At the beginning of the pandemic, multiple business had to close their stores due to COVID-19. Big corporate businesses were able to slowly start opening their stores again after given the ok to open, but some had to close down for good. Some small business, like vintage thrift shops in the San Marcos area, made plans to open up their shops and continue sales all while following social distancing mandates and implementing safety rules to keep them and their customers safe.
Vagabond Vintage resale shop has made an effort to catch people who walk the San Marcos square attention by adding new lights to their sign. This is done in hopes to bring in more sales for the business. (Photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
Owner, David Marrs, Makes sure to put out new pieces every morning before shop opens. If not him he makes sure one of the three employees tend to it. They also sometimes have a bin filled with free clothes for people to take from. They ask that you don’t take the bin though. (Photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
David Marrs, owner of Vagabond, said he’s been handling his business through the Pandemic by going out and finding new pieces safely and has also been enforcing safety tactics in order to keep his store open to the public. He makes sure that everyone wears a mask and even provides masks for those in need of one to shop around his store. (Photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
David has been making sure to wash each piece he gets in order to ensure the safety of his employees, customers, and himself. In addition to washing each piece he provides hand sanitizer at the front of his store for people to use before touching merchandise. (photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
wide view of the front of Vagabond from the inside of the store. Although we are in the middle of a pandemic, David has still found time to go out and find pieces to bring to his store. He still has a business to run. (photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
Monkies Vintage is a fairly new shop to San Marcos TX. the first shop is located in Austin TX. Monkies is popular for selling graphic tees and vintage denim. (photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
Monkies also makes sure to put out a selection of clothing on a rack for people to check out as they pass by. This not only lets people know that they are open it also captures their attention and maybe bring in a few new customers. (photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
Avery Rapson, sales associate at Monkies Vintage and manager of Monkies Vintage Depop/social media account, explained that since the Pandemic has taken place, they’ve been selling more clothing online through Depop. It’s safe and keeps a distance between people. They did have to close down due to COVID for a few months but they are now open to the public. With masks of course. (photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
Employees of Monkies Vintage put new pieces up almost everyday. They advertise new pieces through their instagram stories. People are able to purchase by direct messing them for a piece on instagram, online depop shop, or coming in person. (photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor) 
Each item that is sold at Monkies is washed and sanitized in order to protect the employees and customers. ( Photo credit: Jamazeya Taylor)
What’s happening to small vintage shop businesses through the COVID-19 Pandemic?
2020 the year just about everyone anticipated to be their big year has now unfortunately become the year of lockdowns and mandatory social distancing due to COVID-19. Everyone in some way has been affected personally and economically. Big corporation business that had to be closed down were able to start back up after the lockdown was lifted, but smaller local business found it hard to do the same. Of those small businesses that are finding it harder to start back up are local vintage thrift shops in the San Marcos, Texas.
San Marcos is a small city that contains a population of 64,776 people. Residents say it has more of a small town feeling that circles around Texas State University. With the spread of the corona virus many local thrift shops have been experiencing less and less sales. Avery Rapson, the social media and Depop manager for Monkies Vintage,said that the store is still struggling because of fewer people coming to the shop. Monkies is a small Vintage resale store located in San Marcos.
With it being a vintage thrift shop people are less likely to want to shop at a place that sells used clothing that comes from other people and places said Rapson. People are worried that clothing can be contaminated with the coronavirus and bring it on to them. The same goes both ways with the store not accepting clothes from customers to be traded for in store clothing or them buying clothes from customers for store credit/money back. “we had to close down for a little bit completely and opted to selling online, which is a lot slower and even still our hours are cut.” “for a little bit we didn’t accept trading or buying [clothes from customers] because we didn’t want to risk any sort of contamination between buying stuff… we’ve seen a decrease [in people wanting to trade/sale.]” said Rapson.
With coronavirus being easily contracted many shops that outsource for their merchandise from other states, people, and stores like local vintage shops are worried for their safety and the safety of others. David Marrs, owner of Vagabond Vintage, also located in San Marcos, worried that with the lockdown in place it meant that he wouldn’t be able to go out and buy new pieces to restock his store. “It’s been a little scary because I’m old. I’ve probably already spent $1000 dollars on masks just to give away to customers.” “…It’s a little hard for me to source out some of my merchandise sometimes because some of the places, like where I get boots, are flea markets so some of them haven’t been open or they’re not open when I’m used to them being open.” Said Marrs.
Another thing Marrs and others were worried about was how long the lockdown would be in place. Many of the shops like Monkies have found ways to continue sales online through social media and platforms like Depop, but for some going online just isn’t an option due to the store being ran by few people.
Now with the lockdown lifted both shops have been open for business and are taking safety precautions to ensure the safety of themselves, their employees, and customers. Mandatory face covering is demanded in both shops with the practicing of social distancing as well. Both Rapson and Marrs mentioned that each clothing item that is sold is sanitized along with the store so people can shop worry free of being contracted with the corona virus.
Small businesses, like these vintage shops, do not have the funds like large corporation companies do to lift themselves out of trouble with the snap of a finger, but with the communities help they can continue to do what they love to do. Although we are still in a Pandemic, store owners ask that if you are able to and can it’s important to support your local small businesses. Through the pandemic, shop owners and employees have shown what resilience they have as they move forward to continue their businesses and adapt new ways to keep themselves and their customers safe.
A look into how small local vintage thrift shops are doing through a global pandemic: experience’s and plans
When the coronavirus pandemic called for a city mandate requiring all nonessential businesses to close, small local businesses, like vintage thrift stores, Vagabond Vintage, and Monkies Vintage located in San Marcos Texas were frightened for the future of their stores. Since the beginning of the lift, both shops have now been finding ways to creatively continue their sales all while protecting their customers, employees, and themselves.
