Rumor Has It: Thrifted is Best!

Spring brings new growth and fresh beginnings which can reflect why we focus on Spring cleaning. Golden Meadow native Linzie Cheramie has found a way to take her passion for giving a second life to clothing and helping others organize their homes into a business.

Linzie graduated from Nicholls State University with a History degree, not because she wanted to specifically teach, but because she enjoyed the subject. She has always focused on what she enjoys doing versus what the status quo may be. 

She has been thrifting since her childhood when her grandmother would take her to garage sales and loves finding items that can be given a second chance. She has over ten years of retail experience and always loved fashion, but the experience taught her the downside of the industry. She wanted to put her life experiences and ethics together to be able to have an income doing what she loves while making an impact. “I knew I wanted to be in fashion, but I didn’t want a boutique, I didn’t want to be in corporate anymore,” she said.

From those goals, Rumors Resale was born. 

The business started when she turned to Poshmark and eBay to sell items she found thrifting. She said at the time, her family would ask what she was doing since college graduation and what her plan was going forward, but she was almost ashamed telling them she started the online business selling secondhand clothing in fear of their reactions. After about a year of having online shops, she said she decided to just go all in. “I was pleasantly surprised how supported and interested people were,” she said.

Thrifting isn’t the only thing she does. The client-based side of her business started with helping others clean and organize their closets then she would help sell the clothing the clients no longer needed. This began with her family and friends which she said are her biggest supporters. Now she has expanded and met people she hasn’t known before which is part of why she loves doing what she does. 

When discussing her views on the waste of the fashion industry, she said she doesn’t want to sound like she is preaching to people or making them feel bad for choosing clothing to wear, but rather present the issue in a way consumers can be conscious about choices after they are finished with the clothing, “Let’s do something with it after; let’s not just throw it in the trash, let’s give it a second life,” she said.

“I had people that were just going to throw [clothing] away…they feel good knowing they will be giving it to someone that will make money off of it, and then the rest is donated to good causes,” she said. After a client goes through their items to give away, she goes through the clothing as well to see if she can resale, then she finds the right places to donate with the items she doesn’t have a market for. She chooses local causes to give to such as Terrebonne Arc’s Cedar Chest, The Haven, and a new thrift store on the campus of Nicholls State University, The Colonel Closet, that serves students, faculty, and staff. The thrift shop offers campus goers the opportunity to get a few items a day. “It’s all about making it last because, by the time we buy it, it’s already done so much damage to the environment and the women who made it…I can’t stop that it’s already made, I just want it to last twice as long,” she said.

Linzie has a traveling heart, so she wants her business to be able to travel as well. While she doesn’t want a brick-and-mortar storefront, she would love to have a mobile boutique one day. Her online presence and eBay stores give her a chance to branch out, reaching a national audience. Linzie also enjoys checking out other thrift stores when she vacations, “I like to travel, and I really like to post on Instagram and social media. I want people to see the value of what I do,” she said, “I am so thankful our customers give us an opportunity to give back, and I know we could never do it without all the amazing support we have received over the years.” 

Rumours Resale is on Facebook (@rumoursresale), Instagram (@rumoursresale), and online at rumourspreownedclothing.myshopify.com.