The Way of the Buffalo Exchange

The Buffalo Exchange is unlike any other retail store we have ever seen. It is a forerunner in the resale fashion industry where customers buy, sell and barter items of all sorts -- from spanking new to archaic, untarnished to recycled, and local to imported. All you have to do is bring in your handpicked items and trade them in for other unique finds or cash right on spot! 

Built in 1974 in Tucson, Arizona by Kerstin and Spencer Block, the Buffalo Exchange’s entire purpose is to reawaken the dormant fashion trade, grant a stable source of livelihood for its staff, provide decent returns to its founders and accomplish sustainable prosperity by offering a wide range of inventory that includes one-of-a-kind designer labels, jeans, leather, vintage and other rare items. You can also spot brand new merchandises, current basics and clothing made by the community, for the community. Most of its items are bought from local customers and include clothing that are a whole lot more fashionable than those sold on your regular stores. The 450 square foot store located at the heart of well-developed, urban neighborhood was the first one ever to have bought, sold, bartered and took in accessories and apparel on consignment. Its prices vary widely depending on the condition, label, styles and several other factors. Most items cost around $15 but designer and collectors’ items have higher prices, yet a lot lower as compared to retail.

It was Kerstin’s passion for fashion and the thrill in finding once-in-a-lifetime bargains that created the company which now boasts of 45 stores scattered in 16 states, with a $72.9 million revenue last December 2011. It is a privately-held, independent company and the founders operate its day-to-day transactions. Kerstin, together with her daughter Rebecca, still owns and manages Buffalo Exchange until now and continues to redefine the fashion industry with its new and recycled merchandises.