In this episode of The Localist, host Carrie Rollwagen sits down with Crystal Salter from Sozo Trading to explore the mission and operations of this unique thrift store. They delve into various challenges that come with thrift shopping, including the lack of dressing rooms and how weather impacts clothing sales.
The discussion also highlights Sozo Trading’s innovative practices, such as their color tag system for discounts and color coding the clothing to make it easier to find specific pieces. They talk about social media’s impact on thrifting trends and the role of resellers, who are seen as beneficial to maintaining inventory flow. Crystal shares her journey of getting involved with Sozo, driven by its mission to support Sozo Children in Uganda and create a community-focused retail space. Promotions, events and sustainability efforts, including recycling partnerships, reflect Sozo’s commitment to both the community and the environment. The episode provides deeper insights into the thrift store’s operational strategies, consumer engagement and the underlying purpose of their mission-driven business model.
Mentioned in this episode:
Sozo Website: https://www.sozotrading.org/
Sozo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sozotradingco/
Sozo Children: https://sozochildren.org/
Sozo Fair Trade Goods: https://www.sozotrading.org/global-goods/
The Foundry: https://foundryministries.com/
SMco Thrift: https://smcothrift.com/
Pick up my donation: https://www.pickupmydonation.com/
Rage Room: https://www.birminghamrageroom.com/