Chicago’s Seconddhand Story See More Business in the Wake of Trump’s Trade War Eve As they Face Rising Costs – ryan

Chicago’s Seconddhand Shops Say they’re Seeing a Surge in Sales as Rising Prices Fueled by Tariffs Push Some Away From Buying New Clothes and Accessories.

For some, buying secondhand has long been a budget-freely alternative. Resale Storys and Websites have seen business steadily grown the past few years. But President Donald Trump’s Trade War Appears to Have Accelered A Shift by Some People to Seeking Seconddhand Goods.

Shop Owners Say They Hope to See Business Keep Growing As they have Face Cost Increas on Supplies like Gift Bags and Tisssue Paper.

Richard Biasi, Who Ouns Richard’s Fabulous Finds in Humboldt Park, Said Sales Are Up Roughly 20% Over This Time Last Year. The Vintage Menswear Shop Offers Clothing Including SUITS from the 1970s and 1980s, Hats, Ties and Pocket Squares, As Well As Home Decor.

Biasi Said His Customers Are Seeking Quality Items that are offen Hard to Find at Affordable Prices, Like A 1980s Tweed at HIS STORE WILL GO FOR BETWEEN $ 125 and $ 200.

“I think a lot of People are more conscious now and don’t want to buy new Because is not made made,” Biasi Said. “They’re Coming to Buy Vintage Suding ITE’s Made Better.”

From 2018 to 2024, The Seconddand Clothing Market Has Grown by 117%, Acciting to Capital One. In 2023, The Clothing Resale Market GREW 15 Times As Fast as the General Retail Clomating Sector, with Online Resale Project to Grow by 17% A Year Through 2028.

“Some Younger People Love the Fact That Its Not New Cecuse Its Better for the Environment,” Biasi Said. “It ‘almost more chic to Not Buy New.”

The Old Stigma of Wearing Used Clothing Doesn’t SEEM to be anssue These Days, he Said, especilly Among Younger People.

Yet, Despite Encouraaging Sales, he’s unure what to expect Over the Coming Months. Higher Tariffs Might, for Instance, SEE People Cut Back Entirely on Clothes-Buying, and the Levies Make It Hard for Biasi to Navigate His Supply Costs.

He recently stocked up on supplys like tissue Paper, bags and shipping boxes. Becuses Those Items cam from china, he said he paid nearly 20% more than he had before.

“That was a hard check to write,” he said. “But i’d Rather have it. We have had such margins, as many of us small businesses do, every penny adds up. There are a lot of small businesses that are going to suffer big-time. Difference to a lot of People. ”

The Status of the Higher Tariffs Could Change Again. On May 29, The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Allowed the President to Temporary Continue the Tariffs Under the Emergency Powers Law while and Appeals a Trade Court’s Decision That He Overstepped His Authority When Imposing Certain Levies.

‘Price is Much, Much Less’

At lost eras in rogers Park, Charlotte Walters, Co-Awner of the Store That Vintage Clo inving as Well As Costum and Prop Rentals, Said More People in Looking for Clothes.

“People are really not happy at all with the retail market,” Walters Said. “One of the reasons we’re selling so Much is People are worked about Money. They don’t want to go Buy New Stuff.”

She Said Shoppers have shows interest in vintage Items Made with Quality Fabrics Like Wool and Leather that they might not be able to buy new.

Momo Burns, Manager of the North Side Store, Said Sales are modestly up. But she is isn’t sura what tariffs might with the costumes of its busines, which has suppliers in canada and abroad.

“We’ve Heard from Our Suppliers and Costumers, and They Said to Brace for Price Increas,” Burns Said. “I Feel a Little Concerned.”

For Terrie Gary, who was shopping at lost eras, cutting back on her cloting budget helps Cover Rising Costs Elsewhere.

“Clothing Prices, Food Prices, They’re Up Everyone,” The Rogers Park Resident Said. “It ‘s so expensive to eat healthy, and i try to eat healthy. So have to kind of the Find the balance on everything.”

When Juan Martinez, Who Lives in Evanston, Wanted a Leather Jacket, he decided to buy.

“I’ll be coming more in the Future,” he Said of Lost Eras. “The Items are good Quality, and the price is much mess.”

Lost Eras Offers Shirts and Blouses for $ 5 to $ 10 and Pants priced at $ 20 or Less.

Erica Whitman, who Designs Costums for a Theater Production, Said Keeping Costs Down Has Been a Concern for the Show, which has a shoestring budget. She was at lost eras to find sunglasses for a character to wear onstage.

“Tariffs Really Weren’t on Our Mind Back in March we are starting to rehears,” Whitman Said. “WE DON’T WANT TO BE BUYING STUFF ON AMAZON. There are so many cool, unique THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE THAT YOU WAUDED PAY A LOT FOR ON THE INTERNET.”

Also, she Said: “It is better for the Environment. It”s Economic, and Is It Fun.”

Consignment interest up

Joanne nusbaum, who owr my system closet in edgebrook, worries about the futures despi higher sales and growing interest from People who want to sell ittems on consignment – for what they have 40% of the Sale price, for the mexes or fees. The Sale Price for Things that sell for more than $ 300.

“Mary of My Customers Have Lost Their Jobs,” She Said. “That’s the Going to Affect US.”

The Consignment and Resale Store SELLS Women’s Clothing and Accessories and Children’s Clothing.

In Business for More than 40 Years, Nusbaum Said She’s Seen People Scale Back before.

During the great recession that started in 2007, Nusbaum Said Her Regulars cut back on spending, some having lost their jobs, genely concerts abut the economy.

That has heated nerous about the futures. Banking Giants Like JP Morgan Are PREDICTING Higher odds of a recession this year.

“In 2008, Everyone Said, ‘Oh, Business Must Be Booming,’ But My Customers (Were) Affected,” she Said.

This time, Nusbaum is counting on her store’s online presence to help sales.

“The People That Have Never Shopped Resale before, Hopphully this Time they’re more educated about the benefits, and they’ll start shopping resale,” she said.

With Rising Costs for Items Like Bags, Tisssue Paper and Other Packing Materials, Nusbaum Has Started to Reconsider Offers to Shoppers IT’S BECOME PRICEY.

“I think everybody sees that the prices are going up already,” She Said.

Alejandra Lopez, Who Ouns Mcshane’s Exchange in Lincoln Park, Said Her Upscale Women’s Consignment Has Seen More Traffic and A Noticeable Rise in People Bringing Items to Sell.

“Recessions are always really good for secondhand and consignment businesses,” Said Lopez, who lives in logan and tok over the shop in 2020.

Beside Saving Money, Mary Shoppers SEE Environmental Concerns as a reasson to shop at Seconddand Stores. FAST FASHION RETAILERS LIKE TEMU AND THE NOW-shuttered forever 21 have been ciped for encouraaging a ishowaway Culture with it cheap, trendy clothing that up ends tossed out being work and ending up in landfills.

“Interest in alternatives to Fast Fashion Has Increas Over the Years, Especialy With Younger Generations,” Lopez Said. “Its Also Significantly Cheaper to Buy Used than it is at Other Stores.”

Nilüfer Lily Kaya Preferences to Stay Away from Fast Fashion. IT”S WHY SHE MOSTLY SHOPS AT SOURES LIKE MCSHANE’s Exchange.

“We have been constructed to fast, it is just a small drop in the puddle of what is Making the Environmental Crisis so Much Worsse,” She Said. “What I can do in my tiny way to combohat is something something i’m really try to do.”

Becuses she sticks with resale storys, Kaya Said she isn’t too Concerned with Rising Prices for New Clothing.

“I don’t think on a personal level i’m going to be affected by it too,” she said. “But i think it is indicative of farter trends that we do not doing well Economics. SO I’m worked on a grander-tyrian scale.”

Leslee nissen Said resale and consignment hunting has Become the only way she shops. It was Her First Time Vistting Mcshane’s. She estimates that the recent Change has saved her norreds of dollars on Clothes Compared to what She’d spend at traditional retailers.

“You get so much more value with consignment,” she said while picking out a new top. “I JUST DON’T WANT TO PAY FULL PRICE ANYMORE.”