Featured Business
Second Edition Resale Shop
by Virginia Bruce

Bargain prices for high-quality merchandise is part of the appeal for shoppers who love Second Edition. Supporting the Cedar Mill Community Library is the other big reason, along with customers' desire to re-use and recycle as part of their commitment to sustainable living.

The non-profit Cedar Mill Community Library was founded by local residents in 1976. To help support the library financially, a rummage sale "fondly known as M.E.S.S." (Miscellaneous Etcetera Super Sale)—was organized and held annually in the library parking lot.

So many donations were coming in all year for the M.E.S.S. that some of the volunteers wondered if they could support an established shop. When the lease expired on the old hardware/variety store, which originally occupied part of the library building, library space expanded from 5,000 to 16,000 square feet. The group went to the library Board of Directors with their idea. The Board agreed to share some space and gave a little seed money to get the resale shop started. It was a good decision.

Library Director Peter Leonard says, "Second Edition is a key part of the library's funding. Unlike other libraries in our county that receive supplemental city funding, Cedar Mill relies on private fund raising. Second Edition is the largest component of our supplemental funding. Shop sales are just about equal to our total expenditures for books and library materials. In a very real way the shop turns donated clothing and housewares into library items for all of our community to use."

Augusta Kent, Nancy Mitchell , Gwen Ohlson, and Gladys Brunken sort and price items as they come in. Some items are stored away for seasonal display, while others go straight into the shop.

The shop is located at the east end of the same building as the library. Shop hours have expanded quite a lot since those early days, to accommodate shoppers' busy lives. It's open every day: Monday 12-6, Tuesday 10-7:30,Wednesday-Friday 10-6, Saturday 10-4:30, and Sunday 12-4:30.

Nancy Paysinger is the full-time paid Manager, and Susan Still is the part-time Shop Assistant. Cory Bacher and Zoee Garza work one or two shifts a week as supervisors when Nancy and Susan are not there.

Volunteers staff the shop and carry on the very important work of sorting and pricing the donated items. Nancy says, "Volunteers shine shoes, wash linens, iron clothing, polish silver, test toys, put together jigsaw puzzles, ring up purchases, restock merchandise, vacuum, and dozens of other jobs. Most of the 80 volunteers work a three-hour shift once a week, but many work two or three shifts a week, while others put in numerous hours at home on special projects, like pricing jewelry or children' clothing." Marcia Clark, for example, comes in every couple of weeks and picks up all the donated belts. She takes them home, cleans and prices them and brings them back.

Mary Beth Wells works as a cashier, and is also the shop's "doll doctor," cleaning and repairing dolls. She has become very knowledgeable about collectible dolls during her tenure in the shop.

Kevin Kelley, the library's Volunteer Coordinator, works closely with Paysinger to interview and select volunteers, matching their interests and goals with the needs of the enterprise. She says, "We seek qualified volunteers, including teens, who are able to make a six-month commitment for positions as cashiers or donation processor/pricer. We also have a program for teens who are able to make at least a three month commitment for the summer." They provide references for teen job applications, and college and scholarship applications.

When a volunteer is selected to work at Second Edition, they receive a few days of training. During that period, staff and other volunteers help figure out what work they might be suited for. Cashiering, for example, takes an ability to concentrate while many interruptions and distractions are occurring. Not everyone likes that or can do it well.

The back room is almost always busy with several volunteers processing donated items. They received some guidance from a group of local organizing experts to make the most of the space, so there would be room to sort and keep things to bring out when the season is right.

Gladys Brunken looks up the value of brand-name clothing so pricing is accurate.

As to donations, they say, "We greatly appreciate donations of clean, gently used, like-new, or actual new items. Since the shop's floor space is approximately 800 square feet, we are limited in what we can accept. We hope that donors will understand that our experience in what sells dictates which items will be allowed to occupy valuable floor space. Please refer to the library's website library.cedarmill.org/second-edition, for a listing of items we can accept, or pick up a copy at the shop. Due to allergies of customers and volunteers alike, we also ask that donations be free of pet hair."

Donations are accepted during regular business hours, and weekday donations are extra welcome as that is when the most volunteer staff is available. Donations receipts are available.

They don't have facilities to clean items or wash clothes, so they appreciate getting only donations in good condition. "Walker Garbage donates their service of one container-load a week. If we have to discard more than that, it uses up our resources," Nancy mentions.

Surplus donations are picked up by Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul and other organizations.

The selectivity of what is put out for sale in the shop is what keeps customers coming back. "The mission of the shop is to raise money for the library," says Kelley. So careful selection and good merchandising techniques make a difference.

Theme sales are one way to keep good donations circulating out of the large storage areas. They recently completed an India-themed sale. A Vintage sale will be coming up soon, and then comes Valentine's Day.

Having adequate storage space has been critical for the shop's success. The library recently purchased a large, secure structure that sits adjacent to the shop. Previously, Nancy had to haul things back and forth from a rented storage unit.

The rate of donations stays fairly steady all year, although they were swamped just before the end of 2011 with people looking for tax deductions. "Many people who would not normally shop resale have discovered great deals at Second Edition as a result of the recession," says Nancy. "Sales to this type of customer have helped us to increase our sales across the board."

New volunteer René straightens some jeans on the rack. Good organization makes this a pleasant place to shop.

Women's clothing is the shop's best selling category, with housewares and home décor coming in a close second. Shoes do well, and dressy clothing in particular is popular. The library had a "dress-up day" during the holiday season, and about half of the people in the room were wearing something they had found at the shop. Fancy designer clothes sell for a fraction of their original price, and have usually only been worn a few times.

They are always looking for donations of furniture in good condition. A sofa recently sold the day it was put out. Small appliances (clean please), dishes and cookware are also popular. Local organizing expert Beth Giles says, "I often send people and their things there.  I find that people will donate things to places they believe in.  It makes it easier to part with things, knowing that not only will their valued possessions be going to someone who can use it, but that this great organization will also be helped by it."

Most of the items that are deemed salable are either stored away for their season, or put directly out in the shop. Occasionally, something comes in that is likely to do better online, in an auction site or on Craigslist. They have several volunteers who help with that, but unlike Goodwill, it's not an important part of their income.

Items are added to the St. Patrick's and Nautical theme collections as they come in

Twice a year, they have a major clearance sale to make room for the next season's clothing. Nancy explains, "We start with 25% off everything in the store, and move through 50%, 75%, and end with a bag sale.  Then we restock with all new merchandise for the reopening day. Customers love it!"

A Management Committee meets bi-monthly to help guide policies and solve problems. Six volunteers with long experience in the shop join Peter Leonard, executive director, Paul Sander, library board member, Nancy Paysinger, shop manager, and Susan Still, shop assistant. This group also puts on a volunteer brunch every year for the Second Edition workers. "They were instrumental in setting policy for the shop in the early days," Paysinger mentions.

The other major event of the year is the late-fall Fashion Show. This is a chance to show off a selection of the best items in the shop, raise some money, and thank some of the most dedicated customers and donors. This last year, they made over $2000 in ticket sales, and over $500 in the hour after the show when the modeled outfits were on sale at the shop. It can be a mad dash across the street from the Methodist Church when customers compete for a favorite item!

Jan Cox, emcee, Nancy Paysinger, shop manager, Susan Still, shop assistant, Mary Packer, long time volunteer, at the Fashion Show last year.

For the last fiscal year, the shop netted over $175,000 for the Library Association's annual operating budget, with gross sales of $279,777. The shop pays its share of building expenses (utilities, janitorial services, rent) based on its area, and fees for credit-card processing. The other major expense is staff.

They have considered locating another shop near the new Bethany branch of the library, but it's not financially feasible at this time.

Advertising in the Cedar Mill News and the Oak Hills Oracle, and a coupon in the Chinook Book helps bring new customers in and old customers back to the shop. They also encourage people to sign up for the library's e-newsletter (library.cedarmill.org/news-events/newsletter.html) to find out about sales, theme events and other specials.

Second Edition accepts cash, checks and credit/debit cards. It is located at 12505 NW Cornell at the east end of the library building. There's plenty of parking in front of the shop and in the overflow lot up the hill. More information about hours, needed donations, volunteer opportunities and more is on their website at library.cedarmill.org/second-edition, or call 503-644-6395.

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