The Echo Shop is a gem among thrift shops and lives up to its accolade -resale boutique. It's a small shop and women's clothing, fine china, home decor, with smaller selections of children's, men's clothing, purses and shoes, books, kitchenware and the inevitable small knickknacks. Most thrift shops are a pure waste of time. Questionable cleanliness, quality, and dubious design. At the Echo Shop, it's the opposite. First and foremost, the whole place is clean - no smell. Second, when they say designer labels, they mean it: Ralph Lauren, Donna Karan, Eileen Fisher, Michael Kors, Salvatore Ferragamo (spotted 3 times in the last six months alone - didn't fit me, curses), Coach, Dooney & Bourke. High-quality staples include Coldwater Creek, Chico's, Brooks Brothers (for the guys - not leaving you out : ), Faconnable, DKNY, Alfani. Third, the store looks charming and inviting. It took me over a year to figure out there is a special team of volunteers, selected for their good taste and design sense who come in several times a week to decorate the shop.
As if prices weren't low enough ($42 for a new pair of Salvatore Ferragamo flats with the store tags on the soles still clean? Seriously? ) they have 50% off sales. So a Ralph Lauren t-shirt in excellent condition could go from $6 to $3. You'll need to bring cash or check. The shop does not accept credit cards.
You never know what will show up at the shop. Memorable items include
A powder horn. Yup, A real live powder horn to go with your flintlock
A collection of original, signed Ansel Adams photos. I became quite breathless when I discovered I'd missed them by three hours. The whole collection was $70. I had to sit down. I've been a fan of Ansel Adams for over 30 years. Oh, oh, oh!
A massive collection of real fur coats, stoles, muffs, hats - mink, silver fox, and I dunno what else cuz I don't exactly shop for furs.
A gold ball gown from Paris that was so high end, I didn't recognize the label.
How can the Echo Shop maintain this lineup of clean, high quality goods? First thanks to an awesome pool of loyal donors who expressly save their "good stuff" for the Echo Shop. Second, thank the volunteers who review all donations for cleanliness and wear and tear before they can be put in the shop.
What won't you find at the Echo Shop? It's a small shop, anything bulky. No furniture (except for small special pieces that are granted a waiver), no large electronics or appliances (TV, computers, washing machines) but small pieces are OK. I recently spotted two espresso machines, a Fitbit, and a sewing machine. All electronics have been tested and include working batteries as part of the deal.
And last but not least, the Echo Shop converted me from customer, to donor to volunteer and just a month ago a member of the Board (I didn't know about the last part until I got hit with it. Whatever happened to informed consent?)
