Vintage fans rejoice! On Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17, Buffalo Exchange will celebrate 45 years in business with a pop-up shop of fun vintage finds at all locations, excluding outlets. The resale shop sells a wide variety of styles – from current trends and everyday staples to designer – but they’re known for selling vintage, one-of-a-kind finds and today’s popular mall brands at affordable prices. Individual locations will be livening up the celebration with treats, music, free Buffalo swag and giveaways, making this a major save-the-date.
In 1974, when Kerstin Block first had the idea for a different sort of resale store, she never expected it to grow into the 48 stores in 19 states that it is today – she just followed her love of thrift shopping. “Somehow,” she says, “I came upon the idea that there must be other people who are equally addicted to this kind of shopping, but who didn’t want to sort through as much stuff.” Enter a whole new business model – a resale shop where customers could buy hand-picked treasures in one place and also sell their clothes for cash or trade on-the-spot.
Kerstin and her husband, Spencer Block, ran the business hand-in-hand. Back then, their most common price was $3.50 and they sold primarily denim, hand-woven shirts and Kork-Ease shoes out of a 400 square foot space in Tucson, Arizona. From there, the business grew organically. “People just started bringing in all the stuff that they wanted to sell and they were amazing things,” says Kerstin. To this day, the company is still based in Tucson and runs much the same, though Kerstin’s daughter, Rebecca Block, has taken Spencer’s place as Vice President.
“This company has given my life meaning,” says Kerstin. “I’m grateful that we’ve made it to 45 years and am glad to be able to share that with all of our customers. We wouldn’t be here today without them.”
Vice President Rebecca Block agrees, noting that people are the heart of Buffalo Exchange. “My parents took a lot of time and effort to make sure that they were running a business they felt good about,” she says. “It was moral; it was based on treating people well.” Perhaps that’s the reason behind the company’s many charitable initiatives, including a Tokens for Bags® program and an annual Earth Day $1 Day sale. Block notes that she’s excited to help continue this tradition for the next 45 years.
Buffalo Exchange buys, sells and trades clothing and accessories, paying out 30% in cash or 50% in trade on-the-spot. To show their appreciation to a very important part of their business – Buffalo Exchange’s sellers – the company is also giving away a $1,000 Buffalo Exchange gift card to one lucky customer. For your chance to win, just sell your clothing cleanout to Buffalo now through March 17 – good news for anyone who’s recently Marie
Event: 45th Anniversary Pop-Up Shop
Where: All Buffalo Exchange Locations!
When: Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 During Normal Business Hours
