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pptdesign.blogbus.compptdesign.blogbus.comBusinessEnglishReadingCoursewareBook2ChapterTwelveAbstractsfromArticlesonConsignment&Auction寄售与拍卖分析文摘StepOne•First,readMaterialOneunderteacher’sinstructions.•Thenteachergiveshintsortipsforreading.•Finally,teachercheckstheanswersandgivesexplanations.WhenConscienceandClosetCollideREVIEWINGherwardrobeearlierthisseason,ElizabethMarvinhadamomentofreckoning.“Howdidthisclosetbecomesomassivelyoverstuffed?”shemused,disconcertedbythesightofsomanyMarnijackets,ChloébagsandJimmyChooshoesjostlingforspaceontheracks.“Frommygreenperspective,partofmefeelsguiltyaboutbeingsuchamajorconsumer.”ButMs.Marvin,theNewYorksalesdirectorfortheNationalAudubonSocietyandaself-described“majorenvironmentalist,”feltneithersoguiltynorsostrappedthatsheplannedtostopshoppingcoldturkey.“InsteadofbuyingthatChloéjacketthatIwantrightnow,”shesaid,“I’mmuchhappierpurchasingsomethingataconsignmentstorethatismuchless.”Inrecentmonths,high-enddesignerresaleshopshavebeenthebeneficiariesofasubtleshiftinconsumerthinking,asfashionlovers,eventhosewhocanaffordtosplurge,reassesstheirpriorities.Unsettledbycontinuingrecessionfearsandthesoaringpricesofdesignerclothes,andassailedbyqueasyconsciencesaswell,manyfindtheseshopsawaytoupdatetheirwardrobeswithoutseriouslydentingtheirbankaccounts—ortheirsenseofsocialpropriety.“Everyoneisfeelingthepinchthesedaysorknowspeoplewhoarefeelingthepinch,”saidLindaKenneyBaden,aprominentlawyerinNewYork.“It’sgoodtobuyausedcaragain,andit’schictobuyusedclothes.”ShopperslikeMrs.Baden,somewithformidableretailhabits,areturningtoconsignmentstorestooffloaddesignerclothingandaccessoriesandtoaccumulatesparecash,asoftenasnotplowingtheprofitsbackintotheverysamestore.Cash-strappedbargainseekersandaffluenttrophyhuntersalikeareparingtheirclosets,earning40to50percentoftheresaleshop’saskingprice.Resaleshopperspayroughlyaquartertoathirdoftheoriginalmarketvalueofstill-covetedSaintLaurentMusebags,StellaMcCartneyjumpsuitsandLouboutinpumps.Merchantsreportthatthenumberofshoppersandconsignorsisclimbingandthatbusinesshasrarelybeensorobust.“Theriseoftheeuro,sky-highretailpricesandtheideaofrecycling—thosearesomeofthethingsthatdrivecustomersrighttoourdoor,”saidLauraFluhr,anownerofMichael’s,the54-year-oldgrandedameoffancyresalestoresontheUpperEastSideofManhattan.“Inanotherwisebleakretailscene,consignmentisathrivingarea,”Ms.Fluhrsaid,notingthatherbusinessis30percentaheadforthefirstfourmonthsof2008.SheaddedthattheextravagantpricesofnewdesignerfashionsandtheinfluxofEuropeanvisitorsscouringNewYorkforbargainshavecontributedtothegrowth.“Peoplearereallyresentingdesignerpricesatconventionalstores,”saidInaBernstein,theownerofIna,thedesignerresalechaininManhattan.“Inaway,that’swhyourbusinessisup.”Shesaidthatsalesareaheadby15percentfromJanuarythroughAprilateachofherfiveboutiques.VickiHaberman,whosellsprivatelyandthroughaWebsite,ascribesaheightenedinterestinconsignmentshoppingpartlytoconsumers’apparentlyunquenchableappetiteforluxurylabels,eventhosethataregentlyworn.“Everytimeyouopenamagazine,youseesomebodywearingaquote-unquotevintagedesignergown,”shesaid.“Shoppingvintageandconsignmenthaslostmuchofitsstigmaandbecomemainstream.”AprilwasarecordmonthforRicky’sExceptionalTreasures,aluxuryresalestoreoneBay.RickySerbin,theowner,reportedthathissitehadabout1...