By Aarian, Buffalo Exchange HQ Winter is coming. If you find yourself at a loss over what to wear to combat the dropping temperatures and increasingly gray days, fret not: Buffalo Exchange is here to help! During a trip to Buffalo Exchange Tucson, I styled four different outfits perfect for beating the winter style blues. […]
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Sell Men’s Clothing for Cash or Trade
Hey, Guys! Clean out your closet and bring in your past faves to Buffalo Exchange for cash or in-store credit on the spot! We’re looking for excellent cool-weather styles, including sweaters, jackets, denim, shoes and accessories. We love everyday basics, current trends and designer as well as great vintage and unique items. Don’t forget that we […]
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Bright Trends Ahead: Our Favorite Spring 2019 Fashion Trends
By Aarian Frye
After a dreary winter, we’re all excited to welcome back spring and with open (and bare!) arms. And I don’t know about you, but I’m even more excited for a new season of looks – and this is a big one! From bold colors and tie-dye to absolutely decade-dent trends from the 80s and early 2000s, I found tons of inspiration at Buffalo Exchange. Read ahead for my favorite spring 2019 fashion trends!
Neon in the Afternoon
A departure from traditionally somber and subdued hues of winter, neon is everywhere this spring. The eighties revival has been trending on runways for the past two seasons and now we’re seeing it pop on the street. To incorporate the color du jour into your wardrobe, start small – a sweatshirt, belt bag or even acrylic accessories. Neon pairs perfectly with one of our other favorite 2019 fashion trends…
Vacation? All We Ever Wanted!
If you’re anything like me, chances are that you were dreaming of a getaway to the tropics this winter. With the revival of retro vacation style, you can dress for a Caribbean cruise without leaving your zip code! If this dream look is a little bold for your taste, bring bright prints back down to earth with a midwash denim skirt and sporty sandals or chinos and canvas sneakers.
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45th Anniversary Pop-Up Shop and $1,000 Giveaway!
Saturday, March 16th and Sunday, March 17th, we’re excited to celebrate our 45th Anniversary! Join in the fun at any Buffalo Exchange to shop a curated pop-up shop of fun vintage goodies and one-of-a-kind finds. Our stores have been collecting lots of fantastic pieces for the occasion like pearl snap button-ups, 50s gems, Western wear, 60s and 70s vintage, beautiful prints, embroidered pieces and so much more. You never know what you’ll find, so be sure to stop by and help us celebrate!
Each Buffalo Exchange location will be putting its own spin on the event with tasty treats, some very special Buffalo swag and lots of giveaways. Many stores will have fun music and even live performances, so stay tuned to find out what’s happening at your local Buffalo. We can’t wait to see you there! To save the date, click here. ***Pop-up shop not available at outlets and Denver Annex.***
The fun doesn’t stop there: as a special thank-you to everyone who sells with us, we’re giving away a $1,000 Buffalo Exchange gift card! From now until Sunday, March 17th, sell at any Buffalo Exchange (excluding our outlet stores and Denver Annex) and provide your email address – you could win a $1,000 gift card to Buffalo that NEVER expires. Hello, shopping spree! For official giveaway rules, visit BuffaloExchange.com/Rules.
45 Years of Fashion
When Kerstin Block first started Buffalo Exchange in 1974, she never expected it to grow into the 48 stores in 19 states that it is today – she just followed her love of thrift shopping. “Somehow,” she says, “I came upon the idea that there must be other people who are equally addicted to this kind of shopping, but who didn’t want to sort through as much stuff.” Enter a new business model – a resale shop where customers could shop hand-picked treasures in one spot and also sell their clothes for cash or trade on-the-spot.
Kerstin and her husband, Spencer Block, ran the business hand-in-hand. Back then, their most common price was $3.50 and they sold primarily denim, hand-woven shirts and Kork-Ease shoes out of a 400 square foot space in Tucson, Arizona. From there, the business grew organically. “People just started bringing in all the stuff that they wanted to sell and they were amazing things,” says Kerstin. To this day, the company is still based in Tucson and runs much the same, though Kerstin’s daughter, Rebecca Block, has taken Spencer’s place in her current role of Vice President. We’re proud the company has made it to 45 years and look forward to celebrating with all of our wonderful customers! We wouldn’t be here today without you.
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Hiring Event at Buffalo Exchange Chicago
Hey Chicago! Head over to Buffalo Exchange Chicago (Wicker Park) Saturday, February 16th from 1-6pm for your opportunity to join the herd. We’re looking for individuals who love fashion and working with people to join our team as full- or part-time buyers, so apply in store to meet our team and potentially land an interview right then and there! Working at Buffalo means full healthcare benefits, paid time off, employee discounts and a job where you really get to be yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!
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Enter to Win Tickets to Phoenix’s M3F Music Festival!
Hey, Phoenix! We’re kicking off festival season with a HUGE giveaway: FREE TICKETS TO M3F, happening this March 1-3! From January 24th through February 10th, we’ll be giving away three sets of tickets to lucky Buffalo Exchange Phoenix shoppers. Here are the deets on how to win:
To win 1 pair of 3-Day VIP Tickets:
- Sign up for our email list at BuffaloExchange.com/M3F.
To win one of 2 pairs of 3-Day General Admission Tickets:
- Follow Buffalo Exchange on Instagram!
- Watch out for our M3F posts between Thursday, January 24nd and Sunday, February 10th
- Like the post and tag a friend (or a few!) in the comments as your official entry!
For official contest rules, visit BuffaloExchange.com/Rules.
Good luck! P.S. Buffalo Exchange Phoenix will be at the festival with our vintage Airstream trailer full of festival goodies, so we’ll see you there!
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Easy Ways to Save Money: Make Your Budget Resolutions a Reality in 2019!
By Savy Kroop, Buffalo Exchange HQ
It’s one thing to make a resolution to save more money, but actually doing it can be a whole different story. If I’m being honest, I’m definitely guilty of giving up on my New Year’s resolutions by February 1st (if not sooner…). So, to keep myself on track, I came up with some easy ways to save money and some tips and tricks for sticking to my budget!
Write Down Your Budget
My first suggestion? Write down your budget. This might seem obvious, but being able to visualize your spending habits can be a wakeup call! If possible, share your goals with a close friend or family member – it’s always good to have someone who can hold you accountable, keep you honest and encourage you. For example, the last time I made a budget, I estimated $40 a week on eating out. My roommate just shook his head… we both knew it wasn’t true. If you’re looking for some easy ways to save money, it’s important to start out by being honest about your spending habits!
To get started, write your monthly income at the top and, below that, write down how much you’d like to save this month. Remember – any savings is good savings! Next, start listing out all your necessary expenses (groceries, rent, etc). You can distribute anything left over among your unnecessary expenses like shopping, eating out, going out with friends, health and beauty, and so on. The goal here is to end up at 0. If the amount is negative, cut down one or more of your “unnecessary” categories. At the end of the month, be sure to reevaluate – it can be hard to accurately budget at first, but you’ll soon get the hang of it!
Treat Yourself – at Home!
If you’re looking for easy ways to save money in the “going out” category, this is the resolution for you! I think we can all agree that treating yourself and spending time with your BFFs is important for self-care. However, going to the nail salon, getting brunch every Sunday or going out for fancy cocktails with friends can get expensive. I’m not saying to cut these things out of your life in 2019 – just choose to treat yourself at home every now and then! This year, I plan to organize weekly “treat yourself” nights with my close friends. And, since we all know that Sunday brunch is the best part of the week, I plan to organize weekly brunch potlucks!
Easy Ways to Save Money on Clothes: Shop For Free!
Lastly, my absolute favorite thing to do at the beginning of the year is a wardrobe overhaul! I love to start fresh with my closet, but without spending a lot of money, so I clean out my closet and then head into Buffalo Exchange to trade in for some new-to-me finds. I always find a lot of pieces there that spark joy (thank you, Marie Kondo, for the tip!).
To start, really try to pinpoint your style – reflect on what you see yourself wearing for the new year and, once you have a clear idea, begin going through every item in your closet (yes, I said EVERY item). Begin sorting items into three categories: keep, sell and donate. Try only holding on to items that you truly love. Like Marie Kondo would say, “Keep only those things that speak to your heart”. Once you’re done, you’re ready to head to your local Buffalo Exchange!
You really can’t beat the prices of shopping secondhand, especially if you sell your closet cleanout and put the trade you receive towards your new-to-you finds. Talk about easy ways to save money (not to mention fun!). Phew! Finally, a New Year’s budget resolution that I won’t have any trouble keeping. If you don’t live near a Buffalo Exchange, you can always try the Sell By Mail program. Just request a bag online, fill it up and mail it for free via UPS. Well, that’s it from me – I’m off to plan a “treat yourself” Sunday brunch for me and my friends. Happy budgeting!
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Sell Your Clothes at Buffalo Exchange Costa Mesa!
Hey there, Costa Mesa! Buffalo Exchange wants to buy your closet cleanout – especially men’s jackets, sweaters and jeans! We’re also looking for women’s jackets and anything else you’re cleaning out. We buy the best of all seasons, year-round, so stop by today! Your closet cleanout could bring you 30% of our selling price back in cash or 50% in trade to put towards a new-to-you 2019 wardrobe.
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Buffalo Exchange San Francisco (Mission) Wants Your Winter Menswear!
Hey, guys! Buffalo Exchange San Francisco (Mission) is looking for men’s jackets and sweaters to add to our inventory this winter. Whether you’re cleaning out menswear or anything else, we also buy the best of all seasons! Bring in your past favorites and you could receive 30% back in cash or 50% in trade to put towards your spring wardrobe update. Your closet cleanout may have just what we’ve been looking for, so stop by today!
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Buffalo Exchange Astoria Wants Your Winter Clothes!
What’s up, Queens? If your New Year’s resolution is to clean out your closet and start fresh, Buffalo Exchange Astoria is here to help. We’re currently buying winter clothing for men and women and we’re particularly in need of jackets + coats, chunky knit sweaters, dresses, tees and even shoes! In exchange for your past favorites, you could receive 30% back in cash or 50% back in trade to spend on a new-to-you wardrobe. Our buy counter is open all day, every day, so come see us today!
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Happy New Year and Thank You for a Fantastic 2018!
As 2018 comes to a close, we’re thinking about our hopes and resolutions for 2019, but we’re also thinking about all the great things that happened over the past year. We’d like to say thank you to all who have made our success possible. Best wishes and Happy New Year to all of our wonderful Buffalos – customers and employees alike! We couldn’t do it without you. Cheers to a fantastic 2019!
Buffalo Exchange Seattle (Market)
Buffalo Exchange Portland (Downtown)
Buffalo Exchange San Diego (Hillcrest)
Buffalo Exchange San Diego (Pacific Beach)
With 2019 on the horizon, we’re always looking to expand our Buffalo family. If you love fashion, people and working hard while having fun, make it your New Year’s resolution to join our herd! Apply in-store or online today. Happy New Year!
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Coats for Cubs: Give Your Furs Back to the Animals
Now announcing our 2019 Coats for Cubs drive! From January 2 to April 22, you can donate your real fur coats and trimmings at any Buffalo Exchange location. All collected furs will be sent to wildlife rehabilitators, where they are repurposed into bedding that nurtures recovering wild animals, providing more warmth and familiarity than options like towels and sheets. These furs help injured and orphaned wildlife by keeping baby animals warm and minimizing human contact during the recovery process.
“It really helps the animals to have something to snuggle into,” says Jody Raines of Illinois Valley Wildlife Rehab. “It appears to relax them and makes them easier to work with. Every baby heads right to the fur hiding place when I take them in.”
Since 2006, when Buffalo Exchange first became involved with Coats for Cubs, we have collected and distributed over 15,108 furs. Last year alone, we collected 1,464 furs to give back to the animals. Help us make it another great year! To learn more and see photos of some of the animals who have benefitted from donated furs, visit CoatsforCubs.com.
Please note that we are not able to provide tax receipts since we are a collection point only and not a non-profit ourselves. If you would like a tax receipt for your donation, you will need to reach out directly to a rehabber and coordinate the donation on your own. We have a list of rehabbers on the CoatsForCubs.org under the Wildlife Rehabilitator Info tab. Also, most states maintain their own directories of certified wildlife rehabilitators, which can be a great resource.