BRUNSWICK, Ohio — The holiday season is just getting started for Renee Garofalo, who’s owned and operated Pete and Polly Children’s Resale Shop in Brunswick since 2018.

What You Need To Know

  • More than 40% of Americans identify inflation as their top financial concern

  • Inflation is affecting the cost of groceries, rent and even clothing, with apparel prices growing by 5% since 2019

  • Several resale store employees said they’re fighting to stay cost-effective in a high-price economy

“We've been going through our holiday Christmas stuff really fast each holiday since we've moved over here,” she said. “All of it is actually gone really fast. We're bringing it in and putting it out as fast as we can.”

The store carries used toys, clothing, baby gear and more for a price within most families’ budgets. Inflation remains the top financial concern for Americans, who are expressing concerns about the rising cost of groceries, rent and even clothes. The price of apparel has grown by 5% over the last five years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Stastics, which is leading many consumers to shop for items secondhand.

Garofalo said she is aiming to ease the burden of inflation for consumers.

“It's extremely tight times right now, and to be able to come in and get a coat at a fraction of the price that you would pay retail,” Garofalo said. “Especially with holidays coming up, parents need a little extra cash for those fun things that they want to get, this is where you want to shop.”

And she isn’t alone in these efforts.

“We're definitely aware of inflation and try not to reflect the prices in our store just because we know how it is and how the prices everywhere are going up,” Rebekah Dean said.

Dean is the manager of Avalon Exchange, a resale fashion store in Cleveland.

“So these prices could originally be like $20 and then we just mark it down to five,” she said.

She said they’re aiming to provide quality items while maintaining profits.

“In some ways, our prices have gone up for like the higher quality pieces, but I think that it's only because we are trying to have like a better selection and not necessarily with inflation," she said.

Dean said they always keeps the customer in mind.

“We come up with the prices ourselves, like us and our buyers,” she said. “So we are definitely aware of that and try to not go too high, just based off the prices of everything else.”

Regardless of what the future holds, Garofalo said her motto will never change.

“Yes, we do run a retail business, we have brick and mortar, [and] we have bills to pay,” she said. “But I do strive very hard to keep those prices where the, you know, community will benefit."