In Bulgarian cities, the abundance of second-hand clothing stores is striking. Sometimes there may be several of them in one block, and all of them are in demand. Yes, if you look at the picture from the outside, it is obvious: poor Bulgaria is wearing things after Europe. But... is this humiliating? The position of people who fundamentally buy only new things evokes understanding: disgust towards things that carry someone else’s energy is understandable. But as they say: “never say never!”
From someone else's shoulder
People tend to give others cheaply what is not worth throwing away. It is common, for example, to buy used cars. Yes, Bulgaria is also rolling out cars after Europe. In the previous article we discussed this topic in detail. Here is second-hand furniture - in Bulgaria this segment is also represented in cities. Private advertisement sites are active, where you can buy anything quickly and cheaply. This article will focus on clothing and accessories stores.
For visitors, visiting such stores may seem shameful at first. Those who look into a second-hand store and meet acquaintances there become embarrassed and even pretend that they did not notice each other. However, for the local population and those who have lived for a long time, for the most part there is nothing reprehensible in such shopping. So, I propose to consider in detail: what are these Bulgarian “second-hand” stores? I will try to explain, at the same time revealing the state of affairs, motives and prerequisites.
The range is impressive
Thirst for style
Firstly, it should be noted that in Bulgaria the range of clothing and accessories in regular stores is extremely scarce and is not distinguished by quality and style. Most often - either trivial waste Chinese consumer goods, or, with pretense of fashion, Turkish cheap goods at an inflated price (taking into account the cost of renting a “boutique” retail space). The style of clothing offered is quite ridiculous. Fashion concepts are very strange and correspond to the five to seven year lag behind Turkish trends. Therefore, there is a chance of buying something fashionable, beautiful and of high quality either on a trip abroad, or when visiting such trading platforms with discounted goods from Europe and America.
Secondly, the name “second use” (second use) should not be taken literally - often in such stores you can find a completely new product. They are so popular that one can say that the majority of Bulgarians dress there. Moreover, the stores, in fact, differ from each other.
Tattered assortment
Boutiques and salons claiming authority, offering branded and designer items. The cost of such items, sometimes even unworn, with store tags, can be several times lower than the original price. And with some minimal traces of use - generally for ridiculous money.
Chains of stores where trade turnover is set to a logically structured flow. In one network, they first charge the product at a fairly high price, hoping to sell the best at a high price. Then, every week, they reduce the price, thereby ensuring the sale of the product as it is marked down. Often people wait for the item they like to be discounted, and (if a competitor doesn’t snatch it up), they buy for a couple of levs something that was originally priced at tens. In the last days before the update, the network is selling off unsold stock for mere hundred dollars, thus finding buyers even for rags.
The people themselves determine how much they are willing to pay for this or that thing.
Business Features
Another chain rotates product between its stores - shuffling areas. And, if an item has not found a buyer in one area within a week, it is greedily snatched up by a buyer on the other side of the city. Some reduce prices daily, counting on the flow - by the end of the cycle before the update, such stores are almost empty.
The listed types of stores treat goods responsibly and treat customers with respect. They buy things packed in huge vacuum bales by weight abroad and spend time, money and effort on preparation, displaying the goods individually, in a clean, ironed form.
Before the opening of such stores, on the day when “novo zarezhdane” (new delivery) is announced, there is a queue of hunters for the best goods. Most often - representatives of private shops from the suburbs. They grab the most liquid items and take them away in bags for resale. Then, during the day, a stream of townspeople slowly pours in - just run your eye along the rows, see if your eye catches your eye, or exclaims: “Oh! My!"
For the sake of objectivity, we must admit: there are also shabby stores-dumps for the poor (crumpled, dirty, smelling of a moldy basement and covered in the cheapest deodorant clothes). It’s disgusting to even be in such ruins. But such “garbage dumps” also have their customers - Bulgaria is full of people who don’t want to spend money on clothes at all... The range is great.
Motivation
Among my friends there are those who fly to Milan for shopping. There are also those who regularly monitor decent second-hand stores and look no less stylish and fashionable. The image of a thrift store is firmly rooted in the concepts of Soviet people as the only accessible source of updating a fashionable wardrobe during a period of total shortage. Therefore, our people often easily master this segment and successfully take advantage of its advantages.
Among my compatriots I know, there are even those who successfully run a business, buying new branded items in droves for stotinki and sending them to relatives in the republics of the former Union for resale. In Bulgaria, going to second-hand stores is not a sign of austerity or poverty, it is not shameful. It’s just that in other stores, with rare exceptions, a person who is accustomed to wearing good-quality, high-quality and not “incubator” things has nothing to buy.
Spin the reel!
You can easily grab from the presented variety very good leather, denim and sports items, bags, belts and gloves, knitwear, jackets and coats - for nominal money. For example, having looked into such a store for the first time, the author acquired a completely new headdress - the legendary “Stetson”, paying 3 leva (instead of the $65 indicated for the same model in the company’s catalog). And it’s not even about the financial component, although this motivation is significant. The main deficit in Bulgaria is the lack of entertainment. Therefore, going to such stores is a kind of hunt. Attraction. Excitement and anticipation of novelty are the main motive.
And, yet... when thinking about the predominant position of second-hand stores over traditional clothing stores, one way or another, you wonder: either “second-hand stores” flourished against the backdrop of the infantilism of ordinary stores, or ordinary stores have become doomed to vegetate , due to the frantic business activity of second-hand stores and the total reluctance of the Bulgarian consumer to spend extra money...