Can We Solve the Crisis of Stuff?
How much do North Americans waste? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the annual average of waste per US citizen amounts to nearly 70 pounds of clothing and textiles. These numbers jump tremendously when considering that worldwide, over 80 billion garments are produced annually. In the US, the nation’s municipal waste stream occupies […]
Textile Recycling 101: All You Need To Know About How to Divert More Material from Landfills
The process of textile recycling continues to garner attention worldwide — particularly among those who are interested in impacting the environment in a positive way. In many places across the world, consumers swap clothing, shoes and fabrics that are in good condition, others donate or sell what they are no longer using to someone who […]
Helping Give New Life to the World’s Used Purses, Shoes and Belts
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Not just country music lyrics, these words tell us how people can find new value in something that might have otherwise been considered useless. While a pair of torn shoes or a used belt once seemed destined for the garbage bin, today there are a host of recycling […]
Seamless, No-Hassle, On-Time: The Bank & Vogue Way
Nobody wants to deal with unprofessional vendors, sellers, clients or partners. Business is stressful enough as it is. You’re doing your very best to get ahead, working hard to make sure that your staff are paid, that your customers are satisfied, and that you’re growing a successful business. The last thing you need is a […]
Holiday Season Approaching; Overstock and Returned Toys Need to Go! But Where?
With the Christmas holiday season fast approaching, retailers are clearing their shelves to make room for the latest and greatest products. Perhaps nowhere is this more true than with toys, where kids (and their parents) are being marketed to about what the “must have” items are for the current season. When the hot items […]
Help Alleviate The Crisis of Stuff: How to Avoid Sending Used Goods to Landfill (And Make Money!)
The Crisis of Stuff. We are at an intersection of hyper consumption and exorbitant waste. In this current culture of consumption with a disposable mentality, we’re facing an ever-growing crisis: What do we do with all this stuff? If you’re a retailer, charity or thrift store, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Used clothing […]
The Crisis of Stuff by Steven Bethell
Piece by piece, pile by pile, we will demonstrate how you can re-use excess stuff. Our mission will be to make a difference by designing beautiful products that people will love, to find new homes around the world for excess stuff and to support the work of community organizations through recycling. 10 billion pounds (4.5 […]
Tips for Managing Relationships With Buyers
Looking to get better, more productive relationships with buyers? Want to get more buyers interested in your credential clothing, mixed rags or other used products? Want to increase sales overall, with more repeat business? Here are some tips that will help position you better in your process with buyers, increasing your return on investment […]
Baler Buying Guide – Maximizing The Value Of Your Investment
Having a baler for mixed rags and credential clothing is a minimum requirement for working with used clothing buyers and brokers like Bank & Vogue. This investment can seem like an intimidating one, but identifying the means available to optimize your investment is often all it takes to expose your business to the potential value […]
Dealing With Donated Shoes – Capturing Cashflow
When baling, storing, and shipping mixed rags and credential clothing, donated shoes can be a challenge. You can’t process shoes with fabric clothing, as balers will utterly compromise the integrity of even canvas shoes, let alone high-heels. Left without any apparent option, many charity and for-profit clothing resellers will simply throw them away. But with the right […]
