PROUD ENTREPRENEUR. Rhea Llaneta takes a breather from the hustle and bustle of managing her thrift store business in this photo taken on June 29, 2024. A former reseller of preselected second-hand items, the mother of four now earns more than PHP100,000 a month after opening four "ukay-ukay" stalls in Daraga, Albay. (Photo courtesy of Rhea Llaneta)
DARAGA, Albay – On Saturdays at exactly 7 a.m., Rhea Llaneta's "ukay-ukay" shop in the bustling market of Daraga town in Albay province transforms into a treasure trove as bargain hunters dig through piles of secondhand garments to snag the best deals.
"It is chaotic and, at the same time, fun every weekend here because of our scheduled new ukay-ukay arrivals. My regular customers, who are mostly resellers of preloved selections, flood in as soon as I open our bales," the 42-year-old entrepreneur said in the vernacular.
"They even jostle and shove each other just to grab the best items. I understand them because I was once like them," she added in between chuckles.
Ukay-ukay, also called “wagwagan,” is a store for secondhand items such as clothes, bags, shoes and other accessories, expectedly sold dirt cheap.
Before putting up her business in 2014, the mother of four used to scour all the thrift stores in Daraga as a reseller of used clothes.
While her earnings were modest, it was not enough to make both ends meet, considering her growing family.
"For years, I tried to make a living as a reseller of preloved clothes and as a fish vendor, all while taking care of my young kids. Back then, life was really tough for me and my husband, who was also working in a meat shop."
Fortunately for this hardworking mom, the owner of a thrift store she regularly frequents offered her a small space in her stall. This allowed her to start her own business without having to shell out capital.
"She told me I could set up a makeshift table where I could display the garments that I purchased from her. She just asked me to return the PHP11,000 capital for that 100-kilo ukay-ukay bale. From that single bale, I was able to double my earnings," she recalled.
Bale is a sealed bundle of used clothes, with the purchaser having no idea what the contents look like.
Llaneta now owns four stalls, earning more than PHP100,000 a month. She is also the proud owner of a beauty salon, also in Daraga.
Unique finds
From an assortment of clothes scattered across repurposed tables to vintage accessories such as bags, belts, scarves, and caps hanging on the racks, Llaneta's shop is an eclectic haven for thrift shoppers wanting to score the best bargains.
Loyal customer, Renadel Angeles, 34, said she makes it a point to visit the store every Saturday because the items are reasonably priced given the quality of the items.
"I buy from this store because they sell branded and one-of-a-kind items that will last a long time," she said in the vernacular.
"When you buy at thrift stores, you can be assured that what you will get are unique pieces that you will not find anywhere else," Angeles added.
Secret for success
To ensure a steady supply of quality merchandise, Llaneta said maintaining good supplier relations is key.
"Succeeding in this line of business requires taking risks. There are times when your supplier will not disclose accurate information regarding the quality of the items, so you need to build mutual trust in order to negotiate effectively with them," she added.
Llaneta revealed that she gets her merchandise from a trusted supplier based in Manila who sells bundles of second-hand clothing imported from the United States and Korea.
"Managing an ukay-ukay business is always a gamble, so it is not for the faint of heart. It requires a combination of knowledge, skills, and experience to succeed," she said.
Asked what's the best part of owning a thrift shop, Llaneta said it is seeing her customers light up every time they find something that resonates with their personal styles.
"This business has not only allowed me to connect with people but has also enabled me to achieve things I could only dream of before," the entrepreneur said proudly. (PNA)
