Every day we hear that the supply chain for goods is currently jammed in a hopeless bottleneck. Raw materials cannot arrive to factories to be made into new products and, even when they can, shipping lanes are blocked due to labor shortages and lack of delivery infrastructure. Hence, a consequence of the Covid-19 economic recovery, without an end in sight. We are told to start our holiday shopping early if we hope to have gifts delivered by the big day.
However, this current bottleneck could instead prove to be a boon to both credit card bills and the environment. Holiday shoppers can move from the primary retail market, purchasing new, and move to the secondary retail market, buying pre-owned.
I recently perused the aisle of Goodwill with my tween daughter. She was thrilled with her clothing finds and I was elated to leave with a $4 salad spinner and $5 mid-century modern mottled ceramic brown jug.
Every day, at both The Green Mission Inc. and our sister company, Probity Appraisal Group, we produce appraisals for clients donating property to charity. Donations range from pre-owned interior doors, appliances, cabinetry, and fixtures, to fine and decorative art, furnishings, antiques, and collectibles. This property then enters the secondary retail market.
Savvy shoppers can dip into online retailers, reuse retail centers, and auction sales to find beautiful gifts or useful home renovation materials for a fraction of the price. The price savings are often surpassed by the superior quality of vintage pieces. Had I purchased the above-mentioned vase from a retailer, it could have been upwards of $250. For home renovation projects, kitchen cabinetry that retailed originally for $50,000, can be purchased for around $10,000, in fantastic condition.
Most importantly, when purchasing pre-owned, we fight against the depletion of scarce environmental resources. Our hopes are that we can move towards this paradigm shift, while enjoying some beautifully designed and affordable pieces while concurrently supporting nonprofits and other reuse retailers. We can start our world on a better trajectory towards sustainability.
