Thrifting is more popular than it has ever been and with the help from businesses like 501 Finds, Conway is making cheaper, more environmentally-friendly decisions to dress better.
Brandon Proenza, the creator of 501 Finds, found that his style had changed since moving from Jupiter, Florida, to Conway. “I think Arkansas is way bigger than a lot more other states where you’ll find vintage clothing … I did not dress like this when I was in Florida. My vibe totally changed since I got here,” Proenza said.
Searching through the Goodwill bins is what initially piqued Proenza’s interest to create 501 Finds over a year-and-a-half ago. Proenza said, “I started when I first ever went to the Little Rock bins and I pulled a 1990s Nike sweatshirt. I loved it, and then I sold it for like 90% profit.”
This is the second business that Proenza has owned. His first business was a bathing suit company that he started at 14-years-old. Although it was successful, he retired the business after four years.
“I always knew I was gonna do something with business, but then [501 Finds] started and I realized I can make really make something out of it,” Proenza said.
Proenza goes to the Goodwill bins from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. almost every day to find his products. “I have some secret spots around town, like [in Conway] and then some in Fayetteville that I have but where I get my really good stuff is gonna be the bins,” Proenza said.
Proenza looks for clothing that spans over decades — from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s to Y2K. His main selling items are band tees, college gear and athletic wear.
College kids are Proenza’s main target and main consumers. “I try to sell clothes at cheap prices so I can keep having good customers,” he said.
As of now, Proenza does not have a shop for his clothes. His ultimate goal is to have his own shop in Downtown Conway. His plan is to collaborate with a few existing vintage accounts and rebrand 501 Finds to Off Style. “It’ll be a brick-and-mortar barbershop and a vintage clothing market … I want it to be more broad than anything. So, like 501 Finds is strictly Conway, and I want it to be like Arkansas,” Proenza said.
Until Off Style takes off, he participates in a lot of pop-up shops around Central Arkansas. He used to do pop-ups at Blue Sail twice a month. He also sells off of his Instagram page, @501.finds.
Proenza, along with other vendors, will be participating in a pop-up shop at the SigEp house on Donaghey Ave. on March 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a $5 entry fee for those to come and shop. Proenza said that they’re going to turn the house into a market for the event.
501 Finds plans to participate in a bigger-scale event in Little Rock — La Rosa Antigua and the Collective’s “Forever Thrifted” Vintage Swap Meet on March 5 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Up to 18 vendors will be attending.
The Vintage Swap Meet event is a good example of the culture of the vintage clothing business and how they need to be collaborative for each business to get their foot in the door.
Proenza said several vintage accounts share one another’s posts and build off each other’s followers, but the thrifting business is ultimately competitive. “There’s like a good 15 of us that go to the bins every day. We all go at different times, but we all know we’re gonna see each other at some point of the day. It’s definitely really competitive, but it’s a part of the game,” Proenza said.
What some people don’t realize is how difficult it can be to find good items. Proenza said he pays pennies for the clothes, but the hunt for the clothes is the grunt of the work.
“If I buy a sweatshirt for $5 and sell it for $10, I made my profit, but I’m selling it for 20 because I found it … you’re paying for my time too,” Proenza said.
Although Proenza said that the trend of thrifting will “die out eventually, there’s always gonna be your good group that will always keep buying vintage clothing.”