores receive their merchandise through donations and the condition, quality and seasonality varies, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t quality items to be found.
Shoppers at many area thrift stores such as Volunteers of America and Goodwill are pleasantly surprised to find the stores are neat, clean, organized and easy to shop. There are incredible bargains to be found, but the stores are large so plan some time to make your selections.
Gently-used stores like Once Upon a Child and Plato’s Closet are franchise businesses that are locally owned, but have the benefit of support from their parent franchise. These stores are stocked, tagged, and merchandised like corporate stores, but are privately owned and operated.
Darlene Allen, owner of Once Upon a Child in Ontario, has been in business for 17 years, although her franchise is for sale because she hopes to retire. “My customers don’t want me to close, they’re loyal, and so I’m selling the franchise,” she stated.
It’s easy to see why the customers are so loyal. Area resident Michelle Fry and her daughters Harmony and Trinity were thrilled with their haul of over 20 items for just $70.
Gently-used, consignment and thrift shops in Richland County:
Gently Used Shops:
Once Upon A Child, 2182 W 4th St, Ontario, OH
(419) 747-7006 · onceuponachild.com
Plato’s Closet, 787 N Lexington-Springmill Rd, Ontario, OH
(419) 709-9514 · platosclosetontario.com
Consignment Shop:
Back On the Rack, 823 Lexington Ave, Mansfield, OH
(419) 756-9208 · backontherackconsignments.net
Thrift Stores:
Goodwill, 2154 W 4th St, Ontario, OH
(419) 529-2114 · goodwill.org
What Goes Round, 113 N Main St, Mansfield, OH
(419) 522-2890 · hospiceofnorthcentralohio.org
Volunteers of America, 1280 Park Ave W, Mansfield, OH
(419) 528-3036 · voa.org
D & S Thrift Shop, 405 Ashland Rd, Mansfield, Ohio
(419) 709-9216
Mid-Ohio Made, 73 Brickman Ave, Mansfield, OH
(419) 522-2300
Bargain Hunters Thrift Store
2076 W 4th St, Ontario, OH, (419) 522-2900
