When bad news prevails throughout the economy, it's sometimes hard to find sectors that are thriving. The one I did find was the thrift store sector which encompasses those business that sell second-hand goods, sell items on consignment and even sell gently-used high-end, brand name clothing. I'm happy to see this sector thrive for a number of reasons:
1) It reduces waste by having more people recycle their unwanted clothing, and curbs rampant conspicuous consumption
2) Often donations and their subsequent sale of unwanted clothing helps support charities such as Goodwill and Salvation Army to provide important social programs in the community
3) More people start to realize that they can buy almost any type of item at far less than retail prices
4) It reduces the temptation to adopt a 'keeping up with the Jones' mentality
5) Greater adoption of buying used items, starts to change the stigma associated with thrift and second-hand stores
So, for me, there is a silver lining to the dark cloud sitting ominously over us.
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