Thrift store says ‘yes’ to dressing people in need
A new consignment store will sell high-end clothing while helping vulnerable women in the St. Catharines community.
Gale Polsky and Connie Bucknall opened You Wear It Well earlier this month as a “postretirement” endeavour.
The boutique at the Midtown Plaza on Welland Avenue buys lightly-used, name brand clothing and sells them. Forty per cent of the profit goes to the consignor, and 60 per cent goes to the store, per the store’s website.
Clothing that can’t be sold will be donated to Bethlehem Place or Community Care of St. Catharines with the owner’s permission, said Bucknall. The organizations provide various services including assistance for housing, food and clothing.
Bucknall said her and Polsky are committed to helping the community after spending years working in social services. Before retirement, Bucknall spent nearly 15 years working as the executive director of Community
Care of West Niagara.
“We’re both pretty well firm believers in the work that the
organizations do to help individuals in our community who are at a little disadvantage,” she said.
In addition to the donations, the two will use the boutique to outfit vulnerable women who are in need of new clothing.
“The luxury of clothing or a new outfit isn’t always there,” Bucknall said.
She said women who don’t feel comfortable in a store setting could come in after hours, or have outfits picked out for them.
“We’re going to work with them in any way we can,” she said. “Whatever works. We’re flexible.”
Bucknall said so far they’ve had a lot of professional wear from such brands as Banana Republic, Liz Claiborne and Jones New York.
“A lot will depend on what the consignor brings in, but what we’re kind of gearing up for is professional wear.”