A second look at used goods.

By Andrea K. Walker BALTIMOREAuJill Hettinger, retired from a private practice in social work, is often teased by friends because she prefers rummaging through the racks at thrift shops to shopping somewhere pricier like a department store. AoItAAEs not like you donAAEt have money,Ao she said they always tell her. But because of the weak economy more people are discovering the secret Hettinger, raised by a frugal father who lived through the Depression, has known for years. The resale business, which includes thrift and consignment shops, is booming as consumers, who have lost their jobs or watched the values of their investment portfolio or homes plummet, look for ways to pinch pennies. Even those people whose jobs havenAAEt been hurt have become more price conscious. The Wise Penny thrift shop in the Govans neighborhood in Baltimore recently renovated its store and said the improvements couldnAAEt come at a better time. Year-over-year sales nearly tripled in June at the shop, where the profits go to programs run by the Junior League of Baltimore. They hope the more than $2 million in renovations, which made the store more open and brighter, and the entrance more visible, will attract even more shoppers. AoPeople are looking to save money and they feel like here theyAAEre getting a deal,Ao said Stephanie Bartal, president of the Junior League of Baltimore. While major retailers are downsizing and closing stores, the number of resale and thrift shops has increased 5% per year for the past five years, according to the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops. AoThis is an industry that always thrives during a slow economy,Ao said Adele R. Meyer, executive director of the organization. AoWhen the economy slows down, people have to look for ways to save money.Ao The Winmark Corp., which owns several resale concepts including PlatoAAEs Closet and Play It Again Sports, reported a 28% sales increase for the first quarter ended June 27. Sales at the 23 stores run by Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake are up 9% this year. The back-to-school crowd at the Goodwill stores, which usually doesnAAEt pick up until August, started coming after the Fourth of July, said Doug Hiob, senior vice president of retail operations for Goodwill of the Chesapeake. Hiob said the stores are attracting people from all walks of lifeAurich and poor, young and old. People are not only looking for deals, but some buy things and resell to other places for a higher price to make some extra cash. AoItAAEs been a good year for sales and a good year for donations,Ao Hiob said. Jeffrey Harden has owned a PlatoAAEs Closet consignment store in Towson for eight years and said last year was the best ever with a 12% increase in sales. He said this year is trending about the same. The store targets teenagers with trendy clothes from places such as Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch and Forever 21. People can sell and buy clothes at the store. Harden said even teenagers, who tend to have large disposable incomes, are hurting from the economy. Their parents are giving them less money, and they have to compete with unemployed adults for jobs. AoThe economy has definitely influenced business,Ao Harden said. AoWeAAEre definitely busier than we were when the economy was much stronger on both sides of the business. There are more people who are looking for ways for extra cash so theyAAEre bringing in clothes to sell. ThatAAEs what went up first. As we got more inventory, sales followed.Ao Murphy said that the entire chain is seeing growth in new customers, which is good for future business because many people will continue shopping the stores even after the economy improves. On a recent Wednesday around lunchtime, Hettinger and others streamed in and out of The Wise Penny. The store takes Aogently usedAo items but sometimes boutiques and other stores will donate new items they couldnAAEt sell. Nordstrom dress shirts for men were going for $10 at the store. Never-worn Steve Madden sandals were priced around $30, while Revlon lipstick was on sale for $3 a tube. Hettinger tried on two pairs of pants, while her husband looked at shirts for himself. She said she has been shopping at resale stores for as long as she can remember and that itAAEs just common sense to pay less for clothes. Bill Howard, 46 and a small business owner, said he probably buys about 30% of his clothes from thrift stores. AoYou canAAEt beat that,Ao he said holding up an $8 pair of LandAAEs End jeans at Wise Penny. AoI do it because itAAEs a way to catch a good bargain,Ao he said. AoWhy pay more if you donAAEt have to?Ao LATWP News Servic

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