Buffalo Exchange
American fashion resale retailer operating a buy-sell-trade clothing model.
Last updated October 24, 2026
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Overview
Buffalo Exchange is an American fashion resale retailer founded in Tucson, Arizona, in 1974 by Kerstin Block and her husband, Spencer Block. The company developed a buy-sell-trade model in which members of the public bring clothing and accessories to a store, the store selects items for purchase, and those items are then resold to other customers. This approach differs from traditional thrift retail, which generally depends on donations, and from consignment, in which the original owner commonly retains an economic interest until an item sells. The company was created around the idea that secondhand shopping could be clean, bright, curated, and approachable. The first store occupied a small approximately 400-square-foot location in Tucson. Rather than presenting used merchandise as an undifferentiated charitable or bargain assortment, Buffalo Exchange emphasized selection, fashion relevance, and a retail environment intended to make resale more accessible to a broad customer base. After establishing its initial Tucson operation, Buffalo Exchange expanded within Arizona and later opened a location in San Francisco. During the 1990s, as interest in secondhand shopping increased, the business added locations across California, the Southwest, and the Northwest. The chain eventually grew to more than 40 stores in the United States. Its inventory is primarily sourced locally, with individual stores hand-selecting much of what they buy from people in their surrounding communities. This local sourcing model gives stores a degree of connection to neighborhood tastes while allowing customers to turn unwanted clothing into cash or store value. Buffalo Exchange's merchandise consists mainly of pre-owned clothing, shoes, and accessories. Because inventory depends on customer buybacks and trade-ins, the assortment changes continually rather than following the standardized seasonal structure of a conventional apparel chain. The format attracts shoppers seeking lower-priced fashion, distinctive or vintage-style pieces, and a more circular alternative to buying new garments. It also provides a channel through which customers can recirculate clothing instead of sending it directly to disposal. The company has remained privately held and family-operated. The business continues to be associated with the Block family, with Kerstin Block's daughter, Rebecca Block, identified as continuing the family's ownership and operating involvement. Buffalo Exchange has also promoted community and environmental initiatives, including its annual Earth Day $1 Sale and its Tokens for Bags program. These activities reinforce the retailer's connection to reuse, local participation, and waste reduction. Buffalo Exchange's present identity is therefore built around three linked elements: a curated secondhand fashion assortment, a store-level buy-sell-trade transaction model, and a network of U.S. locations that source much of their merchandise from local customers. The company is best understood as a specialized resale retailer rather than a conventional department store, discount chain, or apparel manufacturer.
History
Buffalo Exchange began in 1974 in Tucson, Arizona, when Kerstin Block and her husband, Spencer Block, established a different kind of secondhand clothing store. Their concept was designed to make used fashion feel clean, bright, curated, and accessible. The first location occupied an approximately 400-square-foot space. Instead of relying primarily on charitable donations or using a conventional consignment arrangement, the store pioneered a buy-sell-trade approach: customers brought in clothing and accessories, the store selected merchandise it wanted, and the accepted items entered the store's resale assortment. This model connected the retailer directly with its local customer base. It gave people a way to exchange unwanted clothing for money or store value while allowing the business to maintain a more selective fashion assortment than a general thrift shop. The company has described its stores as hand-selecting and purchasing much of their inventory from the communities in which they operate. As a result, merchandise varies by location and changes continually according to customer supply, local preferences, and the condition and style of items presented for sale. Following its launch in Tucson, Buffalo Exchange expanded to additional locations in Arizona and subsequently opened a store in San Francisco. Its growth accelerated during the 1990s, a period in which secondhand shopping became more popular with consumers. The company added 19 locations across California, the Southwest, and the Northwest during that decade. Over time, the chain expanded beyond its original regional footprint and grew to more than 40 stores throughout the United States. The company's retail identity has remained centered on fashion resale rather than manufacturing its own apparel. Its stores sell used clothing and accessories, including changing selections of contemporary, vintage, and otherwise distinctive fashion items. Because the business buys directly from the public, its inventory is less standardized than that of a conventional apparel chain. This gives the stores a treasure-hunt quality while also supporting the recirculation of garments and accessories. Buffalo Exchange has remained privately owned and associated with the Block family. Kerstin Block's daughter, Rebecca Block, continues to own and operate the business. The company has also used community-oriented and environmental programs to express the broader purpose of resale. Its annual Earth Day $1 Sale and Tokens for Bags program are examples of initiatives connected with reuse, customer participation, and reducing the environmental impact associated with clothing and shopping bags. The company's development illustrates the growth of specialized resale retail from a single neighborhood store into a multi-state U.S. chain. Its enduring model combines local sourcing, selective merchandising, and direct customer transactions. Rather than competing primarily through a standardized private-label product line, Buffalo Exchange differentiates itself through the changing character of its secondhand inventory, the ability of customers to sell or trade items, and a retail experience that presents used clothing as accessible fashion.
- 1990
1990s regional expansion
[1]During the 1990s, Buffalo Exchange opens 19 new locations across California, the Southwest, and the Northwest as secondhand shopping gains popularity.
- 1974
Buffalo Exchange is founded in Tucson
[1]Kerstin and Spencer Block establish Buffalo Exchange in a small Tucson store and introduce their buy-sell-trade approach to clothing resale.
Expansion into Arizona and San Francisco
[1]After the original Tucson operation, the company adds stores in Arizona and opens a location in San Francisco.
Growth beyond the original region
[1]The retailer expands to more than 40 stores throughout the United States.
Products and positioning
A curated, community-sourced secondhand fashion retailer that combines resale shopping with a buy-sell-trade service and environmental reuse initiatives.
Secondhand apparel · 1974
Pre-owned clothing
Buffalo Exchange's principal merchandise category is used clothing purchased directly from members of the public. Store teams select garments based on factors such as condition, style, and local demand. The assortment changes continually because it is generated through customer buybacks and trades rather than a fixed seasonal wholesale collection.
Secondhand fashion accessories · 1974
Pre-owned accessories
The retailer buys and resells used fashion accessories alongside apparel. These items contribute to the changing, locally sourced character of each store and allow customers to participate in the same buy-sell-trade process used for clothing.
Resale service · 1974
Buy-sell-trade service
The buy-sell-trade service is Buffalo Exchange's defining commercial offering. Customers bring clothing and accessories to a store, staff members select items suitable for resale, and accepted merchandise is acquired for later sale. The service makes customers both suppliers and shoppers within the retailer's local resale marketplace.
Controversies
2020
Buffalo Exchange cuts ties with three Colorado stores
Buffalo Exchange cut ties with three Colorado stores after anonymous allegations of employee abuse surfaced on Instagram. The article also reports that Denver police were investigating allegations against the franchise managing partner.
Marketing campaigns
- Earth Day $1 Sale
United States
An annual Earth Day promotion associated with Buffalo Exchange's reuse and environmental identity. Selected secondhand merchandise is offered for one dollar, connecting a low-price retail event with the idea of extending the life of clothing.
Outcome. The campaign is described as an established annual community and environmental initiative; specific financial or participation results are not available in the supplied sources.
- Tokens for Bags
United States
A reusable-bag initiative that uses tokens to encourage customers to avoid disposable shopping bags. The program supports Buffalo Exchange's broader emphasis on reuse and community participation.
Outcome. The initiative is identified as one of the company's community and environmental programs, but the supplied sources do not provide quantified results.
Recent events
Reported
Buffalo Exchange cuts ties with three Colorado stores[2]
Buffalo Exchange cut ties with three Colorado stores after anonymous allegations of employee abuse surfaced on Instagram. The article also reports that Denver police were investigating allegations against the franchise managing partner.
Sources2 sources
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