Booming Sustainable Shopping Trend Helps Low-Income Communities in Oswego County

OSWEGO, N.Y. – Inflation and global economic instability have driven up prices, pushing people to the secondhand market, allowing many to save money, adopt a new fashion trend, and contribute to the sustainability effort.

Oswego County thrift stores have seen a share of that secondhand market boom. Both Second Chances Oswego and Thrifty Shopper have seen a steady increase in store traffic post-pandemic. 

“We’ve seen steady growth in store traffic over the past few years, which suggests more people are visiting our stores and that secondhand shopping has become more mainstream.” Rescue Mission Director of Retail Marketing Diana Hysack said.

Nationally, the secondhand market grew from a value of $28 billion in 2019 to $49 billion in 2024 and shows no signs of slowing down. By 2029, the market is expected to reach $74 billion, according to Forbes.

Hysack said affordability is a major driver behind the increase, but she also pointed to growing awareness of sustainability and the environmental impact of fast fashion—especially among younger shoppers.

The affordability problem is especially important locally. According to Census Reporter data the overall poverty rate in Oswego County is 16.5%, higher than the national average, with an even greater share—23%—of residents under 18 living below the poverty line.

At Second Chances Oswego, 154 W. 7th St., Director Alicia Friedrich has seen firsthand the growth. She said store traffic tripled between 2022 and 2023, rising from 3,191 to 9,412 visitors. She began in 2022, and the store saw about 10 shoppers per day; today, that number is closer to 60.

Friedrich also noted that traffic at Second Chances tends to follow seasonal patterns. Around the start of the school year, high school students, accompanied by their parents, come in looking for clothing and essentials. The store also sees an uptick in college students at the beginning and end of semesters, as they either pick up items for dorms and apartments in the fall or donate furniture and belongings before leaving campus in the spring. 

According to Capital One, one-third of thrift stores in the U.S. are non-profits, and Second Chances is among them, functioning as a free store that relies on volunteers and donations of clothing, furniture and other essentials from individuals and businesses.

Friedrich said Second Chances originally focused on helping men transitioning out of incarceration or homelessness by providing necessities. Over time, the organization expanded to serve a wider population, including single mothers, college students, and others in need. 

“What started as something for those who were homeless expanded to include single moms,” Friedrich said. “We see many single mothers who work full-time but still can’t afford clothing for their children. They’ll bring clothes in and take items home—it’s all free. We’ve also started to see college students, especially around move-in time and at the end of the semester, when they’re either dropping off furniture or coming in to pick some up.” 

One of the needs that Second Chances has aimed at is drug addiction. “In 2022, there were a couple of shoppers who would come in high on Molly at least once a week. One day they’d be sober, the next day high again, often weeping,” Friedrich said. “Over time, they’d just come in and hang out. Now they’ve been sober for, I think, two years. They’ve come so far, and they attribute some of their recovery to Second Chances—it was the one place they felt they weren’t judged.”

Thrifty Shopper, 57 E. Bridge St., like Second Chances, also operates as a nonprofit. Run by the Rescue Mission, 100% of its profits are reinvested into programs that support low-income and homeless individuals across Central New York.

A Harris poll conducted in 2025 showed that 63% of Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) have bought from a secondhand retailer, outperforming the general public by 16%.

“There have been so many cases where I’ve found vintage things, from the early 2000s, 90s—you find really good stuff from there, and it’s cheap too. It also doesn’t contribute to the fast fashion dilemma because you are buying secondhand,” SUNY Oswego student Gabriella Eckstein said. 

In the same Harris poll, 79% of Gen Z Americans agree that vintage clothing is trendy, reinforcing the growing appeal of secondhand fashion among younger shoppers. 

As costs rise, thrift shopping is becoming a long-term shift, helping people save money while supporting sustainability and community needs.