Biz Buzz Monday: Old is in at new Shullsburg thrift store

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Biz Buzz shares business tidbits from the tri-states. Along with this update from Shullsburg, Wis., we will share additional developments in Tuesday’s edition.

SHULLSBURG, Wis. — A new secondhand store has opened in southwest Wisconsin with a focus on affordable fashion.

Rayvn’s Thrifty Finds recently opened at 250 W. Water St. in the former Brooke Rose Designs building. The store offers a wide variety of secondhand clothing, accessories and small decor at discounted prices.

“I love a good deal, and I know that you can find high-quality items at a decent price,” said owner Rayvn Wilson. “That was really my intention with opening the store. I wanted to help people find nicer items that they like, but make it more affordable.”

Wilson, of Gratiot, has been thrifting for years and always hoped to open her own store, but she didn’t realize how soon she’d reach that goal. She started the business online earlier this year, and it quickly took off.

Bolstered by that success, she started looking for a retail location to display her merchandise. The Water Street building became available this spring with the relocation of Brooke Rose Designs, and Wilson said it seemed like the ideal fit.

“I knew it would be the perfect location,” said Wilson, a Shullsburg native. “I grew up here. I know the gist of the town, so it was a big thing for me to be able to come back here and start this business.”

The store now offers a wide variety of items, and its merchandise changes frequently as items are sold.

The majority of available clothing is for women, Wilson explained, although there is a sizable collection of children’s clothes. The store also features a small section of menswear and a selection of small- to medium-sized home decor.

Wilson said many of her items come from community donations, although she reviews items prior to sale to ensure their quality. That’s allowed her to offer a good mix of styles and sizes.

“It’s been really interesting just to see all the different people that come in here and all their different styles,” she said. “One person might hate something that another person falls in love with, so it’s been really interesting seeing what people pick up.”

Rayvn’s Thrifty Finds is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Items also are sold through the Rayvn’s Thrifty Finds Facebook page, where Wilson said she will post pop-up hours when she has extra time to visit the store.