Thrift store looks to expand operations

By Maha Aziz     10/28/13 7:00pm

Rice University students opened Baltra Thrift Store for the second time this academic year last Thursday, Oct. 24 in the Brown Garden at the Ley Student Center, according to co-manager Tori Laxalt. She said that since Baltra is already known around campus, the staff is looking to experiment and expand the store.

According to Laxalt, Baltra was founded last fall and has had six openings so far. 

"It was one of the projects we deemed would fill a need on campus that hadn't been met in much of a substantial way," Laxalt, a Baker College senior, said. "We found that there was a customer base on campus who would support a thrift store."

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Baltra eco-coordinator Skye Kelty said she was excited when she learned others were interested in starting a thrift store.

"I wanted to start a thrift store for quite a while but could not figure out the logistics for it," Kelty, a McMurtry College senior, said. "Then Art Lab independently came up with the Baltra concept, and I jumped on board."

Kelty said that in addition to selling clothes, the Baltra staff hopes to host an electronics waste drive at each opening. 

"We started hosting an electronics waste drive at the Baltra events to make it super easy for people to clear out their closets," Kelty said. "We will be recycling it using an e-Stewards-certified, Houston-based recycling facility."

According to Laxalt, the Baltra staff is looking for more Rice staff, undergraduate and graduate student involvement. 

"We're actually recruiting right now, both for Baltra core team positions as well as for more volunteers and college reps, so there are many different ways for students to get involved," Laxalt said.

Kelty said Baltra is looking forward to future openings and wants to increase the size and variety of its inventory to include more than clothing.

"We are in need of more guys' clothes donations," Kelty said. "But we are also looking to include more art in our openings, like cool recycled mannequins."

Duncan College senior Tasneem Islam visited Baltra last Thursday and said she enjoyed the prices of the shop but would like to see more inventory.

"Thrift stores help me save money," Islam said. "As a college student, I'm always looking for ways to save money and spend wisely, so I'd like to see the store being open every other week, and I would love to see more shoes."

Laxalt said the Baltra staff is planning new types of events like a field trip to an off-campus thrift store.

"We are trying to diversify and expand Baltra's presence for those who are experienced thrifters as well as for those who might be intimidated by the concept of thrifting," Laxalt said. "Students should stay tuned to our Facebook page, facebook.com/baltrathriftstore."

Baltra co-manager Corey Bryce said she hopes that Baltra will become a Rice tradition even after part of the staff graduates. She looks forward to working with new staff, other organizations and Rice students.

"The relevance of environmentally friendly re-use of clothes and promotion of fashion and thrift culture is what makes Baltra so unique," Bryce, a Sid Richardson College sophomore, said. "We are happy to work with other organizations that share similar goals and want to make things happen here."

Baker senior Brennan Halloran, who shopped at Baltra on Thursday, said he enjoyed how low the prices were.

"There are entire tables filled with clothes for just a dollar," Halloran said. "It can be important for diversifying your style since it exposes you to things that you may not have seen otherwise."

Baltra will again be opening at the Ley Student Center on Monday, Dec. 9. Those interested in getting involved with Baltra can email baltrathriftstore@gmail.com.

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