NEW THRIFT SHOP: Chic 2 Charity Thrift Shop opened up in the former Family Dollar Store on Rt. 138 in Stoughton in the Citizens Bank Plaza, adjacent to the STOYAC Community Field.
Prices are dirt cheap, and there are offerings for men, women and children.
All handbags, 2 piece suits, dresses, coats and blazers are $5. All shoes, sneakers, sandals, and boots are $4. All jeans, pants, skirts, shorts, activewear and tops are $3. All children's clothing, most earrings and costume jewelry are $2. And, all toddler and infant clothing, belts, scarves, gloves, wallets and select costume jewelry are $1.
Owner Janelle Polomba also operates a consignment shop in Foxborough. What doesn't sell there is sent to her thrift shops in Brockton (at the Westgate Mall Plaza) and in Stoughton.
Polumba also donates to a large number of charities, mostly in the Foxborough area.
She says, "We donate $100 per full bin of clothing given to us by our consignors each month to a variety of 501c3 non profits. In our first four months of operation this has added up to $6,229 dollars we given to local charities in addition to allowing women living in area domestic violence shelters to shop at our charity store free of charge."
She continued, "In addition to clothing donated by our customers, we also pay 50 cents per pound in our Foxborough location directly to individuals and fundraising organizations to help keep our charity store stocked with quality merchandise."
Polomba spoke with About Town Tuesday and explained, "Three years ago, I was working in different thrift stores. I decided I could make a living opening up my own store. I explored making it a nonprofit, but the paperwork was enormous. So, we donate the money directly to 501C3's that are already doing a good job, like local food pantries. We select 12 charities a year to support, from the communities we serve."
Asked why she chose Stoughton, Polomba said that "We had opened in Brockton, and Stoughton was the next town over. It also seemed like there was a need there for low priced quality clothing. We plan on opening our next store in Attleboro, next to the new Market Basket there."
When asked where the clothes come from, Janelle responded, "About half of the clothing is donated by our 6,000 plus consignors and about half is purchased from our customers at our Foxboro location and at fundraising events. None of the clothing sold in our stores comes from outdoor donation bins like other “thift” stores."
She added, "At our express Cash 4 Clothes Consignment Drop Off we ask each consignor in the event that any clothing is rejected for consignment due to age, brand name, season or condition “Would you like to pick up those items or donate them to our charity store?” Over 75% of our consignors choose to donate their unaccepted items. The clothing we purchase at our store and at fundraising events is weighed on a scale and you are paid instantly 50 cents per pound. This direct purchasing helps give us quality inventory not found at typical thrift stores relying on outdoor bins."
Polomba said that the Consignment Shop in Foxborough sells good as new designer-type clothing.
"All the clothes we can't sell in Foxborough, or the product we pay 50 cents per pound for, is sold in the Brockton and Stoughton stores. We have a large amount of inventory currently, but if we can sell it all, we'll consider buying clothing by the pound in Brockton and Stoughton, too."
The Mansfield resident, whose husband Dwayne helps her out, is planning on even more expansion.
"We currently have about 50 employees. By the beginning of 2014, I'd expect we will double that. We are moving Foxborough's location to a 24,000 square feet space where Ocean State Job Lot is in Foxborough. The need for inexpensive clothing in this difficult financial time, is driving rapid growth for us."
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