In an interview with Emmy, our customer Laura Strömberg – serial entrepreneur, active board member, business advisor, as well as pet food manufacturer, CEO of Dagsmark Petfood, and one of the company’s founders. Active both at work and in her free time, Laura lives in Parainen with her husband and three dogs.
Your best second hand find?
The dresses I just bought from Emmy are my absolute favorites. In the photo, I’m wearing one of them. The dresses are in active use both at work and in my free time. In the summer, I wear my lovely summer loafers, which I bought at a flea market years ago.
When did you discover second hand?
I found Emmy a year ago and was surprised that second hand, in terms of quality and selection, is already a real alternative to buying new! Previously, I had only bought used items occasionally. Only after I really familiarized myself with the climate impact of the clothing industry did I start actively reducing my purchases of new clothes.
What motivates you to buy second hand?
I want to make more sustainable choices in my everyday life and have tried to think of ways that suit my lifestyle. Even though I’m an energetic person, I still don’t have the energy to put a lot of effort into everything. In most of my purchases, I value speed and convenience. Getting second hand clothes has changed rapidly and is now really convenient, and the selection has grown and diversified enormously. Based on this, it’s clear that my clothing purchases should focus even more on second hand in the future.
Has your view of second hand changed over time?
A lot. A few years ago, I didn’t think about these things at all. I can’t say I was any kind of early adopter; my interest in these things has grown as good offerings and communication about them have reached me. Back in the day, buying used goods meant flea markets, which didn’t always have a fresh and high-quality image. Nowadays, the second hand offering is something completely different and has motivated me to change my consumption habits as well.
What do you buy second hand?
At this point, it’s already the default for almost all my shopping. At least, I first check what’s available and then decide how to proceed. Online stores work well, but of course, sometimes it’s nice to touch and try on clothes in advance. For that, brick-and-mortar stores offering second hand products work well.