Virtually every sector of the American economy is struggling to make it through the current recession, and our nation’s retailers are leading the way. From electronics to automobiles, it seems like there just isn’t a bright spot in the retail sector to be found. Well, except for one…
Retailers that specialize in used merchandise are doing just fine at the moment. With most American families having to stretch their budgets to the breaking point just to survive, many of them are turning to thrift stores to buy the things they need instead of buying new. From clothes to tools to furniture, most everything one truly needs can be found at bargain prices, and second-hand stores in many locations are having a hard time keeping their sales floors stocked with merchandise.
Surprisingly, low-tech entertainment products such as “previously read” books and magazines are in high demand, most likely because of their ultra-low price tags. Typically selling from 10 cents to $1.00 each, these items are apparently proving to be one of the best values around while entertainment dollars are hard to come by.
As to be expected, second-hand clothes are also in very high demand. For many families the days of wearing an article of clothing once or twice and then replacing it with something new are over, hence the problem many thrift stores are having procuring new clothing items to sell.
The massive “Stimulus Plan” heaved upon the backs of the American taxpayers has done virtually nothing to stimulate anything other than the bank accounts of the politicians who voted for it and their cronies, but at least one little sliver of our economy is thriving. Could this be considered progress?