The growth of Renaissance | The Press

It wasn’t just a coincidence, but rather a revealing moment in a consumer trend.

The weather was magnificent. It was September 30, the sidewalks of Avenue du Mont-Royal, on the Plateau, were crowded, but the stores clearly lacked customers to serve. The effect of the last rays of autumn sun? Inflation?

Looking through the windows, I found one exception. The Renaissance store would have needed eight cash registers because the line to pay was so long. It must have had at least 20 people, despite the work of three cashiers. A real hive! We were reading there. Parents were looking for Halloween costumes for the kids. Students rummaged through sweaters and dishes.

It was difficult to navigate the aisles, like at Costco two days before Christmas.

“Since the summer, the effect of interest rates has been felt,” notes the general director of Renaissance, Éric St-Arnaud. But for several years now, a “conjunction of many elements” has contributed to the success of the non-profit organization (NPO) and to the “enormous” demand for used goods.

This is not a simple jovial or marketing speech. A glance at Renaissance’s financial statements tells us that sales jumped an impressive 21% last year, to $77 million. Growth that would make the majority of retailers jealous. That’s a lot of transactions, customers and items worth a few dollars starting a new chapter in their lives.

According to the most recent ESG UQAM Responsible Consumption Barometer, published in November, 43.5% of Quebecers purchased used products in the last year.

The craze for second-hand goods is hardly surprising, but its scale is impressive. Exciting too.

The economic and climatic context has changed consumption habits quite quickly. We are looking for all kinds of ways to stretch the budget because of inflation, the cost of groceries and housing, while worrying about the planet. Buying a pair of jeans for $6 or a game of Monopoly for $4 becomes an obvious solution.

This is without taking into account that the perception of the second-hand market has evolved. Teenagers have absolutely no shame in dressing in thrift stores, whether at Renaissance, at Village des Valeurs or on the app Vinted. On the contrary, it is valued.

Even used gifts “are returned,” says Éric St-Arnaud. “A stack of 10 books for $15 with a ribbon is cool!” » You were looking for ways to save at Christmas, here is one which, in addition, finances the integration of vulnerable people into the job market. What could be better ?

The Renaissance brand also benefits from the good old principle of the Hygrade sausage. As it increases its number of branches, its reputation soars, which increases the quantity of donations received and, therefore, the attractiveness of the stores. A few days ago, a 38^e point of sale was inaugurated in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, between Promenades and Home Depot. We are far from the small, poorly located and invisible business. In 2024, three openings are planned, including one in a completely new territory, that of Quebec.

But Éric St-Arnaud’s wildest dream is to open a shopping center entirely dedicated to used goods. He believes he can do it. I wish it to him. It is an excellent idea.

Customers could find a hardware store, a clothing store, another selling toys or kitchen items. The space would also house premises intended for repairing things with tools and sewing machines around a coffee, as exists in Helsinki, Finland. At the end of November, at the SRC, Infoman introduced us to a magnificent building where this concept is taken to the extreme. You can borrow a musical instrument, use a laser printer, stick an image on a t-shirt^⁠1. We are completely reinventing the way of consuming.

We realize more and more that it is absurd to buy everything new and to have things that we use once a year, whether it is a table saw or a tarpaulin for painting. Business models must adapt to this observation.

While waiting to realize its new type of shopping center project, Renaissance continues to improve the shopping experience at its points of sale. The objective: to give the impression that we are selling new items. And sell as much as possible. Regardless of income, everyone has the right to adequate lighting and the pleasant scent of essential oils, believes Éric St-Arnaud.

It’s a good thing for the environment, of course. But what’s more, profits help bring people into the workforce, not just in the retail sector, as I thought. In fact, in stores, you come across few people in training. The vast majority of the 1,500 people helped each year go through the Renaissance Employment Assistance Centers (CAER) where the services offered are aimed at everyone who wants to work, regardless of the field. With the notable increase in the number of immigrants and refugees, demand is particularly strong.

This is another good reason to encourage this model, by donating or buying.