Publications & Sites 
Website makes resale shopping easier
Updated: January 28, 2013 6:13AM
In times of financial stress, holiday shopping can feel like a burden, which is one reason area resident Mike Muir created the website Secondhand Chicago.
Muir’s site, which he launched in July, lists about 500 resale shops in Chicago and the suburbs. Shops on Secondhand Chicago range from the Salvation Army and Goodwill to vintage boutiques.
“I just thought it was a really good idea,” said Muir. “People are realizing there’s a plethora of resale shops.”
Muir said some of the shops, like Barrington’s House of Hope, not only offer shoppers quality items at discounted prices, but also proceeds from purchases benefit St. Anne’s Catholic Church.
“They provide about 70 percent of their funding,” he explained.
Muir said such charities are part of the reason he decided to launch Second Hand Chicago and give more visibility to resale shops.
“Chicago has about 150 resale shops. The suburbs have about 350,” Muir said. “I thought they could all use a unified voice. It’s exposing the entire resale market to the general public.”
In addition to clothing, many resale shops also offer furniture, house wares, electronics and other goods.
Muir said, although there are other sites that list resale shops from all over the country, Second Hand Chicago is the only one specific to the Chicago area.
