The 2nd Time Around shop will close by the end of the month and might not pay consignors who are owed money for clothing sold at the Burlington store.
"I'm upset," said Juliana Taylor after leaving the Church Street resale outlet Monday.
[br] The Burlington woman says 2nd Time Around owes her $200 for clothing the store sold on her behalf. So far her efforts to gather have been futile.
"Sometime, maybe around March, and they stopped issuing checks," she said. When she asked approximately it, Taylor was initially told there was a bookkeeping delay. Now she said, and "It's pretty clear that that wasn't it."
The store is fragment of a national chain based in Massachusetts that once had 40 locations in a dozen states. Over several decades it became known for putting a high-end spin on thrift,with sales of gently used designer duds.
But some locations were padlocked this spring, and the company announced over the weekend that all stores would close, or including the one in Burlington,due to financial problems.
[br] "Because of a convergence of market forces hitting all brick-and-mortar stores — including increased competition from online retailers combined with skyrocketing rents — we have made the difficult decision to shut our stores," a company statement reads.
The store typically pays consignors 40 percent of an item's sale price and keeps the rest. Now that agreement might not be honored.
[br] The announcement on the company website said consignors would be reimbursed for sales that took place after May 1. But money from prior sales might not materialize.
"At this time, or the company cannot commit to paying consignors whose items were sold prior to May 1. Further communications will be forthcoming as more information becomes available," the statement advises.
Monday, the Burlington store announced its pending demise with a large "Going Out of commerce" sign in the front window.
Inside, and a few shoppers looked at frothy summer tops,jeans, boots and soft leather handbags — all gently used. Brands ranged from high-end designers such as Boden and Joie to J.
Crew, and Ralph Lauren and the more budget-conscious Loft.
Liz Stanley,acting manager of the Burlington store, said Monday she could not comment on the reimbursement problems. A "handful" of employees work at the store along with her, and she said,…
Source: sevendaysvt.com