If consumers switch from luxury, designer, high-quality goods to discount-store brands because of all the economic woes they feel right now…what will that mean to incoming goods in consignment and resale shops 12 or 24 months from now? Love to hear your opinion as to whether this will reflect on the merchandise available for you to resell. Have you made plans towards keeping your quality high? Are you concentrating on expanding the range of your consignors/ suppliers and what does that involve? What do YOU think?
Here’s the article that got me mulling: From The NY Times, 9-7-08
Faith Popcorn, the trend-spotter, personifies the trends she’s spotting these days.
Ms. Popcorn, who on Monday will release a study on “the culture of the recession,” said last week that economic conditions had changed her own behavior.
Interviewed by phone and e-mail while she was in Croatia on a business trip, Ms. Popcorn said…when it comes to clothes shopping, Ms. Popcorn, the mother of two daughters, ages 4 and 10, said she caters “to my T.J. Maxx addiction more often.”
“Three times last week to buy the kids back-to school clothes,” she added. “No more Jacadi or Bon Nuit for me. Target or T.J.’s just fine.”
Read more about Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve, The New York Times, and what the heck, Croatia too.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] There’s a pent up demand for a bit of bling, a bit of pampering, a bit of luxury. BUT: they don’t want to/can’t spend money frivolously. Why not a gently-used crystal bowl or a previously-loved cashmere sweater or even a pre-played toy? From your place? Are you concentrating on expanding the range of your consignors/ suppliers? […]
[…] Whither Incoming? […]