The Name
New City points to renewal.
The name New City comes from St. Basil's Basiliad, called a new city, and often
pointed to by historians as the world's first hospital. It was a sprawling complex -
a vision of what the world could look like when the sick and the poor were not pushed
away, but rather known by their name, not by their illness or status. St. Basil invited
the rich not merely to fund the work, but to be transformed by loving and serving their
neighbors in Christ's name.
For New City Thrift, we strive to carry out a similar pattern in our small way: what
has been set aside is brought back into the life of the community. Donated goods no
longer needed in one household find new life in another, and the proceeds help
Christ's Loving Hands serve neighbors who sometimes feel no longer needed themselves -
pointing them to Christ and knowing them by their name, not by their need. Like St.
Basil, we invite those in our community who can give and serve the opportunity to be
transformed by loving and serving their neighbors in Christ's name.
Purpose
More than a resale shop.
The store is not simply to operate a resale shop for profit. It is created as a
mission-driven retail extension of Christ's Loving Hands: a practical, sustainable
way to generate recurring revenue for ministry while offering the Harrison area a
clean, welcoming, affordable, and community-centered place to shop, donate, and serve.
At its simplest, New City Thrift receives what one household no longer needs, prepares
it with care, offers it affordably to another household, and uses the proceeds to love
and serve neighbors in need.
Why A Thrift Store?
A practical win for the community.
Thrift stores are a proven model for generating recurring revenue and uniquely suited
to meet multiple other community needs, with the strong potential to be a win-win-win.
The first win is a place to donate unused goods with the proceeds actually staying to
benefit our community. The second win is providing a space for CLH to store items that
can be given to members of the community in need. The last win is generating stable
revenue for the ministry to continue to meet community needs.
Why Now?
Harrison is growing, and the need is growing with it.
Now is the right time because Harrison is growing and Christ's Loving Hands has an
opportunity to grow with it. As more people come, there will be more needs, but also
more people who want to give and serve. At the same time, the secondhand market is
growing. In 2025, the U.S. secondhand market was worth $56 billion, and it is
projected to grow to $74 billion by 2029, with clothing resale growing 15 times faster
than traditional retail. Meanwhile, neighbors in our community are actively searching
for somewhere to donate used goods besides Goodwill.
Key Statistical Success Metrics (2025-2026)
- Revenue Growth: The U.S. secondhand market saw a 14.3% year-over-year increase in 2025.
- Foot Traffic: Thrift store foot traffic increased by 39.5% between 2019 and 2025.
- Profitability: Well-managed thrift stores can achieve gross profit margins of 30% to 50%, with net profit margins typically ranging from 5% to 15%.
- Market Penetration: 58% of U.S. shoppers purchased secondhand apparel in 2024, with 75% of consumers open to buying used goods.
Factors Driving Success
- High Demand: 83% of Gen Z consumers either thrift or want to.
- Economic Factors: 89% of consumers are driven by the need to save money.
- Sustainability Trends: 70% of shoppers believe thrifting is a sustainable alternative to fast fashion.
Source: Capital One Shopping Research. "Thrifting Statistics." Capital One Shopping,
Capital One Shopping,
https://capitaloneshopping.com/research/thrifting-statistics/.
Accessed 12 May 2026, 2:00 p.m.
