User:Ashebell/Second Time Around Store

Second Time Around is a chain of contemporary, designer, consignment clothing and furniture stores. There are 23 locations, ranging from Boston to Chicago, carrying high-end labels such as Gucci, Prada, Chanel and Louis Vuitton. The store's tagline is, "Resale Goes Upscale."

History

Second Time Around opened its doors in 1973 in Newton Highlands, Massachusetts. This store is owned and operated by Dottie Casler, who still presides behind the counter to this day.

In 1990, Casler’s eldest son, Jeff Casler, opened the second store on Newbury Street in Boston. One year later, he opened the company’s third store, located in Harvard Square, Cambridge. Following the success of his first two stores, Jeff began to expand the company. He opened stores in other Boston neighborhoods as well as in various suburbs outside of the city, including Needham and Chestnut Hill. During this phase of the expansion, a second store was also opened on Newbury Street, where patrons all over the city knew that they could find Jeff’s chocolate lab, Oliver, seated out front.

Second Time Around then began its migration to the major destinations along the east coast. Locations were opened in popular vacation spots, college towns and up-and-coming retail destinations, including Portland, Burlington, Greenwich and Providence. Currently, the company is growing outside of the New England sphere and plans to continue its growth at a steady pace.

Consignment Overview

Second Time Around uses a consignment system for selling their merchandise, based on appointment only. Prospective sellers can bring in merchandise that adheres to the store’s guidelines, and when an item is sold, the consigner receives 40% of the sale. The store guidelines stipulate that the items brought in must be in-season designer merchandise, no older than two years, in clean and perfect condition, with a three-piece minimum per appointment. The store has a 90-day consignment period, after which the seller may pick up any unsold items. The store also allows consigners to mail in their items in place of an in-person appointment.

Second Time Around also started having seasonal promotions where the consigner can earn bonuses in addition to the 40% of the sale. Frequent sellers can also earn money for referring their friends to be consigners at the store.

Blog

Second Time Around’s “fashioniSTA blog” is one of the social media outlets employed by the store. Updated on average once a week, this blog includes articles on fashion and beauty. Blog article topics include a how-to on mixing prints, spotlights on designers, celebrity fashion, and beauty trends. The store also has an ongoing relationship with Alex McCord, a member of the Real Housewives of New York City reality show. She acts as Director of Creative Operations for the store, and often plays a role in Second Time Around’s blog posts, as well as their events.

While there is one blog for the entire franchise, each individual store has their own social media tools that they use to highlight merchandise, upcoming specials, and store events.

Newsworthy

Second Time Around has been the subject of several magazine articles highlighting the benefits of consignment shopping in a tough economy. Consignment shopping has also been lauded as being more environmentally friendly than buying new retail.

Store Locations

Connecticut

Greenwich

6 Greenwich Ave.

Westport

135 Post Road East

Washington, DC

Georgetown

3289 M Street

Illinois

Chicago

823 W.Armitage

Massachusetts

Boston

176 Newbury Street

219 Newbury Street

324 Newbury Street

82 Charles Street

Burlington

Burlington Mall - 75 Middlesex Turnpike

Chestnut Hill

Atrium Mall - 300 Boylston Street, 3rd Floor

Harvard Square (Cambridge)

8 Eliot Street

Needham

937 Great Plain Avenue

Newton

1169 Walnut Street

Wellesley

574 Washington Street

Mashpee

10 Joy Street

Maine

Portland

28 Exchange Street

New Hampshire

Portsmouth

19 Congress Street

New York

SoHo NYC

262 Mott Street

111 Thompson Street

Upper East Side

1040 Lexington Avenue

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

1728 Chestnut Street

Rhode Island

Providence

294 Thayer Street

Vermont

Burlington

89 Church Street

References