Rec-la-ma-tion curates an intentional and sustainable consignment experience
By George Berkheimer
Shoppers are accustomed to finding value at thrift stores, but the values to be found at the Rec-la-ma-tion consignment and gift shop on Pitt Street extend beyond the items on the shelves and racks.
True to its name, the business is even located in a restored urban warehouse.
“We center our brand identity around intentional and meaningful living that celebrates individuality in a way that honors each other and our spaces,” said owner Kristi Hillegas. “Our ethos is economical, environmental, and ethically sustainable health and wealth.”
Rec-la-ma-tion just celebrated its 10th year in business and is staffed by volunteers and subcontractors.
According to Hillegas, the focus at Rec-la-ma-tion is on elevated resale as well as small batch socially beneficial and locally made gifts.
“We’ve created a space and environment that welcomes and engages a diverse community, and we purposefully offer a curated collection for our community to discover one-of-a-kind finds that enhance their lifestyles,” she said. “Our consignor and artisan partnerships not only stimulate the local economy directly; they also reduce overconsumption and waste. Intentional affiliations with socially conscious brands allow us to provide opportunities for our community to help nourish our brand ethos while enjoying quality products.”
While working-age females constitute the largest customer base coming from a 50-mile radius, Rec-la-ma-tion’s customers are diverse.
“Many are returning customers, but we continue to see new locals just discovering us,” Hillegas said. “Most of our customers visit us regularly, but we also see a significant amount of out-of-towners who come back annually, quarterly or even monthly.”
Engaging and personal
Hillegas said she is also intentional about providing customers with a connected, engaging experience.
“We love getting to know them and what they enjoy, which allows us to create an inspiring experience when they visit,” she said. “Simply making a transaction doesn’t align with us. We are meaningful about building relationships, and many of our customers find us through their own relationships and networking.”
Strategic traditional marketing helps, she added, but in-person referrals best mirror the intimate, personal experience customers can expect to find in the store.
Hillegas grew up in Bedford County, but her family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in her teens.
“Extended roots kept me linked with the area and I connected with my husband here,” she said.
Her professional background in sales and marketing coupled with diverse experiences and opportunities influenced the vision she had for developing Rec-la-ma-tion.
“We’re a member of Downtown Bedford Inc. and have collaborated with other downtown businesses for community events and initiatives,” Hillegas said. “We enjoy participating in local charitable fundraisers by providing monetary and basket donations.”
Rec-la-ma-tion hosts and facilitates The Butterfly Effect event that runs from October through August each year and benefits Your Safe Haven, a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter.
“The campaign encourages customers to make a donation and place a butterfly in our window bearing their name or the name of someone else they’d like to honor,” she said. “It’s very meaningful for us and our customers, and at the end of the campaign we donate the funds we raise along with a shadowbox filled with all the butterflies.”
Making connections
“Bedford County’s location in rural central Pennsylvania creates unique opportunities,” Hillegas said, “with a mix of native locals and transient visitors combining a familiar small town feel with a sense of escapism.”
“Our location didn’t exactly hit all the business-minded marks we initially had, but it made sense because both the local and visiting customer community was receptive and supportive,” she said. “We put our energy into connecting with them in ways that were engaging and educating, and they responded by sharing our mindset and enthusiasm, which made Rec-la-ma-tion thrive.”
“Bedford County’s natural environment, way of life and central location make it a great place to serve others and call home,” Hillegas said. “My husband and I enjoy outdoor experiences like hiking, biking and water sports, and frequenting local shops and restaurants. We also like building and creating our own unique spaces here and connecting with our community.”