Shopping With Soul Doctor

Thanks to May Yee for forwarding the story to me :)

Klang Valley Streets: Take a second look

Ruslina Yusoff

COSY: The rattan furniture set costs RM1,600.

They offer quality products at reasonable prices. RUSLINA YUSOFF is bewitched with the offerings at two second-hand stores.

FAIR PICKINGS: The Second Choice Shop offers a wide variety of items.

SECOND-HAND shops these days are not what you think. They're not dumping grounds nor do they retail unwanted items. On the contrary, they are often treasure troves.

Aishah Abdul Ghani, who started a second-hand business more than a year ago in Section 13 of the Tadisma Business Park in Shah Alam, said that while the concept is just catching on among locals, it is a common practice in Kelantan.

The 29-year-old marketing graduate from University Tenaga Malaysia said the idea to set up her own shop was born after a visit to Cash Converter.

She followed up with a survey and finally set up her shop called The Garage Sale, with financial support from her family.
Items offered at the shop include crockery, golf sets, baby cots and play pens, baby carriers for cars, luggage, paintings, handbags and soft toys.

The soft toys and hand bags cost no more than RM10 while the crockery set can be had for RM25, oil painting (RM90), sofa set (RM350) and a three-door fridge (RM600).

The warranty period for electrical goods is one month.

However, Aishah is willing to reduce the prices on items that are hard to sell.

Most of the items are bought from individuals. She also buys items from wholesale shops in Singapore as well as over the Internet.

However, Aishah does not accept damaged electrical goods, office furnishings and wristwatches.

A large proportion of her customers include young people and newlyweds. Even pasar tani and pasar malam vendors buy goods from her.

"People often sell off their goods because they are upgrading and not necessarily because they are desperate for cash," she said.

Production houses have also rented some of the furniture sets which were on sale.

Believing that there is potential for the market, her challenge now is to convince people that second-hand items are value buys.

Her shop opens daily from 10am to 8pm (weekdays) and 10am to 6pm (weekends). For details, call 03-5519-1703.


A block away is another second-hand dealer called Second Choice Shop which was set up less than five months ago.

Wan Noor Azmira Wan Alias, who manages the shop, said most of the items were sourced from Singapore.

The crockery set is one of the more popular items at the shop.

"It is tough to get hold of a full crockery set. We also sell hand bags and if you are lucky, you can get a genuine article for a steal," said Azmira or Mira as she is popularly known.

Mira quit her job to help run the shop which is owned by her uncle, Mohd Rashidie Sidik.

Other items on sale include luggage, collectibles such as a wooden motorcycle, rocking horse and electrical items.

The shop is open daily from 10am to 10pm. For details, call 012-2097481.

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