By Branden Elmore
Whether you’re a student making
your own income while having to pay
for books or a parent providing on a
budget, A Second Closet has hidden
treasures for all. When it comes time
to clean out your closet and refill it with
your favorite name brands this retail
store has more than second-hand! This
store Is not your average thrift store,
yet it is not your average retail store
either.
So what exactly is A Second Closet?
Located in Elmwood Crossing shop
ping center on Hope Mills Road, has
redefined the term second-hand. A
step above thrift stores, Second Closet
brings in certain name brands by pay
ing cash for clothes and accessories
from people that bring items in from
home. The difference between the
store and consignment stores is that
you receive your cash in hand that day!
The locally owned company has been
recycling fashion for a little over a year
now when its original location started in
Sanford, NC in July, 2011. Since then
the store has relocated itself to the
Hope Mills location and recently a new
location on South Raeford Road in the
Westgate Plaza.
“Hope Mills needed a place like this to
come and get the community involved
and provide a great place to get these
pricey name-brands,” said Casie Dowd,
the Hope Mills location’s store man
ager.
The centrally located store stands out
from the other shops on the strip with
its ultra-modern decor.
“The owner’s and management team
are all young and vibrant and the style
of the store matches and depicts a little
piece of everyone who works here. We
hire and train all of our employees on
the basics of style, they get to dress
the mannequins and set up displays
which we take serious because it dif
ferentiates us from thrift stores,” Dowd
said.
The store is
a very clean,
well-kept envi
ronment. With
all of the color
assortments
arranged for
and each section separated for easy
finding you are left with that “new-to-
you” feeling.
“We cut out the middle man by having
our employees cypher through items to
find the best quality clothing and build
our inventory. Each thing you find has
been already picked and inspected and
made ready to wear,” said Dowd.
In each store there is a section for both
men and women along with shoes,
handbags, formal attire, and business
^ear.
Whether
you are
looking
for at
tire for a
cocktail
party or
just a day
at the
park, this
store has
it}
The store
offers
employ
ment opportunities to high-school and
college students within the community.
At the Hope Mills location the assistant
manager, Megan Slade, is a senior in
high school. Slade has worked for the
company for a year when they opened
in Hope Mills in December 2011. “I
enjoy working with a company that
enables us to have input as they grow.
Working here has given me a sense
of what I want to do at a young age.
There are people I go to school with
who don’t know what they want to go to
college for. This company has helped
me plan for the career I want while giv
ing me experience,” said Slade.
All of the company’s employees seem
to be very happy and content in what
they do. The store’s management team
tries to assist students with educational
and personal goals outside of work.
One of the Raeford Road employees
Lauren Farrer, a student at Fayetteville
State University, has never been on a
plane and had plans to travel while in
college.
‘Towards the end of October Lauren
will go to Texas with the owners and
open up a location there where she will
assist Megan with training," said Dowd.
Within their mission statement their
goal is 1o create jobs, provide employ
ment in areas where it is needed, and
become a competitive employer in the
community. The company also strives
to treat all employees fairly and cel
ebrate their success.”
“I enjoy the environment here, it feels
like home and everyone I work with
or that comes along makes me feel
like they’re family, said Slade “I can’t
see myself working anywhere else for
my first Job.” It is safe to say that the
success of a small business is in the
words of the employees. With noth
ing but good things to say about the
company it seems as if the employees
and customers are very happy with the
standards A Second Closet has set tor
second-hand stores.
All photos by April Warren,
FSU Alumni 12’
for A Second Closet