Potentials Resale Now Open in St. Charles

If you’re looking for some new gently-used furniture, jewelry, clothes or home décor, you need look no further than South Fifth Street in St. Charles.

Potentials Resale opened its doors at 325 S. Fifth St. early last week.

The shop first opened in April 2011 in Creve Coeur before it moved to St. Charles this month for less expensive rent and to be closer to its headquarters.

When you shop at Potentials, you’re not just supporting a local business—you’re helping out local families.   

The revenue from the resale boutique benefits Youth in Need, a St. Charles-based non-profit that provides crisis prevention and intervention programs for local children and families.

Youth in Need Director of Social Enterprise Lisa Maurer said the organization serves kids from birth to age 21 through a variety of programs, including early head start, head start, teen parent program, group home, emergency shelter and a street outreach team that goes out to help kids who are homeless.

Maurer said the new St. Charles  location allows youth who are served by the transitional living program or independent living program to more easily get to the store. 

The youth can also help out in the store and learn skills to put on a resume. Youth in Need has also been able to help kids with clothing or furniture as they transition out of the program and onto their own. 

The store is staffed by at least one paid staff member and volunteers, and has seen financial growth since opening two years ago, Maurer said. 

Mauer said she came up with the idea for the shop a few years ago when resale shops were just starting to take off.

“I just saw the need, we had donors who wanted to donate clothing and furniture and unless we had a client moving into their own apartment at that exact time, we had nowhere to go with the stuff,” she said, “So I thought it would be good to turn those items into cash and use it for our programs.”

Mauer said the stigma that was previously attached to resale boutiques seems to have disappeared and has become more like a treasure hunt for shoppers.

“To me, resale isn’t about serving the needy, it’s more trendy now,” she said. “I’ve seen that resale is one of fastest growing in slow economy.”

Mauer said Potentials Resale’s inventory changes everyday, so people should stop by often.

“We probably add 150 items to inventory everyday out on the floor,” she said. “I love going through the boxes and donations and seeing what’s coming in the door and working with the customers.”

Each week, the boutique features a different colored tag for sales and customers can text potentials to 68398 for exclusive discounts.

The shop accepts donations, including clothing for all ages, furniture and home décor. They do not accept accept used mattresses or exercise equipment, or computers or large appliances like refrigerators.

Donations can be dropped off during regular store business hours:

• Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Saturday- 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Mauer said Potentials is also always looking for more volunteers. Anyone interested can call 636-925-1763 or visit potentialsresale.org.

Volunteers must fill out an application and pass a background check.

For more information about Potentials Resale, you can visit them on Facebook.