I find it very important to be involved in the community because the community is what keeps my business alive. It’s important to be involved with the Town, in local events, in any charitable organizations that contribute to this town.

I would say its a very fun business to get into. It’s definitely a low capital startup that requires very little resources to get going. Start lean and price accordingly.

Yeah it was literally called Thrift Truck. It was a 1987 Ford econoline ambulance that I converted into a mobile thrift store that toured Jersey City NJ. This was a good way to test the business, find out how operations were run. It made me realize how good of an industry it was to be in and how fun the business was to run.

Biggest challenges were definitely keeping our head above water during COVID. Keeping customers interested and making them feel safe to come out and shop. This was crucial to keeping my business afloat.

My ideal thrift shop would be one where you come in and feel excited and welcomed and inspired. So I worked with a couple local artists Katherine Tolve and Kate Muller who created artwork displayed throughout the store.

I went back to get my MBA to be more accredited in sustainability as it’s one of my biggest passions. The degree in Sustainable Business required us to assess annual reports of coprorations (especially their sustainabiilty reports), evaluate product lifecycles, review case studies and come up with our business plans.

While I was getting my MBA I got an internship with 5 Acre Farms where I learned about marketing, product distribution, merchandising – stuff like that – and I kind of learned the ins and outs of starting your own business from the ground up. I also was pursuing the Thrift Truck while I was getting my MBA as a way to understand how to run a business.

How does our trade program work? You can come in anytime, no appointment needed and trade clothes with us on the spot and we’ll offer you store credit in exchange for clothing. This is different from the consignment model because we give you credit upfront and you have something to spend that day. This is a lot more appealing to cusotmers and a lot easier for me to manage too!

Every employee has their own individual goal with a timeline. On a weekly basis, we meet as a team to go over our goals and offer each other feedback, tips, and suggestions. My employees go above and beyond the basic role of a sales associate in a store by offering creative solutions, suggestions, and following through with their goals that they set. I also have a team goal for sales and if the store grows they get a monthly bonus for every 5% the store grows.

Environmentalism is my greatest passion. I want to apply that to everything in my life, not just personally but in my career. That is why I’ve chosen to gear my business towards a sustainable approach.

Both of our muralists are local. The inside of the store was done by Katherine Tolve. I wanted it to incorporate a lot of color and give off a 70s vibe and a vintage feel that corresponds with Fringe. For the outside mural, I wanted to bring the sunshine into our store. So I thought a sunburst would be perfect for the window. This was done by Kate Muller, another local muralist.

I have found that many retail shops do not cater to plus sized individuals and therefore I’ve made an effort to carry sizes up to XXXL. I believe everyone deserves to experience thrifting no matter what size they are.

Yes, we have a small men’s section as well as two racks of both men’s & women’s graphic tees.

We are looking more for styles vs. brands. However we do automatically take in brands such as Anthropology, Madewell, Everlane, Free People, Urban Outfitters, L.L. Bean, and Patagonia.