Before You Toss Those Clothes

By Tive Ijoko

Be honest…what do you do with the clothes you don’t wear anymore?

Do they sit in the back of your closet for years? Do you throw them away? Maybe you bag them up and drop them off at Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

These are all common options for donating your clothes, but did you know some of your clothes could actually make you money?

That’s where the concept of a consignment  store comes into play.. In most cases, the consignment store will pay you after the item sells, and where Buffalo Exchange located at 4119 Magazine Street in New Orleans can provide an attractive incentive: -making money on your clothing. 

But this doesn’t just have to be a brick and mortar. There’s also online consignment shops such as depop, The RealReal, Vinted, or even Facebook Marketplace, which provide the seller with an opportunity to sell pre-owned items—like clothing, accessories, or furniture. You send your items to the platform, they handle the sales process, and you receive a percentage of the final sale price. In the upcoming newsletter we will review other alternatives to consignment stores.

I recently explored the New Orleans Buffalo Exchange. The company has over 40 locations within the United States and provides an excellent option for conscious consumers who want to do more than donate to a thrift store. My aim? Learn more about how it all works, and a helpful team member, Manager - Denise Lyons was kind enough to walk me through the process.

As soon as I walked in, the store had a fun, energetic vibe. Natural light poured in through the large front windows, people were flicking through used items, others were selling them, and the staff greeted everyone with a smile. If you’re planning to sell, the first thing you’ll do is scan the QR code to join the buying queue. If there’s a wait, no worries grab a seat or do what most people do…shop while you wait!

Here’s how it works. Bring in your gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories. The buying team carefully looks through your items to see what fits their customers’ current style and needs. If they decide to purchase your items, you’ll receive an offer right then and there. You can choose 25% of the selling price in cash or 50% in store credit. So whether you’re looking to make a little extra money or trade your old style for a new one, it’s a win either way.

One thing I learned during my visit is that Buffalo Exchange isn’t actually a consignment shop, it’s a resale or buy-sell-trade store.

So what’s the difference?

With a resell store, they buy your accepted items immediately and pay you on the spot.

With a consignment shop, the store sells your items for you, and you don’t get paid until someone buys them. 

Pretty cool, right?

But this is about more than just making a few extra dollars. Every time someone buys a secondhand shirt instead of a brand-new one, that’s one less item headed to a landfill, and one less new item that has to be manufactured. It may seem like a small choice, but those small choices add up.

Buying and selling secondhand keeps clothes in circulation longer, reduces waste, saves resources, and gives someone else the chance to love something you no longer wear.

So the next time you’re cleaning out your closet, don’t be so quick to throw everything in a donation bag, or worse, the trash. You might have a little extra cash hanging in your closet, and at the same time, you’ll be doing something good for the planet.

Now that’s fashion with a purpose! Look for additional articles spotlighting consignment shops that are brick and mortar locations in New Orleans, or online markets.

To Contact: Buffalo Exchange

Address: 4119 Magazine Street

Telephone Number: (504) 891-7443

For hours visit:https://share.google/3SUhxe5tccCV 

Footnote: The Value of Circular Fashion

An interesting perspective has emerged through our conversations with businesses that embrace sustainability, such as Buffalo Exchange. Our work continually demonstrates the value of businesses that incorporate sustainable practices into their operations.

Consignment stores and clothing exchange models play a significant role in supporting a circular economy. Rather than allowing garments to be discarded after a single owner, these businesses extend the life of clothing by reintroducing it to consumers multiple times. In many cases, an item may go through two, three, or even four ownership cycles before it reaches the end of its useful life.

Each time a garment is resold or exchanged, it reduces the demand for new clothing production, conserves natural resources, and helps keep textiles out of landfills. This simple yet impactful business model illustrates how sustainability can be integrated into everyday commerce, proving that extending the life of existing products is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste and protect the environment