# Buffalo Exchange

> Buffalo Exchange is a family-owned resale fashion chain founded in Tucson, Arizona in 1974 that pioneered the buy-sell-trade model for secondhand clothing. Customers bring in gently used, on-trend clothing and accessories and receive cash or store trade on the spot, while shoppers browse a hand-picked mix of current styles, vintage finds and designer pieces at a fraction of retail. With roughly 40 stores across the United States and about 590 employees, Buffalo Exchange has built a business around affordable, sustainable style, keeping millions of garments in circulation each year and channeling small change into local charities through programs like Tokens for Bags.

- **Founded:** 1974
- **Headquarters:** Tucson, Arizona, United States
- **Founders:** Kerstin Block (Co-Founder & longtime CEO (1942-2025)), Spencer Block (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~590 employees
- **Products:** Buy-Sell-Trade, Curated Resale Retail, Tokens for Bags, Earth Day $1 Sale, Buffalo Fund for the Animals
- **Notable:** Pioneered the buy-sell-trade resale model in 1974, decades before online resale existed, Grew from a single 400-square-foot Tucson shop to ~40-41 stores across ~15 states, Kept over 100 million garments in circulation over 50 years (~5.5 million per year)

## Products & services

- **Buy-Sell-Trade** — Customers bring in gently used, on-trend clothing and accessories and receive cash (about 25% of resale value) or store trade (about 50%) on the spot; no appointment or consignment wait.
- **Curated Resale Retail** — Hand-selected secondhand fashion sold in clean, bright stores - a mix of current trends, vintage, designer and one-of-a-kind pieces at a fraction of original retail.
- **Tokens for Bags** — Instead of a single-use plastic bag, shoppers can take a 5-cent token and donate it to a rotating local nonprofit; has raised over $1 million and cut 20+ million bags since 1994.
- **Earth Day $1 Sale** — Annual event selling clothing for $1 with proceeds donated to environmental nonprofits.
- **Buffalo Fund for the Animals** — Grant fund, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, supporting animal rescue and welfare groups; over $100,000 raised since 2023.
- **Coat & Clothing Drives** — Seasonal collection drives donating coats and clothing to community partners and shelters.

## Achievements

- Pioneered the buy-sell-trade resale model in 1974, decades before online resale existed
- Grew from a single 400-square-foot Tucson shop to ~40-41 stores across ~15 states
- Kept over 100 million garments in circulation over 50 years (~5.5 million per year)
- Raised over $1 million for local nonprofits and kept 20+ million plastic bags out of the environment via Tokens for Bags
- Remained independent and family-owned for over five decades
- Celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024

## Latest updates

- **2024-04** — Buffalo Exchange marked its 50th anniversary, celebrating 50 years of sustainable style and resale fashion.
- **2025-01** — Founder Kerstin Block's passing (1942-2025) was mourned; her legacy continues through daughter Rebecca Block and stores nationwide.
- **2023-01** — Launched the Buffalo Fund for the Animals with CFSA, since raising over $100,000 for animal rescue groups.

## Links

- Website: https://buffaloexchange.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/buffalo-exchange
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/buffaloexchange
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buffaloexchange
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/buffaloexchange
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buffaloexchange

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/buffalo-exchange
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-26