At a time when many companies are trying to decide whether they can afford to stay in business, Durham's thrift stores are thriving.
"We've seen an increase in people coming to shop," said Rich Carr, manager of the Durham Rescue Mission, which includes a thrift store.
"These are new customers that haven't really shopped at thrift stores before, but are trying to save. And we're seeing even more of our regular people."
According to a survey conducted by The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, 64.1 percent of the stores surveyed said sales had increased an average of 31 percent in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the same time in 2008.
Though the economic downturn has brought many new customers out to shop at thrift stores, many have known for years about the bargains.
"I've been into second-hand items, whether it be furniture, art work, or clothing, since my first year of college," said Terri Lawson, who is now a graduate student at N.C. Central University.
The influx of new and old customers has caused many thrift stores to have to expand.
"Our Highway 55 location was getting a lot of donations and shoppers," said Carr. "We were in need of another location, and this one on Glenwood Avenue became available."
Still, the growth has had its setbacks. "Donations have declined in this economy," said Carr. "People are holding on to their items if they aren't buying new ones."
"The benefits of this is that we're salvaging things from our landfills," said Carr.
"We encourage students to make donations because at the end of the semester, the dumpsters are just full of things that young people are just throwing out. This is an opportunity to go green."
Making something new out of something old is something that Shaniece Simmons, a family and consumer sciences senior, has been doing with the clothing that she purchases from thrift stores.
"In the apparel alterations class, we get an outfit from the thrift store and alter it," she said.
"If you're going for a more polished look instead of jeans and sneakers, the thrift store is the place to go," said Jamal Abdur-Razzaq, psychology junior.
Shopping there may not be as enticing to some of the more trendy shoppers, but the merchandise is often unique.
"If I go get a shirt from the thrift store and someone sees me in that shirt, they won't be able to go and find that same shirt there," said Abdur-Razzaq. "There aren't any duplicates of items."
Although it may be hard to find the same shirt that your favorite hip-hop artist dawned in their latest video, thrift stores are still offering fierce competition to some of the more trendy outlets and malls.
Studies by America's Research Group show that about 17 percent of Americans will shop at thrift stores in a given year, compared to 11.4 percent at outlet malls, 21.3 percent at major department stores and 19.6 percent at apparel stores.
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