News - Why I’m Returning an Entire Apparel Order (And What It Says About This Shop)

Running a small, values-driven retail shop means making hundreds of decisions customers never see.

- What to stock.

- Who to buy from.

- How to balance price, quality, ethics, and sustainability.

And sometimes… when to walk away from inventory that’s already on its way to your door.

I recently placed a summer apparel order—t-shirts and a few lightweight sweaters—from a women-owned brand based in California. On paper, it checked the boxes: small business, thoughtfully designed, aligned with the kinds of products I try to carry. Then I discovered the sweaters are also being sold directly by Shein - at a price that matches my wholesale cost.

Apparel is already one of the most complicated categories to buy for a small shop. There are sizing challenges, inventory risks, and tight margins. Unlike candles or gifts, you don’t just order “more” when something sells—you’re managing size runs, seasonal timing, and cash flow all at once. Apparel is not something I typically carry at the shop and for good reason.

So here’s the challenge for the shop - how to navigate buying when the purchase cycle is so layered and not always readily transparent. I have always known most apparel is manufactured overseas. That’s the reality of the industry. But there’s a difference between navigating complexity and ignoring misalignment.

Shein represents fast fashion at its most extreme:

• rapid production cycles

• disposable clothing

• pricing that often undercuts ethical production

• and a model that prioritizes speed and volume over people

That is not what this shop stands for.

I could have looked the other way.

I could have put the sweaters on the floor and hoped no one noticed.

I could have justified it as “just part of retail.”

But this business has never been about lip service. Our shelves reflect our values—supporting makers, women-owned businesses, and products chosen with intention.

So I’m returning the entire apparel order when it arrives.

Not because it’s easy.

Not because it’s financially convenient. (It’s not..a restocking fee and the original as well as return shipping cost are all billed to me)

But because principle matters more than a season’s sales.

I’m sharing this because I want you to understand: buying for a small shop is rarely simple. Every item represents research, risk, and responsibility. When you choose to shop small, you’re not just buying a product—you’re supporting the decisions behind it.

And sometimes those decisions mean saying no, even when the box is already in the mail.

Thank you for continuing to support a shop that chooses intention over convenience, and values over shortcuts.