Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard has written a book, The Responsible Company, about how we should create and sell goods that are high-quality, recyclable and repairable.

We couldn’t agree more! And Patagonia does make useful stuff that people tend to keep on using, which is responsible. We should all buy and keep high-quality goods… the Earth would be better for it.

But still, according to Chouinard in a Fortune magazine article, making a single Patagonia organic cotton polo shirt

uses up drinking water to supply 900 people for a full day

produces 30 times its weight in carbon dioxide

and creates 3 times its weight in trash?

Wouldn’t it be better, say consignment. resale, and thrift shopkeepers, if when someone does tire of their clothes or lamps or chairs, they recycle them, and raise a glass of cool, refreshing, life-sustaining water to the planet?

So next time you need a polo shirt or a side table or a tricycle, shop secondhand first! (And the next time you tire of that perfectly-good Patagonia polo shirt, call me!)

Patagonia: a responsible company.  Photo courtesy of http://www.sxc.hu/

Lots of folks think resale just means saving money. Well, that’s always nice, and full pockets are a valid fashion statement, but did you know you can make money using resale too?

When you use a resale shop as your first choice when buying clothes for yourself or your family, or furniture and decor for your home, you can

keep more cash in your pocket

because of the great values at consignment, resale and thrifts. Then,

stuff some extra cash in your pocket

when you recycle gently-used good possessions and you make money from things you no longer need or want.

Call or visit your favorite consignment or resale shop today (find the BEST here!) to learn what they can use that you have just sitting around. You can even help your favorite charity make money when you donate to or consign with a non-profit. That’s re-sharing!