Interview: Reshoppit
During a chaotic flea market, Camilla Kongshøft tried to sell her and her children’s clothes, but without much success. Convinced there was a smarter solution, she opened her first second-hand store, Reshoppit, in 2015.
With an annual consumption of over 15 kg of textiles per person, Denmark’s clothing consumption is 35% higher than the global average, according to affald.dk. With this in mind, Camilla set out in 2015 to make second-hand shopping more accessible, attractive, and luxurious—where you could also earn money from what you sell. At the time, the only options were donating used clothes to charity organizations or renting a stall at various flea markets.
At Reshoppit, you rent a stand for a set number of weeks, which you fill with the clothes you want to sell. The store’s staff takes care of everything else, including monitoring and selling the items. Customers receive the same service they would in a regular clothing store, and as a seller, you avoid the hassle of managing and communicating with customers yourself, freeing up your time for other things.
A Stand Against The Fashion Industry’s Environmental Damage
With fast fashion and ever-changing trends, Reshoppit’s concept aims to extend the lifespan of various clothing brands and trends without directly competing with the fashion industry. For every item sold at Reshoppit, the environment is spared the production of one more piece of clothing.
“In consumer culture, there’s a tendency to buy new, new, new, every time something comes into fashion, only to forget about it later, leaving it to hang unused. With us, you have the opportunity to make money from these items, which you can then use to buy something else,” Camilla Kongshøft, Reshoppit.
“A great example of this is the trend with the popular ‘Buckle Shoes,’ which everyone felt they had to own. Just two months after they were released, they could already be found in our stores,” Camilla Kongshøft, Reshoppit.
Re-sale, Re-love, Re-buy
Reshoppit’s concept is booming, evident in the opening of four new stores in just one year. As Camilla perfectly puts it, "It’s pretty crazy." This expansion has made it even easier and more accessible for consumers to sell and profit from their wardrobe clear-outs, which can now be done at one of the eight Reshoppit stores located across Denmark.
Recycling Royal Fabrics At Reshoppit
The renowned couture designer Ole Yde, best known for creating many of Queen Mary’s elegant gowns, occasionally designs new pieces from leftover fabric. A few years ago, he crafted a jumpsuit from such fabric, which Camilla loved. That very jumpsuit was eventually sold in Reshoppit’s store in Vejle for just 350 DKK.
“To think that we offer everything from a simple blouse to high-end brands, and even pieces by a major fashion industry designer. This is exactly my vision," Camilla Kongshøft, Reshoppit.
Less Consumption, More Reuse
Reshoppit strives to become Denmark’s leading platform for buying and selling second-hand clothes, accessories, and home decor. In addition, they aim to provide the best possible service to their customers, ensuring they receive the proper guidance on pricing their items. At the same time, Reshoppit advocates for reducing consumption culture and acts as a protector of the environment. Their vision is to inspire more people to consider buying some of their clothing second-hand.
It appears they are well on their way, as in early June, they won the ‘Best of Odense’ award in the ‘Shopping and Fashion’ category. This is a significant milestone for Reshoppit and a big step toward becoming Denmark’s leading platform for buying and selling second-hand clothes and accessories.
Camilla's Golden Advice
Camilla shares her top three pieces of advice that she believes aspiring entrepreneurs should follow or consider:
No Limits
The first and most important advice is that there are 'no limits' to your own ideas. Dream big, think big, and keep being creative. Of course, it needs to be realistic, and all the administrative tasks are part of the process, but it can be hard to achieve something great if you don't allow yourself to dream and think creatively.
Find Good Sparring Partners
Find good and reliable sparring partners who you can reflect with and seek advice from. This can help you improve yourself and also contribute to your collaboration, ultimately leading to recommendations for your business within their network.
Stay Determined
Starting your own business is hard work. That's why it's crucial not to lose courage when you face challenges. Trust me—you will face many big challenges along the way, but these should be seen as learning and development opportunities, not setbacks.
Why pensopay?
Camilla was specifically recommended pensopay through her network. She is particularly happy with pensopay and shares: “The reason we are very satisfied customers with you is that you respond quickly when help or guidance is needed. Additionally, you pulled out all the stops to get one of our stores up and running on a Friday afternoon—that kind of service is rare to find.” Camilla Kongshøft, Reshoppit.
“Moreover, your activity and presence on social media, as well as these blog posts, have also played a significant role. You can hear about other entrepreneurs and their stories, allowing you to reflect and identify with some of them.” Camilla Kongshøft, Reshoppit.
Thank you for an exciting and inspiring conversation, Camilla. We are proud to call you and Reshoppit our partner.
Good luck with everything moving forward, we look forward to following your journey.
Team pensopay
Read about more great entrepreneurial advice from several of our customers.
