Windsor’s growing clothing resale and consignment market

 

A number of people are buying and reselling clothes, either as a side job or a career- as reflected by the number of consignment stores in the city.

However, reselling clothes can be a risky business, especially for those doing it independently. Investments are required to buy items and resale is not guaranteed. This is amplified by the fact the seller must find somebody willing to buy an item for a higher price than it was purchased for, so profit can be made. The advent of consignment stores, of which there are currently at least 14 in Windsor, has given resellers an easier way to sell their items. The seller, depending on the consignment store, can either sell their piece to the store directly, or have the store list the item and sell it for them, for a fee.

LowendCo is a consignment store that has been operating in Windsor since Oct. 2018. Clothes are accepted from Windsorites who bring them in and then either list them for sale or buy them directly. There is a 15 per cent commission fee for clothes that are sold in the store, but it costs nothing to list items. The store has an official Instagram account where followers can see what has been posted recently. 

Ian Lufitha, 22, is a co-owner of the store and said there are specific brands and items they look out for due to the high likelihood of sale.

“The brands and items that sell the quickest are Yeezys, original Jordan 1 colourways, Supreme, and vintage Nike and Champion,” said Lufitha. “Although there is always some risk involved, some items are significantly safer bets than others.”

Jedd Cruz, also 22, is another co-owner of the store, and said he and his partners make profit from almost every item sold.

“The profit is occasionally lost on vintage items, but never the hyped items,” said Cruz. “Although some items stay in the store for a while, all it takes is one person to show up and take interest for something to sell, so luck is a factor. ”

Graham Tende, 18, an architecture student at St. Clair College, has been purchasing and reselling clothes since 2018. He said the process is complicated, but is still profitable and is made easier with consignment stores.

“There is always some investment needed and it can sometimes be very expensive,” said Tende. “You need to do research to ensure the item you buy will be profitable. However, as long as you keep on trying, know what to go for and have patience, anybody can be a reseller. I often take pieces to stores like LowendCo, as well, as I find they gain much more exposure and sell much quicker there. In terms of a range of profit, I would say I make about $1500 every three months. It’s not enough to be a primary source of income, but the side money is really nice.”

Johnnathan Pai, 20, a business marketing student at St. Clair College, has also been reselling clothes since 2018, and says the resale industry is growing larger everyday.

“It’s a $2 billion dollar worldwide industry. It’s still growing, so it really should be taken seriously,” said Pai. “I think consignment stores will only continue to make it grow larger. They make the entire process much easier and more accessible for the average person, which is always a goal businesses strive for, especially for the resale market, which can be very confusing and difficult for newcomers. ”

Despite the clothing resale business having some negatives and inconveniences, everyone involved agreed there is often a large potential for profit, and that the continued presence of consignment stores in Windsor will only contribute to that potential.