RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Flipping fashion is a simple concept. When you clean out your closet, bag up the old clothes, and you could cash in. And the same goes for furniture. So, ABC11 went around Wake County to see how it works, and as we head into the holidays; it might be worth a try.
Inside Mode Consignment, a high-end clothing boutique in Raleigh, there is something you never know – unless you’re a regular here.
Owner Lauren Elmore says new customers often ask, “This is resale? This is consignment?”
Yes, the store is full of used clothes. And the customers here have an appetite for luxury labels minus the expensive price tags.
This is becoming like, this is becoming a lot of people’s side hustle.
– Mac McGroden, business owner
Think Rodeo Drive or Fifth Avenue, but the items here are much cheaper.
“Recycling. Reuse. Circular economy,” Elmore said. “We’re seeing a lot of different terms floating around out there for what we do. But really, we have customers that come in, they bring their consignment, and then they shop. So, it really, truly is a recycle experience. It’s a lot of fun.”
The concept is what’s old is new again. Sell what you hate and buy what you love. It can be quite the side hustle for people trying to navigate economic uncertainty.
From almost new to vintage finds, there is something for everyone.
Mac McGroden started her small business online using Poshmark and eBay to push her products.
“I genuinely love clothing, and I love vintage clothing, but I didn’t know how it would work. I kind of just … the path just opened up as I was walking down,” McGroden remembered.
Her success led her to open her own space at Cheshire Cat Gallery in the Village District.
“And so, I’m seeing a lot of younger kids in their 20s who have started by doing the flea markets or opening up booths here. Or doing online and having a lot of success also with social media, so yeah, I mean, this is becoming like, this is becoming a lot of people’s side hustle,” she said.
It’s a growing community of resellers, consigners, and buyers creating their own economy by flipping fashion.
Elmore now has two stores, in Raleigh and Durham. For more than a dozen years, she’s watched her business grow.
Some of her clients are looking for a deal on high-end luxury, and others are hoping to collect a small check by selling their goodies.
“We’ve seen a lot of change in our customers and our consignors. We’ve been increasingly getting in higher-end, more luxury items, which is great. Our customer traffic has increased. People are really looking to buy secondhand now,” Elmore said.
Andrea often comes to buy and sell. She offloads items that could collect dust in her closet and finds items she loves.
“I’ve been a customer here since 2014. I know I’ve had my Poshmark since 2013. So, you know, I’ve been in the resale market for over 10 years,” she said.
Turning a hobby into a business has been time-consuming for McGroden, but the thrill of the hunt keeps the doors open.
Here are a few tips if you want to try your hand at secondhand shopping or consigning.
- Try it yourself. The marketplace is vast, and there are a variety of platforms to make it easy.
- If you prefer to let someone else do the heavy lifting, there are several consignment stores in our area. Do your research to find the right fit for your inventory. Try to find things in your home that are gently used.
- And finally, be patient. Sometimes it takes time to sell your items, and it could take several visits to find the perfect purchase.
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