It’s been around six months since Baldwin Wallace University alumnus Noah Mowery has opened The Thrifting Tree’s brick-and-mortar store in Berea.

“Since opening, it’s been crazy, but in a good way,” Mowery said. “The support I’ve been getting has meant the world. Nowadays, my day-to-day is playing catch up to meet demand, because we’ve had such great traffic.”

Before Thrifting Tree had an in-person presence, Noah operated an online store and did popups on campus. His goals have already been evolving since opening.

“It’s all about problem solving,” Mowery said. “Within a year, I want our inventory to rival a regular thrift store, which takes a lot of work. I want to keep meeting requests and customer demand.”

When asked about his goals, Mowery said, “I want to make this shop in Berea the best I can. I have so many ideas, like a vintage book selection and a vinyl shelf. I also want to expand our women’s section, because it’s been doing super well since we launched it on Valentine’s Day.”

“By year two, I want to have a second store,” Mowery said. “It will still be in Ohio but where is still up in the air. I want other communities to have access to a store like The Thrifting Tree.”

Noah is currently working on curating a brand image for Thrifting Tree, which he has worked on extensively. “I want people to know us when they see us,” he said. “Branding is everything. I’m super into earthy tones and understated Y2K.”

Owning a business can be tumultuous, and Noah provided some insight on the unexpected changes he has faced as the owner of TTT.

“It is not what I thought it would be- in the best way possible,” Mowery said. “At first, I thought we would get a customer or two a day. I’ve been so surprised and impressed with the attention we’ve received!”

“I see empty hangers as potential. I thought this would just be a cool place on campus, but we’ve evolved into a serious business,” Mowery said. “The growing pains are real, and I think every student business needs to hear that. For me, there’s no ‘we did it,’ it’s still ‘we’re doing it.’ The work is never finished, but I like it that way.”

Noah shared what he learned from being a business owner, both unexpected success and stress.

“To me, it’s hard to give up responsibility,” Mowery said. “I always want to be involved in day-to-day operations, but I’ve taken more of a management role. I love what I do, so it’s hard to delegate, even if I have to.”

The Thrifting Tree frequently has popups at BW, with the most recent one occurring April 21. Although far beyond his first popup, Noah shared some insight into this recent event.

“It was great,” Mowery said. “We are planning an upcoming popup in the fall, and for suspense, I’ll leave the location up in the air. I also love getting to work with other businesses on campus and seeing them succeed.”

Being the owner of a curated thrift store, Noah has a lot of advice to offer on how to thrift. He provided tips for those looking to get the most out of thrifting.

“Always look for the new racks,” Mowery said. “The put-back racks are also full of great items, as they end up being accidentally curated. Salvation Army is my favorite store, but don’t forget about Plato’s Closet and other resellers. Sometimes, they have amazing vintage finds!”

The Thrifting Tree has a goal to help shoppers love their clothes and value them for years to come. The business has roots in sustainability and responsible buying, and Noah hopes to promote this.

“I want people to keep their items, to wear them, to love them,” Mowery said. “Curated stores are a great way to find the items that you really love. My goal is to have customers keep items for five to ten years, closing the circle of fast fashion and disposable clothes.”

The Thrifting Tree is still growing, but there is so much to look forward to. Noah Mowery would like to thank LaunchNet for its assistance in starting his business and all the support it has provided.

The Thrifting Tree can be visited at 44 W Bridge St., right next to the Giant Eagle off Campus.