Lincoln maternity thrift store sees 60% drop in business amid inflation

LINCOLN, Neb. — Kristi Cadenbach decided to open her own store in November 2022 after feeling uncomfortable shopping for maternity clothes.

The mother of two said it was frustrating trying to find clothes that fit well and were affordable, so she created a safe space where mothers can shop without stress.

But now she’s struggling to stay open because people are cutting back due to inflation.

She said she used to have about 40 customers a week at the store near 56th Street and Old Cheney Road. But now she said she’s lucky if she has 15.

“This is real life,” she said. “It’s a struggle opening up a business right now.”

Cadenbach makes sure every woman and child who enter her shop are taken care of by having fitting rooms big enough for strollers and a play area for kids.

“If we can’t take care of ourselves, we can’t take care of our babies,” she said. “I’m providing a space that can help with that.”

Cadenbach wants to expand her store to include a space where she can host classes and parenting support groups but said she can’t with declining sales.

Thrift stores tend to do well even in bad economic times.

“Numerous data has shown that,” Cadenbach said. “And when some of us thrift store owners are saying it’s getting hard for us, that’s a scary feeling,”

She is hosting her third pop-up shop with other small businesses in Bellevue in August.

The pop-up event, “Bumps, Babies, & Beyond” is on Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will showcase items for pregnancy, postpartum and nursing. There will be food trucks, face painting and multiple vendors.

“Sometimes you just want to touch, feel and ask questions,” Cadenbach said. “And this is a great spot to do that.”

She is also building a website to sell clothes online, hoping to increase sales.

You can find more information about All About Mama on its website.