National Thrift Shop Day is one of our favorite nontraditional holidays of the year. Whether you could plan an entire vacation around thrift store shopping or simply love finding a great deal, there are plenty of local resale shops worth exploring right here in our own backyard.
Thrift and resale shopping offer benefits for shoppers, local communities, and the environment. You can find unique pieces at a fraction of their original retail price, give clothing a second life, and keep gently used items in circulation longer.
With back to school season right around the corner, local news host Robin recently visited Clothes Mentor Rochester to learn more about the store, meet owner Rachel, and have some fun putting together back to school outfits.
From Shopper to Clothes Mentor Owner
For Rachel, becoming the owner of Clothes Mentor Rochester was a bit of a full circle moment.
Rachel and her husband took over the business in 2024 after a good friend approached them about the opportunity. Before becoming an owner, Rachel was already a Clothes Mentor shopper.
In fact, the store was located directly across the street from her job as a nurse, making it an easy stop during her lunch break.
As Rachel explained during the news segment, what started as a place she enjoyed shopping eventually became a new business venture and what she calls a “passion project.”
Today, Rachel and her husband are bringing their love of resale to the Rochester community and helping local shoppers discover the fun of secondhand fashion.
How Does Clothes Mentor Work?
One of the things Robin explored during her visit was how Clothes Mentor differs from a traditional consignment shop.
Clothes Mentor is a resale store, meaning the store purchases eligible items outright rather than waiting for them to sell before paying the seller.
When you bring in your gently used clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories, the Clothes Mentor team evaluates the items based on factors such as brand, condition, style, and current demand. For accepted items, sellers can choose between cash or store credit.
Clothes Mentor also has a franchise-wide system that helps stores determine pricing based on the brands and items being evaluated.
For shoppers, that means new-to-you inventory is constantly coming through the door. For sellers, it means the items sitting unworn in your closet could potentially become cash or store credit.
Back to School Looks, Resale Style
Since the news story aired just in time for back to school season, Robin and Rachel decided to have a little fun with the racks.
The challenge was simple: put together one outfit for a teacher and another for a high school student.
And somehow, they managed to do it in about 10 minutes!
A Teacher Look
For the teacher outfit, Robin found pieces that combined style and practicality.
The look included ankle booties, a handbag, a fun necklace, earrings, and a cozy sweater. Since teachers can spend much of their day on their feet, comfortable shoes are an especially practical choice. And with classroom temperatures being unpredictable, a sweater is always a smart addition.
Robin also highlighted the range of sizes available at Clothes Mentor. The brand carries women's clothing in sizes 0 through 26, with stores sometimes receiving additional sizes depending on their inventory.
The result was a polished, comfortable look that could easily transition from the classroom to after-school plans.
A High School Look
For the high school outfit, Robin went for something a little more eclectic.
She paired a great pair of jeans with a pretty blouse and added a pair of comfortable sneakers for a casual, everyday look. Gold bracelets and simple earrings added the finishing touches.
The combination shows just how much personality you can bring to a secondhand outfit. Mixing brands, styles, accessories, and textures can create a look that feels completely unique.
And that is part of the fun of resale shopping: you never know what you are going to find.
Why Shop Secondhand?
National Thrift Shop Day is a great opportunity to celebrate everything that makes resale shopping special.
It is more than just finding a great deal.
Shopping secondhand allows you to save money, discover unique pieces, and give clothing another life. Instead of something sitting unworn in the back of a closet or eventually ending up in a landfill, resale gives it the opportunity to become someone else's favorite piece.
Selling your own clothing is another part of the resale cycle. Items you no longer wear can become cash or store credit, while someone else gets the chance to enjoy them.
It is a simple way to refresh your wardrobe while making a more mindful choice.
Ready for Back to School?
Whether you are shopping for a teacher, a high school student, or simply looking to refresh your wardrobe for the transition into fall, Clothes Mentor Rochester is a great place to start.
As Robin's visit showed, it only takes a few minutes to find pieces that can come together to create a complete outfit. And because resale inventory is constantly changing, every shopping trip can bring a new discovery.
So this National Thrift Shop Day, consider shopping secondhand, supporting a local business, and seeing what treasures you can find at Clothes Mentor Rochester.
And a special thank you to Robin for stopping by Clothes Mentor Rochester and to Rachel and her team for sharing their story and showing viewers just how much fun resale shopping can be.
Here’s to a stylish start to the school year!
