Sunday, July 05, 2009
Thrift stores are thriving
Jenny Kincaid Boone
Jenny reports on the latest news on the Roanoke Valley retail industry.
Recent stories
Discount retailers, particularly thrift and consignment stores, are thriving right now.
With widespread job loss and tightened credit and consumer spending, Americans are looking for a break.
A surge in thrift and consignment sales and shopping activity is part of the reason that these kinds of retailers are growing at a fast rate in the Roanoke Valley. Late last month, a new consignment boutique opened in Salem, while a new thrift concept is poised to debut on Monday in Roanoke.
Salem resident Terri Kelly wanted to start her own retail business, and because of the economic downturn, she decided consignment was the way to go. She opened Encore Consignment Boutique on June 23 at 213 W. Fourth St. in Salem.
"I thought with the economy the way it is, there are so many women out there that need some help recouping money from the clothes they don't need anymore," said Kelly, who quit her job as a physical therapist five years ago to stay at home with her children.
Plus, collecting items for consignment saves her from having to purchase inventory to stock the store. She has about 40 to 45 consignors who receive 50 percent of the sale of their items.
The selection at Kelly's new boutique includes brand name women's clothing, from formal wear to jeans, shoes, jewelry and home decor.
The clothing sizes range from 2 to 24, including maternity items.
In Roanoke, 2nd helpings, a new thrift shop run by a local nonprofit, opens Monday.
This will be the Roanoke Rescue Mission's second city thrift store. Alongside clothing and home decor, it will house an art gallery with work from various regional artists. The Rescue Mission closed its Art on a Mission store at Tanglewood Mall in January.
Also, 2nd helpings will have a cafe that serves breakfast and lunch, including tea and coffee by H&C Coffee, bagels from the Roanoke Bagel Co. and meats and cheeses from Boar's Head.
The new shop at the Civic Mall on Williamson Road mostly will have upscale offerings, compared with the Rescue Mission's other thrift shop near its headquarters on Fourth Street Southeast in Roanoke.
Clothing prices at 2nd helpings will range from $5 to $15, said Lee Clark, director of development for the Rescue Mission.
Proceeds will go towards various projects for the Rescue Mission, including its new medical clinic.
Hokie retail shop to open
Since its launch two and a half years ago, an online business aimed at Virginia Tech fans has grown into a quick success.
Dedra Horn, the owner of Gobblergear.com, is taking her enterprise a step farther. The Salem resident is making plans to open a retail shop to sell Hokie apparel, decor and tailgating items, from coolers to tents, in addition to her Internet business.
She's renovating a building that once housed 7-Eleven at 603 College Ave. in Salem. By Aug. 1, she plans to debut Gobbler Gear's brick-and-mortar arm.
Burned-out from her former job as a manager of a law firm, Horn decided several years ago to find a new career. A fan of Virginia Tech sports, particularly football and basketball, she launched Gobblergear.com, with no prior retail or Web design experience. Horn credits her family, including her husband, brother and parents, for their help in getting her venture off the ground.
Last year, Horn even took her Hokie merchandise to Blacksburg on game days to sell at the Kroger store on South Main Street.
Opening a storefront business was her goal from the beginning, though the Web site was a way of starting small, Horn said. She houses all of her licensed merchandise in her Salem home.
Gobblergear.com is known these days for its signature maroon-and-orange Volkswagen Beetle.
With the economy in the doldrums, Horn said many people have asked her why she's opening a retail store.
"It's now or never," she said.
Business relocates
A Roanoke chiropractic business has relocated to a larger space.
In late May, Balance Chiropractic and Wellness moved to Townside Festival Center on Franklin Road in Roanoke, beside Padow's Hams & Deli.
The practice, led by Jennifer Walker, previously was located at 30 Franklin Road in downtown Roanoke.
News from the Storefront at blogs.roanoke.com/rtblogs/storefront/
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n Pizza Hut goes by "The Hut" in some of its marketing.
n Staycations are on the rise.
