A hand up for the community
Long time St. Charles resident Carol Frey is an example of someone who is dedicating her life to others in the community, not by offering a handout, but by offering a hand up. Her business, Sensible Threadz in St. Charles is a perfect example of a win-win situation. The company’s business model is designed to not only help the local business community thrive, but also to help people save money while aiding needy individuals.
Frey has lived in the St. Charles area for almost 16 years and has been involved in both the business and the philanthropic sides of the community. In terms of business, she worked in the mortgage industry for many years and enjoyed assisting people in obtaining their mortgages. “I was trying to help people to turn their lives around and get them back on track again and save money,” she explains. In addition, Frey started a side business selling clothes on eBay. On the philanthropic side, Frey volunteered her time with the St. Charles Mother’s Club. “I wanted to be a part of something that gives back to the community.”
However, when the economy began to falter, she knew it was time to make a change. “About four years ago I started thinking about the future of my life. Going forward was not going to be the same and I could see the changes that were already taking place in the mortgage industry. I knew I needed to reinvent myself, so I asked myself, ‘What do I know? How can I reapply myself? How can I be the person I want to be and how can I give back?’ I sat down and I came up with this store.” Frey was able to tap into her philanthropic, business, and resale clothing experience, to create Sensible Threadz in St. Charles.
Sensible Threadz opened in November 2010 and is unlike a typical clothing store. Sensible Threadz sells new, resale- name brand clothing for infants through junior girl sizes at deeply discounted prices. However, the store is unique in that it is a discount store with a twist. “Customers can bring in their used, private label brands, and I pay cash for those items. Or, I double that cash and let them turn around and buy something in the store. It’s an exchange program for the clothes.” The store’s new inventory is sourced from the same wholesale manufacturers as department store name brands. In addition, many of the gently used, private-label items are popular name brands such as Gymboree, Hannah Anderson, Gap, Abercrombie, Express, and Hollister to name a few. However, prices at Sensible Threadz are discounted on average between 50–75% off the original retail price. “Nothing in the children’s section is above $17.99, and the $17.99 items are equivalent to a price of $45–$60 sold normally,” explains Frey.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of Frey’s store, however, is that she uses it to promote local charities, shelters, and organizations in the St. Charles area. About six times per year, Frey works with a selected charity to understand their greatest needs. She then holds a drive in her store to collect those items for about a month. Customers who bring in the needed items receive an in-store credit. “Everything we do through the store is a win-win for everybody. It’s not just you are giving and somebody is getting. You are giving AND you are receiving. It’s a way of saying thank you.” The store has collected such things as Christmas gifts for children at Lazarus House, cleaning supplies for the shelter through Life Spring Ministries/Wayside Cross Ministries, and sheets and towels for the Batavia Interfaith Clothing Closet. Frey meets with each organization to see if she can help them collect their most pressing items. “People never think about giving bedding and towels. People need to sleep and they need to shower. So we collected sheets and towels; and if they brought that in we gave them 25% off our bedding or $5 off in the store. It’s a continual thing that we are doing.”
In addition to the philanthropic aspects of her store, Frey also supports local artisans by allowing them to display their inventory. “I work with local artisans so that the local talent that we have in our community is being recognized. Not only can customers get hand-made, custom-made items, but they can get quality items. All these people stand behind their work.” Going forward, Frey hopes to add more artists to her store.
Zoe Ingersoll of St. Charles has this to say about Frey: “What is extraordinary about Carol is that she is constantly thinking about other people and how she can help them. She not only thinks about others, but she takes it a step further by actually doing things for others. She makes a wonderful impact on the lives of many people in the community and I think she has a wonderful servant’s heart!”
When asked what motivates her, Frey says she truly wants to make the St. Charles community a better place. “I truly do this more for a personal reason of trying to give back to the community. When I was younger, my family received a lot of things from different places because our life was put into a situation where we needed help. So now, I want to turn around and kind of give back. If somebody just gives them a hand up to get back on their feet again that’s all they need. I think if our whole country focused not just giving, but HELPING people get back on track again, it would be a stronger country.”
For more information about the upcoming drive in April, check Facebook, Twitter or sensiblethreadz.com.
by Peggy Capper
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