Finnish-style market meets high-end boutique at new O’Fallon store
Thrifting reaches a new level this weekend as Preloved opens in O’Fallon.
The new store opens at 10 a.m. Saturday and offers a curated selection of high-quality merchandise at reasonable prices, including clothing, accessories and home decor.
The store follows a business model called a “kirpputori,” the Finnish term for a flea market or secondhand thrift store. The vibe of the store is that of a high-end boutique.
To kick off the opening, the first 20 customers in line will receive gift bags containing merchandise, said owner Savannah Romshek.
A raffle will also be held Saturday, offering a grand prize valued at $750. Included are two St. Louis Blues tickets, four free booths, $50 gift cards and other items.
Final touches were still in progress Tuesday during the store’s ribbon-cutting event with the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce. Later in the week, sellers will prepare their booths for Saturday’s opening.
How does it work? Sellers book a booth for a week, select what items to offer and set their own prices. Booth options come in four categories: men’s, women’s, kids’ and home. Each booth includes a dowel and shelves to display about 70 items. The store booths are numbered and currently consist of 73 spots.
Booths are stocked Saturday mornings before opening, and unsold items are picked up the following Friday after hours. There’s a 60/40 split in sales, with sellers receiving 60% of the profits.
Preloved offers new items every Saturday morning.
About Preloved
Preloved was founded in November 2021 by Satu and Josef Kujanpää in Provo, Utah. Inspired by their Finnish roots, they “brought the Finnish way of thrifting to the States,” Satu Kujanpää stated on the business’ website. There are currently stores in Idaho, Texas, Utah and Illinois.
Preloved in O’Fallon is located at 750 Cambridge Plaza, suites B and C. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
Romshek also operates the Edwardsville location at 1500 Troy Road, Suite A-B. Hours are also 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
For more information about Preloved in O’Fallon, visit preloved.love or follow the store’s Facebook page.
