Clothing for cash: New stores open in Sudbury buying, selling used clothing

Jennifer Giroux owns Sudbury resale store called Jen's Closet. January 23, 2025 (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV Northern Ontario) (Lyndsay Aelick)

Jennifer Giroux has been a thrifter all her life and spent many years working at Kids Closet, a Sudbury resale shop.

She said it has always been her dream to open up her own store.

“I truly believe that men and women need a place to shop and a cheap place to shop. So, I opened up Jen’s closet and it’s been rocking Sudbury,” Giroux said.

When she first opened at the beginning of January, she was accepting clothing, footwear and accessories all day every day, but now she’s had to switch to an appointment-based system.

How does it work?

“We do ask that nothing comes in in garbage bags. I’m all about saving the environment and the landfills and I truly believe the clothing has been just filling it up,” she said.

“So we ask that … it comes in a recyclable bag, box or bin.”

She has certified buyers who will go through the clothing and pick and choose what to take.

“Right now, I am looking for only spring and summer,” Giroux said.

“Then, we will change all of our seasons again in July.”

Customers are given cash on the spot for items selected by staff, unlike a consignment store which pay customers after an item is sold.

“I give back 30 to 40% of what I’m going to sell it for in the store. And all of my clothing. I have priced from 50 to 70% off all retail pricing.”

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A second resale shop for kids, Once Upon a Child, is a franchise that opened in Sudbury in August.

It has also seen great success.

Once Upon a Child will accept clothing from all seasons all year long, kids toys, books, and equipment like strollers and play pens.

“We’re in an age where everything is about reuse and recycle and this is just another form of reusing and recycling,” franchisee Don Hickey said.

“Gently used clothes are well received in the community.”

He said the store sells items for 30-40 per cent of the full retail value and the person bringing in the item receives 30 per cent of that.

“We aren’t able to give a lot for each item, but because we don’t offer a lot for it, it’s very reasonable and very well priced for you to come and purchase.”

Hickey said oftentimes when customers receive cash they end up turning around and purchasing items from the store with that money.

Meantime, Giroux said she has big plans for Jen’s Closet and is looking to turn the concept into a franchise opportunity as well.

Her hope is that within the next three years there will also be stores in Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins.