Independent shops along Clark Street in Andersonville, on Chicago's North Side. Photo: Zagalejo / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Christin Rose studied psychology in college, but clothes were always the bigger draw. She worked a string of retail jobs and shopped thrift stores for years to stretch her budget, and somewhere along the way she noticed that the best pieces she owned came from resale racks rather than mall stores.
After college she bounced between jobs without finding one that fit. Her mother suggested they open a resale shop together in Chicago. They did, and the business is now Savvy Seconds & 1sts, which has moved into its third location at 1748 W. Lawrence Ave.
Old and new on the same rack
Rose likes mixing eras and trends, pairing a newer item with an older one, and she enjoys hunting for the one piece that pulls an outfit together. She spends much of her time scouring the city for stock, and some regulars stop in every week to see what she has found.
The shop is small and personal. Rose often helps customers work out what suits them, and she has made friends among the women who shop there.
Pricing as a principle
Rose is blunt about prices at other resale shops, which she considers too high in many cases. She treats fair pricing as a requirement, not a perk, and the store’s pitch is quality clothing that doesn’t cost much.
Marketing has been her hardest problem. She has paid for print and web advertising, but she believes word of mouth and the experience inside the store still do the most work. Getting new local shoppers through the door the first time is the challenge.
Like many owners who run a shop largely on their own, she also feels the limits of being one person. Growing the business takes time she doesn’t always have. Even so, she has said the daily ups and downs of owning a retail store are a big part of why she likes it.
Linh Tran-Whitaker covers Argyle Street, dining and community life.
