SHELBURNE FALLS — Rethreads, a 38-year-old new and used clothing consignment shop, has a new owner and a new lease on life.
Erin McCloud of Buckland began her first day as owner this week, working with Leisha Eaton, who has owned and run the shop for the past 18 years. McCloud has been a close friend of Eaton’s daughter since age 8, “so we’re like family,” McCloud said. “This will be a comfortable transition; I can just ask (Leisha) anything.”
When announcing that the store was for sale, Mark and Leisha Eaton had said the store would close in January if no buyers came forward. They hoped they would find a buyer so the store would continue operating.
Thirty years ago, McCloud’s mother ran a kids clothing store on Bridge Street called Casual Kids, directly across the street from Rethreads, so McCloud’s buying and running Rethreads is like a homecoming of a sorts.
Besides following in her mother’s footsteps, McCloud also bought the business to be working closer to her two young children. Before, she said, she was working and commuting to Connecticut, working in customer service for a power company.
Another coincidence: Rethreads was started in 1978 by a group of young mothers, who, like McCloud, also wanted to work close to home and to their children.
“I plan to run the consignment portion of the business the same,” McCloud said. “Any changes will be behind-the-scenes. But nothing dramatic; it’s done well this long.”
Over the 38 years, the store has generated about 4,000 consigners who bring in items and receive half the purchase price for any of their items that sell. If the items don’t sell after four weeks, it goes half-price. If it still doesn’t sell, it is either returned to the consigner or donated to charity.
Would-be consigners must make appointments to bring in clothing, which should be clean and in good condition. Items the store doesn’t accept can either go back to the consigner or be donated. Those wanting to make a consignment appointment can do so either by phone or through Facebook Messenger.
McCloud says she would like to expand the kids’ clothing section, and plans to do more purchasing and marketing online.
The store is at 14 Bridge St. and the phone number is: 413-625-9759. On Facebook, search for “Shelburne Falls Rethreads.”
For now the hours are the same, except for weekday lunch breaks, so that McCloud can get her child from preschool. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from noon to 1 p.m.) and open Sunday noon to 4 p.m.