Ah, the holidays: a time for reconnecting, recharging and…recycling? Although it’s probably not at the top of your mind during the daily festivities, sustainability doesn’t have to take a backseat during this traditionally spendy season. In fact, you can find sustainable gifts for the same price — or even less — that what you’d spend at an average retail outlet.  Read ahead for sustainable gift ideas for everyone on your list!

Indoor Herb Garden 

For the green-thumbed gourmand short on yard space, a countertop herb garden is a sustainable gift idea that keeps giving. They’ll be able to propagate fresh herbs for delish dishes indefinitely, cutting down on trips to the grocery store that’ll help save gas and cash. For those looking for a little greenery, an indoor herb garden also doubles as an ornamental plant, which can breathe some fresh air into even the tiniest apartment.

A Good Book

If you know someone who makes it their New Year’s resolution to read more books every year, help them take the first step with this thoughtful sustainable gift. Whether it’s a classic or currently climbing the bestseller list, a book is an excellent alternative to screen-based entertainment. Even better, pick up a gently used copy at your local book reseller. When they’re done reading, books can be repurposed as home decor or sold back to a local used book store!

Eco-Friendly Flatware and Food Storage 

For the meal-preppers, office lunchers and anyone else who often eats on-the-go (who doesn’t nowadays?), a set of utensils made from recycled plastic or bamboo will be much appreciated as an alternative to single-use plastics. This sustainable gift pairs perfectly with reusable sandwich bags made from materials like silicon or waterproof cloth.

Totally Cool Totes

Great for carrying everything from groceries to clothes, reusable tote bags (like these ones made of 70% recycled plastic bottles that you can pick up for just $2 at Buffalo Exchange!) are a practical sustainable gift with tons of mileage. Plus, they can even be used to house your gift in lieu of a disposable gift bag! P.S. If you purchase a Buffalo Exchange gift card in-store for $50 or more between now and December 24, you’ll get one of these bags free!

Recycled Puzzles

Keep your loved ones sharp and entertained during holiday downtime with a puzzle made from 100% recycled materials. When every piece is in its place, the puzzle can be framed as a permanent piece of art or dis-assembled and regifted — what’s a more sustainable gift than one that can be gifted again?

Secondhand Style

Now this is a sustainable gift idea that’s easy on the environment and your wallet. Whether your giftees like to wear designer duds, totally one-of-a-kind pieces or all the latest trends, shopping secondhand for the holidays cuts down on waste from new textiles and keeps existing pieces from filling landfills. For secondhand gifts, Buffalo Exchange is a one-stop shop for every aesthetic: you’ll find high-end items like Gucci bags and boots, fun accessories, vintage pieces no one else will have and many of the same styles you can currently find in the mall or a department store. Sometimes you can even find items that are brand new with tags!

A Buffalo Exchange Gift Card! 

If time is ticking to wrap up your holiday shopping, let us introduce the most convenient sustainable gift idea: a gift card to Buffalo Exchange! An excellent one-size-fits-all option, gift cards take the guesswork out of holiday shopping and give your giftees the opportunity to treat themselves to something they’ll definitely love. Plus, when you buy a Buffalo Exchange gift card worth $50 or more in-store, you could receive a free Buffalo tote (now through 12/24) Whether you buy online or in-store, a Buffalo Exchange gift card is a small present that makes a big impact.

Out of all the frights that come with Halloween season, nothing is scarier than getting closer to the big night and realizing you still don’t have a costume. If time just crept up on you, don’t fear: we’ve put together a list of fun, last-minute Halloween costumes that you can create with pieces from your own closet and a quick trip to Buffalo Exchange! 

You’ve Got: A Black Dress

You’re in luck: a little — or long — black dress is the basis for many instantly recognizable last-minute halloween costumes. Depending on your vibe, you could transform a black dress into a witch, vampire, or everyone’s favorite superhero fashion designer, Edna Mode. Just stop by Buffalo to pick up the finishing touches. Not the dress type? Swap out a frock for a black shirt and pants and you’re back in business.

You’ve Got: Western Boots

Yeehaw! With a pair of western boots, you could find your inner twang as a glam country singer or show off your true grit and go full-cowboy with jeans and a basic flannel.  For an extra wild-wild-western look, take it to outer space with an extraterrestrial cowboy costume — and don’t forget your hat!

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In my tenure as a Buffalo Exchange employee, I’ve spent many hours behind the buy counter, and I’ve seen it all: the good, the not-as-good and the totally unexpected. To those new to the world of resale fashion, the process of selling at Buffalo can feel shrouded in mystery. But fear not: here are my tips on how to get the most out of your closet cleanout and have the most successful selling trip!  

In case you’re in a hurry, here’s the TLDR for selling clothes at Buffalo: 

• Launder your items first & check for spots, rips, missing buttons, broken zippers, etc
• Bring in a variety of items (t-shirts, sweaters, shorts, jackets, pants, dresses — you name it!)
• Get familiar with your store and ask your Buyer what they’re looking for 
• Take the trade!

Coming Clean: Before Selling Clothes, Throw Them In the Laundry!

Even with the coolest, most stylish clothing, Buffalo can’t buy anything with spots, tears, rips or broken zippers — unless, of course, it’s purposely distressed denim or a vintage tee so amazing that a little spot doesn’t matter. As you sort your laundry, take a look to make sure everything you plan on selling is in the best possible condition. A little detergent (or even dish soap, if you’ve got a grease stain!) will go a long way in keeping your clothes from the dreaded “give back” stack. If needed, try your hand at mending any small rips or reattaching loose buttons. The same goes for shoes and accessories: do a double take for any loose or chipped heels, lifting soles, excessive wear or dirt. If you can clean it up, awesome. If it seems a little too worn, you may want to plan to donate it to your favorite local non-profit.

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Shopping for plus-size summer fashion at Buffalo Exchange! @caeiyn #SummerStyle #PlusSizeFashion #PlusSizeTikTok #ThriftHaul #Thrifting #Secondhand

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Just like the summer sun, Caelyn’s sense of style shines bright — watch her bring in a few things to sell and swap them out for some cute, current pieces at Buffalo Exchange Tempe!

Have a plus-sized closet cleanout of your own? Trade in your past-favorite pieces for something new-to-you at your local Buffalo! We buy ALL sizes, from 16+, and your past-favorite pieces could become stylish closet staples you’ll love. To sell, stop by your local Buffalo Exchange anytime!

Just like the weather, summer style trends are coming in hot! As the temps warm up, it looks like there’s a new trend to add to your moodboard every day. To take some of the guesswork out of what to shop for this summer, we’ve compiled a short but mighty list of summer styles to liven up your wardrobe (Spoiler alert: all of these trends can be found at your local Buffalo Exchange!). Scroll through for our top picks on what to wear this summer.

Get into the Groove-y Florals

Florals are ubiquitous year-round, and summer is no exception. Switch out your modern prints for throwback 90s-does-70s florals in bold, bright colors. Bonus points for grungy baby-doll silhouettes or tres chic suit tailoring!

Mesh-Dressed

Ah, the ultimate summer dressing dilemma: full coverage or breathability? Enjoy the best of both  worlds with semi-sheer, long-sleeved mesh shirts in your pick of patterns. When it comes to prints, we say: the bolder, the better!

Y2K All Day

This one’s for all the zillennials out there! Inspired by the years between the late nineties and early aughts, Y2K style is back with tube dresses, graphic pants and kitschy accessories that would make even Zenon jealous.

Par for the Corset 

Shapewear as everyday style has been around for a while (think compressive bike shorts styled for daily wear with tees or blazers), and the corset trend shows no sign of slowing down. Give major Bridgerton vibes with ivory satin or go punk rock with vegan leather and heavy-metal buckles!

Totally Twinning

As we’re able to reconnect irl with our bffs, coordinating outfits will be huge! Be it minimalist neutral sets, streetwear tees and cargos or Clueless-inspired plaid skirts and cropped tees, there’s a look out there perfectly tailored for your dynamic duo.

Fresh Fruit Fashion

Our last summer style trend is a sweet one: retro-inspired fruit prints! This juicy trend is perfect for summer and can easily be found in a range of styles, from pineapple-print sets to cherry embroidered dresses.

Feeling inspired to shop? Don’t fill that online cart just yet — we haven’t gotten to our favorite summer trend: shopping sustainably! When you shop secondhand at your local Buffalo Exchange, you’re playing a major role in keeping clothing out of landfills. Plus, you’ll be able to find all of these summer styles (plus more!) for a fraction of the cost. Oh, and let’s not forget that when you sell your closet cleanout at Buffalo Exchange, you can choose between cash or trade — that means that the cost of your new look could be totally covered by the things you weren’t wearing anyway! To learn more about how to sell, check out this handy post — we can’t wait to see you in our store!

In February, I stopped by my local Buffalo Exchange for a LONG overdue shopping trip. In 2021, my goal is to focus on sustainable style: clothes that I’ll treasure forever, or timeless pieces that I know I can always trade in at Buffalo Exchange. Not wanting to overdo it, I made a promise to myself that I’d only leave with items I absolutely adored. Lo and behold, I found what I was looking for almost immediately: a VERY trendy pair of leather pants! At first glance, leather pants may seem like a strange choice — how often will I wear them? However, I found that they’re remarkably versatile, and I can totally see myself rocking them from fall to spring. Scroll through for three ways to style leather pants!

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Styling leather pants from Buffalo Exchange Part 3! #SecondhandFashion #ThriftHaul

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Colorblock with primary hues for a fun, artsy spin on no-nonsense leather (bonus points for added textures like faux fur and retro-inspired vinyl!)

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Styling leather pants from Buffalo Exchange part 4! #SecondhandFashion #ThriftHaul

♬ original sound – Buffalo Exchange

Although they seem to be from totally different worlds, a racing jacket, cashmere sweater and cowboy boots are MINT to be! Finish the look with a top handle faux croc bag.

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Watch Aarian style vintage leather pants with other finds from Buffalo Exchange! #SecondhandFashion #ThriftHaul

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Take a trip to Paris without leaving your block in a French-inspired look featuring polka dots, strappy sandals and a cloud bag in a monochromatic palette. 

As you can see, these black leather pants are far from basic! If you’re feeling inspired to shop, stop by your local Buffalo Exchange today. Each store is filled with classic staples, trendy pieces and one of a kind finds you’ll love. Plus, if you’re due for a closet cleanout, you can bring in your items and leave with trade to spend on a sustainable, new-to-you wardrobe! 

Every six months, we support new local charities through our Tokens for Bags® program. Instead of giving out bags, we give customers the opportunity to donate five cents (the cost of the bag) to a charity of their choice. Our Tokens for Bags® program has raised over $893,860 for thousands of local charities since 1994, saving over 17.8 million bags from polluting the environment!

Find your local Buffalo Exchange below and check out the charities you can give back to.

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Can you feel the chill in the air? Halloween is almost here! Even though we may not be able to go door-to-door trick-or-treating or attend a public Halloween bash this year, there are still plenty of ways to party. Here are a few activities to help you get into the Halloween spirit:

• Carve pumpkins with your besties on Facetime
• Virtual haunted house tours
• Halloween movie marathon + (online) viewing party
• Visit an outdoor pumpkin patch or corn maze 
• Send Trick-or-Treat emails to your friends (and don’t forget to send along something sweet, like a gift-card for goodies)!
• Host a virtual costume party on Zoom

Now that you’ve got a few ideas for how to celebrate while staying socially-distant, scroll through for some of our favorite Halloween costumes!

Crown yourself the May Queen of Halloween in a Midsommar group costume! 

Brave Halloween night as one of our favorite fearless book characters, Coraline.

We’re off to see the wizard — and the wonderful world of Halloween costumes at Buffalo Exchange!

Cross Halloween costume shopping off your list with the Kill Bill duo.

A Mean Girls group costume? That is so fetch!

DIY spaghetti and meatball costume? Now that’s what we call an ‘outfit recipe’!

Zoinks, it’s the witches – actually, it’s the Hex Girls! Team up with your squad, Zoom style, for a Mystery Inc group costume.

Put a smile on everyone’s face this Halloween with a spot-on Joker costume.

For a well-balanced breakfast – we mean, Halloween costume – shop at Buffalo Exchange.

One of our favorite dynamic duos from under-the-sea, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy from Spongebob Squarepants!

For Halloween looks that really snap, crackle and pop, DIY your own cereal mascot ensemble.

We’re seeing double with this Tethered ‘US’couples costume!

We SPY a groovy group costume: Austin Powers, Dr. Evil and more!

Spotted: Cruella De Vil and 1 of 101 Dalmatians!

Spotted: Cruella De Vil and 1 of 101 Dalmatians

Racing to find a last-minute costume? Mario and Princess Peach costumes will take you to the finish line!

Before the party’s over, dress up like our favorite ‘Bad Guy’, Billie Eilish!

Now that you’ve seen just a few of our favorite Halloween costumes, head to your local Buffalo Exchange to recreate one of these looks (or create your own — the possibilities are endless!). Before you go, you might want to take a look through your closet to see if you have any costume pieces to sell — we’re buying for Halloween (and fall, of course), and your costumes from last year could transform into cash or trade to spend on a spooktacular new look. Have a happy, safe and socially distanced Halloween, from Buffalo Exchange!

Whether you recently booked an appointment online to sell your closet cleanout and now have a digital trade card burning a hole in your inbox or you’re just coveting a closet refresh, Buffalo Exchange is open for all your secondhand shopping needs! Our stores have adapted to the new world of social distancing and we’ve implemented some new guidelines to keep shopping secondhand safe for everyone. Read ahead for everything you need to know about the new normal of shopping at Buffalo Exchange! 

Here’s the TL DR  of what’s new in our stores:

• Socially distancing throughout the store
• Dressing rooms are open
• We offer contactless payment like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay (cash and card still accepted!)
• Sneeze guards at every register and buy counter
• Increased cleaning

Maintain Social Distancing

While you’re shopping around, please be mindful of others and do your best to keep the recommended 6 feet of space between yourself and your fellow shoppers. This may mean doubling back to check out a super cute top you saw on a rounder where someone else was shopping, but we want everyone to feel comfortable and uncrowded while they browse around for those one-of-a-kind finds Buffalo Exchange is known for. We’ll have social-distancing reminders posted around the store, but feel free to reach out to an employee if another customer isn’t giving you the space you need!

New Protocols for Trying On 

Our dressing rooms are open , so check in with an employee when you’re ready to try on! 

Checking Out With Your Finds 

When you’re ready to purchase, you may notice things look a little different at the register: we’ve installed sneeze guards at checkout (and buy counters) as an extra safeguard. Once it comes time for payment, you can choose contactless payment methods like Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and tap-to-pay credit cards. Don’t have one of these? We are still accepting credit cards and cash. Need to enter a pin? To reduce contact, we have disposable cotton swabs for you to use instead of pushing buttons directly on the card terminals. 

In addition, we have hand sanitizer throughout the store, regular cleaning and sanitation protocols and daily employee temperature checks. That’s it! Our stores are stocked, so stop in to enjoy the thrill of the hunt. We can’t wait to see you all back in the store again soon!

Each year, Buffalo Exchange teams up with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona to award an artist in Southern Arizona with the Arts Award. Candidates are selected by two separate panels of experts who are familiar with the Southern Arizona Arts scene and judged based on both the candidates’ artistic endeavors and the impact they’ve made in the community. Since 1994, Buffalo Exchange has awarded almost $240,000 to 26 Southern Arizona artists.

Rebecca Block and Kerstin Block with Allison Miller and Bryan Falcón

For the 25th round of recipients in 2019, Buffalo Exchange Founder & President Kerstin Block and her daughter, Vice President Rebecca Block, celebrated by offering two awards of $10,000 – one in performing arts and one in visual arts.“We created the Arts Award because we believe art is essential to the well-being of the community,” says Kerstin. “This year, we’re glad for the chance to honor Allison and Bryan, who both have an incredible impact on the local area.”

Allison Miller with Buffalo Exchange Founder Kerstin Block and CFSA Director of Community Investments Kelly Huber

Meet Allison, a Tucson-Born Muralist
Allison Miller, a muralist and native of Tucson, has spent much of her career giving back to the community through public art projects. She currently coordinates and facilitates murals that are artistically accessible for community members, allowing young artists and other volunteers to contribute. “A lot of it for me is involving people in creating an identity for their specific space,” says Miller, “whether it’s a park or their jogging path. When people are invested in beautification, they keep it that way.” Having worked on dozens of murals, Miller’s art is a familiar sight and an ode to the unique identity of Tucson.

Scoundrel & Scamp Postcard: Images by Tim Fuller, Design by Cat Dog Mouse Media

Scoundrel & Scamp Production of Blood Wedding: Photo by Tim Fuller.

Bryan Falcón with Buffalo Exchange Founder Kerstin Block and CFSA Director of Community Investments Kelly Huber

Meet Bryan Falcón, Founder of Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre
Bryan Falcón, winner of the performing arts award, is the Artistic and Managing Director of the Scoundrel & Scamp Theatre, a nonprofit he founded with his wife after becoming enamored with the art scene and diverse culture of Tucson. Bryan believes that theater uplifts society by transporting people to places that they would not otherwise go. “We have a chance to step into somebody else’s skin for a little while and try to understand and, hopefully, walk away with some sort of connection to the heart,” says Bryan.

Allison Miller Mural

It’s reasons like these that Buffalo Exchange has continued this award for the past 25 years. “Art is not something that humans do when they have nothing else to do,” said Spencer Block, Buffalo Exchange co-founder. “Art is an essential part of the human condition. It happens everywhere and in all circumstances.” To learn more about the history of the Arts Award and to see a list of all other artists who’ve been honored over the years, visit the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona’s website!