In the heart of Brighton, a new haven for bargain hunters has opened its doors, offering a novel approach to retail that's both eco-friendly and pocket-friendly. BinStar, the brainchild of founder Jack Laughlin, repurposes items that would have ended up in landfills, selling them at steep discounts in a dynamic, game-like shopping experience. According to a report by CBS News Boston, the store receives discarded and returned merchandise from big-name retailers.
Laughlin, a former employee in the returns department of a major online seller, was appalled by the wastefulness he witnessed. "It started driving me crazy that we were paying good money to throw away good products," Laughlin told CBS News Boston. His solution, BinStar, keeps items out of the trash by putting them in shoppers' hands at low cost. The store operates on a unique pricing model, with items starting at $19 on Saturdays, and decreasing in price each day until hitting a mere dollar on Fridays.
This unconventional business model has resonated with consumers. Debby Abner, a shopper who visited the newly minted Boston store, compared the experience to her youth, where the anticipation and strategy of bargain hunting were akin to watching the tag at the historical Filene's department store, per her interview with CBS News Boston.
Granzoit's finds at BinStar's Avon location have included items such as a $400 invisible fence, which he snagged for an incredible $20, representing the store's appeal and success. "Sometimes I find stuff worth $200 to $300, and you can buy them here for $19," Granzoit boasted, according to CBS News Boston. Crowd enthusiasm is palpable, with lines of eager shoppers, some equipped with binoculars, vying for first dibs on high-ticket items. The hunt for bargains, and sense of community, it seems, is as much a draw as the savings.
With a successful opening in Brighton and headquarters in Avon, BinStar aims to expand further, eyeing a future location in Saugus. The company's mission, captured on their website, highlights their commitment to turning a sustainability problem into a shopper’s paradise, inviting customers to a "fun and sustainable shopping adventure." BinStar not only breathes new life into what many considered trash but also gives bargain hunters a fresh way to shop that's as kind to wallets as it is to the planet.
