Secondhand shopping surges as consumers look to stretch their dollars in the Triangle

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the cost of living continues to rise, many consumers say their paychecks aren't stretching as far. When it comes to buying clothes, more shoppers are skipping the mall and turning to secondhand options to save money.

Inside Baddies Closet Boutique in Durham, owner Scar Ordonez sorts through racks and offers personal styling to customers looking for affordable fashion.

"Prices, as you can see, start at $12 for a brand-new item," she said.

Ordonez says she's seen more people coming in specifically to find deals.

"People want to look more professional but don't want to go to the mall and spend $300," she said.

Experts say many Americans are feeling their buying power shrink as wages fail to keep pace with inflation. Prices have risen 4.3% over the last year, while wages have increased by 3.4%.

Dr. Gerald Cohen, chief economist at the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC-Chapel Hill, says consumers haven't forgotten the sticker shock of the pandemic years. Because of that, many are watching their budgets closely and looking for ways to save.

"The rise in spending at thrift stores is indicative that people are being a bit more careful," Cohen said.

That careful mindset is what brought Jamie Roebeck to a Goodwill store in Brier Creek.

"Two weeks ago, I found a nice sterling silver here as a silver plate," Roebeck said. "It was like, wow, a thousand dollars' worth of silver sitting there, and you pay 30 bucks for it."

From clothing to household goods and even the occasional hidden treasure, shoppers say thrifting helps their dollars go further.

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