New second-hand clothing store sells style in downtown Zeeland

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

People walk into Clothes Junkie for the first time and can’t tell it’s a second-hand shop.

“We often hear first-time customers say, ‘Oh my gosh, this is a second-hand store!’" says owner Jacqueline Bordner. Nothing in the store looks old, not even the clothes,” she adds with a giggle.

Bordner bought the store at 141 East Main, Zeeland, when the second-hand store that used to be there went out of business. The new shop opened in May and specializes in women’s clothing ranging in style from casual to business and eveningwear.

While Bordner doesn’t sell anything on consignment, she doesn’t go out shopping for inventory, either; people bring the clothing to her, and she pays them on the spot for the items she wants. Bordner says she’s picky about what she buys—if it doesn’t have the original brand and size tags, forget it. But that hasn’t deterred sellers; sales appointments are booked into September.

“We’re finding that we have to bring in as much [inventory] as we can, because our turnover is so great,” Bordner adds. “We now have customers that shop two or three times a week because they’re afraid they’re going to miss something.”

The store always has brand names, like, Abercrombie & Fitch, Buckle, Chico’s, and Maurices, and sells sizes 0 to 18. This fall, the shop will add a line of new purses and accessories. And the price is right.

“Our most expensive thing right now is a name brand suit for about $25,” Bordner says.

Source: Jacqueline Bordner, Clothes Junkie; Ann Query, Zeeland Chamber of Commerce

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].