The Thrift Store - Bend down Boutique a Foe or a Friend

Author: Janet Odidi Obuotor

Written for echoblog-ger.blogspot.com

What is a Thrift Store? A Thrift Store is a shop selling second-hand clothes and household goods, typically to raise funds for a Church or charity."

In developed countries, the objective of a thrift shop typically is to raise money for charities via the not-for-profit group, examples are the Salvation Army and the Goodwill shops.

However, this is not the case in Nigeria. A thrift store in Africa's oil-rich and most populous country, Nigeria, often referred to as 'Bend Down Boutique' or 'Bend Down Select' or 'Second-Hand Boutique.'' Is not charity inclined.

These goods, are not discounted but sold to the general public for profit to cater to the sellers' daily needs and for the sustainability of the business. 

In this part of the world, 'Bend Down Boutique' are a thriving business. These second-hand items are spattered everywhere for all to see, on the market floor, on the market walls, in shops, on windows of the shops and in the open. They are displayed to attract buyers and they do have a teeming number of consumers.

The items are not gotten for free either. It is business all the way. The goods are paid for by the wholesalers in Nigeria before they are exported into the country from overseas or border countries like the Benin Republic. The charges incurred in transporting the items is also borne by these sellers.

The items arrive in large bags called 'Bales.' Bales are compressed and securely wrapped up goods in a bag.

What started as a small, not too significant venture, has evolved over the years into a booming trade. 

With the advent of second-hand clothings, some Nigerians say that they now have a succour to fall on, in terms of what to wear. Some of these fairly used clothings are usually in good shape with enough life left to be useful to a new owner.

The influx and the patronage of these commodities is an index of the level of poverty in the economy. The majority of Nigerians subsist below a dollar a day. They cannot afford the cost of buying brand new clothes or household items.

In a tête-à-tête with mama Philomena who owns a 'Bend Down Boutique,'  she tells my team and I, that the business is good and her buyers cut across the social ladder. 

"I carefully select my items from the 'Bale' and sell the not so beautiful ones at a lesser price. I make good money from the first-grade ones or the beautiful ones." She says.

"The goods are of the high to the lowest grade. As you can see, some of the items still have their tags on them. A few of them have never been worn. I get my Bale from Lagos, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina. A large number of sellers go all the way to Cotonou, Benin Republic to bring them into the country." She elaborated. 

We met with a buyer, Anita, who says she came to get back to school shoes for her kids.

"This second-hand stuff is of different grades, the higher grades are expensive, they look and feel brand new or are new," said Anita. 

"Some people snub them because of a wrong perception that they are fairly used, therefore, they are not good. But that is not true. I get better quality and first-grade quality for my kids here. Good stuff, unique and not common. These shoes outlive the new ones I got previously from a supermarket." She added. 

"I can afford to buy brand new shoes but I decided to get my money's worth by coming here. I lookout for the best ones." Explained Anita.

The story is nonetheless, different for Maimunat, who says the struggle for survival gave her no choice but to patronise second-hand clothings. 

"My dear, where do I get the money to visit a big store to buy things? Things are so expensive in the country, even foodstuff is becoming difficult to afford." Said Maimunat.

"Do you know how much the dollar is to a naira? I beg! Let us buy our second-hand clothes in peace. It is by far durable and affordable. You know that the white man knows high-quality stuff." Maimunat concluded.

Two undergraduate students who came shopping also threw more light on why they feel second hands clothing are a must-have.

"Look, fine reporter, see this jeans trouser that I have on, we got it from here. It is a Levis Strauss, authentic designer. See this shirt, YSL. If you go to a 'proper' boutique they will cut your throat. These are not cheap here either but at least we can afford them. We love the quality. You need quality shoes and sandals to move around the school campus, from one lecture hall to another. We are sure you know how large campuses are, they occupy a considerable landscape, they are large men! Said one the students.

"See!" The students continued. "Better people 'dey' come to buy too, classy, sweet beautiful people. No 'bi' only poor people. He go shock you! See! Sit down small and observe." They said in a chuckle.

"Bend Down boutique 'don' evolve oooooh!" They squealed in a merry laugh.

Well, sat down to observe, we did and true to their claims. There were some brand new clothes and toys, still carrying their original tags. 

The clothes, all emitted a sort of scent. On enquiry, the sellers feedback is that; "it is the smell of the chemical used in treating the clothes before they were exported, that the chemical is a purifying agent. It gives the clothes that smell."

The goods sold cuts across fairly used toys for children, bicycles, mini trucks, motor cars, baby trolleys and carrier bags, electronics, books, underwear, shoes and clothes. 

As a team, we decided to compare the prices of some of these items with brand new ones. We placed a few calls across to some of the superstores. 

We discovered that some of these second-hand items are equally very pricey too. Especially the new ones with tags on.

In some cases the price fixed on the fairly used item is competing favourably in price with the brand new ones. An example is the big rideable children's toy cars, the bicycles, electronics like refrigerators and music stereo boxes. However, unlike the 'big' stores, fairly used items do not come with a warranty.

Furthermore, one must also take cognizant of the health implications of wearing second-hand clothes.

Hence, we spoke to a nurse, an expert in hygiene, Salome Ishaku Ogbole, on the health implications of choosing to wear clothes from the 'bend down boutiques.'

"These clothes can affect one's health negatively if not properly handled." She said

"Most of the items sold can harbour bacteria as they have not been properly washed and disinfected. Situations there are, whereby a person gets infected with lice, parasitic organisms, candidiasis or fungal infections from wearing second-hand clothes and undergarments."

"These disease causative agents are very resistant and can survive extreme conditions for a long time, staying dormant and waiting for a host to replicate and cause mayhem."

"Therefore, If you must buy used items or clothings, please make sure that you get rid of potentially very harmful disease-causing microorganisms by the use of strong antiseptics."

"Also, use a hot iron as well to iron the clothes properly before use. Every item must be thoroughly disinfected." She asserted.

Dear readers are the Bend Down Boutiques a friend or a foe? Let us get your feedback at echoblog-ger.blogspot.com.

Whatever option you choose, always remember that health is wealth. 

So, go about it responsibly.

Echo cares!