There are those people you meet, sometimes by chance encounter, that let the light flood in. Like magic, they make you feel better about yourself and, not to sound hyperbolic, the world. I first met Serena, owner of Serenity Resale, when I visited her consignment boutique on Spring Street in my hometown of Ossining, New York. Spring Street is a patchwork quilt of a street. It has a little bit of everything and everybody, but nothing like this place and its proprietor. 

A born thrifter, I was drawn to Serenity Resale’s neat racks of used, like-new clothing and other sustainable offerings. The store is expertly laid out with the ideal amount of merchandise. As if being carried by a gentle current, the space told me where to go. As I browsed the racks, it struck me that each piece of clothing had been carefully chosen. Everything looked and felt comfortable, including Serena, who warmly greeted me as I entered the shop. Her features are striking, but it was the atmosphere that she generated — an aura, if you like — that captured me. Within seconds of meeting her, I felt welcome, at ease and cared for. There was no hint of that familiar sales pitch and the defensive stiffening that comes after. Serena had a soft yet powerful presence. And I was at ease.

We soon got to talking. When I heard Serena’s story, I began to understand how this person and this shop came to exist. Serena is a third-generation entrepreneur. Her Jamaican grandparents opened a resale shop, which sold antiques and vintage items, in the very same space some 40 years before. ​“I remember coming to Ossining when I was young to visit my grandparents at their shop and just being in complete admiration of what they had created and wanting to be a part of it one day,” Serena shared with me. ​“My grandparents instilled in me an understanding of what it means to work hard to make your own way, and a deep appreciation for the community that makes it all possible.” 

I later found out Serena grew up in rural Connecticut, where she developed her passion for shopping secondhand with her mother, whom she refers to as an apex thrifter. ​“For us, consigning was more than just a way to be frugal; it was something we looked forward to doing together.” After graduating from college with a degree in sustainability, Serena realized, ​“that there was so much more to consigning than finding stylish pieces at affordable prices — shopping secondhand was becoming a movement as people began to take a closer look at the global challenges of the fashion and textile industry.”

Six years ago, Serena moved to Westchester to live with her grandmother, who’s now an astounding 101 years old. ​“While I act as one of her caretakers in some capacity (she’s still very independent and capable), I feel so lucky. She inspires me to work hard and to know my values, and that if you put good energy out into the world, you’ll get the same in return.” Earlier this year, with her grandmother’s blessing and help from her parents and SCORE business mentors, Serena opened Serenity Resale. 

“My goal for my shop is to be welcoming, accommodating and inclusive. I want my customers to feel like they’ve stepped into a little resale oasis — curated, clean, calm and always greeted with a smile,” Serena told me. She also feels strongly about keeping revenue within the community. ​“I really believe that shopping should be more than a transactional experience, and that together, we can encourage community through conscious consumerism.” 

Job well done, Serena. Thank you for creating exactly what you had envisioned. We are all better because of it — and you.