As This and That New & Used Goods thrift store on 107 North Prospect Street has continued to collect new inventory over its first few months, it has also stockpiled a few special items. The new thrift store in Ravenna is holding a prom dress special, selling a variety of dresses at $25 each this spring.
“I just had a whole bunch of brand new dresses and thought it would be nice to offer them at a good price to people who can’t afford them or just do not want to spend a lot of money on something they would only wear one time,” store owner Diana Wilson told The Weekly Villager on April 17.
According to Wilson, she has received several dresses over the last few months in each new shipment of inventory. All the dresses are in mint condition, having never been worn and have remained in storage since they arrived.
“I was holding onto them knowing that people would need them for prom season. I had them on our rack and I was finally able to put it out; that makes me excited,” Wilson said. “They have been out for about a month now but most of the interest has come in the last week.”
Wilson noted that word about the store’s prom dress special has spread by advertising on social media including Facebook.
“We do a lot of Facebook advertising,” she said. “We are in a lot of different groups and surrounding groups to Ravenna, so I reach out to Streetsboro, Cleveland, and Akron. I share them to all different groups; hopefully everybody in the area or surrounding areas can find out that we are here and can have them.”
The sale is not just exclusive to Portage County but neighboring counties as well, including Summit and Cuyahoga. Wilson said that the store also offers potential customers the option to hold the dresses on layover for about two business days, provided that the customers remain in communication with her.
“It helps to give them an option: “I like this dress but I can’t make it in until this day,” I try to be lenient with holding things,” Wilson said.
Wilson said that the store has a diverse selection of dresses to choose from, with virtually every dress size available.
“The dresses themselves are all kinds of different styles,” Wilson added. “I would say that they are nice dresses; there are a few different materials. “There are a couple of dresses that are a little lightweight, if that is what they are looking for but most of them are the nice thick double-layered dresses, they have the nice ties in the back that match them.”
In addition to having a wide variety, Wilson added that the store also gives customers a changing area to try on the dresses to make sure the fit is perfect. Customers can schedule appointments by reaching her through Facebook or calling during store hours. All dresses are sold as is with any alterations being left up to the customers.
Wilson said that any leftover dresses will be donated to charity at the end of the school year.
Wilson noted that the store’s prom dress special has gone public for a few weeks, but interest has started to gain steam with proms fast approaching.
“It could definitely pick up quite a bit because of the people who waited until the last minute and now they are looking. It is crunch time, so now maybe things are not available so I think it would pick up quite a bit,” she said.
With it being one of the first specials which the store has offered since it opened its doors, Wilson said that she relishes the opportunity to provide students and families the ability to purchase dresses that they might not have elsewhere.
“It is nice to have nice products at a good price that people can afford. It makes you feel good giving it out and makes them feel good about getting a deal,” she said.
