This St. George clothing resale store has been lowering pollution and waste for 14 years

Written by Jessi Bang
July 5, 2023

ST. GEORGE — As you pull open the building’s glass door, the familiar jingle of hanging bells announces your arrival. But the second you step inside, you realize this is no ordinary store.

Coyote Exchange owner April Goodspeed smiles for a photo inside her store in St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Coyote Exchange owner April Goodspeed smiles for a photo inside her store in St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

Your eyes are drawn to racks of hanging clothes nestled under travel-themed walls when a warm greeting from a smiling face steals the show. Meet April Goodspeed, the owner of Coyote Exchange.

“Pretty much everything I have on – except my shoes – was loved by somebody else before me, which makes me happy,” Goodspeed said. 

This clothing resale shop is about to celebrate its 14th year in St. George, but don’t confuse it with a consignment shop or a thrift store. Goodspeed said it falls somewhere in between. While consignment means receiving a portion of the profits when or if the item sells, Coyote Exchange purchases clothing upfront via cash or store credit, which means they put in the work and take the risk.

But what inspired Goodspeed to open this specific store all those years ago?

Clothing and accessories are for sale inside Coyote Exchange in St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Clothing and accessories are for sale inside Coyote Exchange in St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

An avid thrifter her entire life, Goodspeed said she still owns items she obtained back in high school. She learned at a young age that spending less on clothing didn’t mean she had to sacrifice quality or fashion.

When she moved to St. George 42 years ago, she had an infant son and was seven months pregnant with her second boy. Once her youngest was born, her boys were so close in age that they often wore the same size, which didn’t afford her the luxury of handing down clothing. Instead, she and a friend had a regular thrift shopping route in Las Vegas.

Fortunate enough to be raised around a grandmother who did wardrobes for Hollywood shows and movies, Goodspeed said she knew what to look for in clothing — great fabrics and quality construction.

Continuing to thrift, she went on to become a massage therapist, and when the economy crashed in 2008, she decided it was time for a change. When she put together the need for income with the ability to do what she loved, Coyote Exchange was born. She and her oldest son started the business in 2009 by utilizing a $20,000 small business loan, maxing out credit cards and cashing in favors. They created marketing materials, passed them around town and hoped for the best.

“We spent a lot of time educating people and helping them understand what we did, why we did it, why we wanted to and how it helped,” she said. “And for most people, the help part was them receiving money or helping people afford clothes.”

The dressing rooms inside Coyote Exchange set the scene for a fun shopping experience, St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
The dressing rooms inside Coyote Exchange set the scene for a fun shopping experience, St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

The biggest reward for her has been knowing the difference she’s making in the polluted world of fast fashion, which Goodspeed said is clothing made quickly and cheaply that goes out of style fast and is not made to last. The result of fast fashion is a significant amount of pollution and waste. Over the years, people have cared less about quality or longevity when making clothing purchases because the average clothing item is only worn six to seven times before it’s discarded.

“The fashion industry is still one of the top three polluters in the world,” she said. “And it’s not a little. It’s horrific, awful and mind-boggling. Each formerly-loved item purchased reduces its individual footprint by 70-80%. So just imagine. Even if people only bought, say, 10% of their clothing that way, it would make such a huge difference.”

On top of buying and reselling clothing, Coyote Exchange offers the ability for customers to donate the items not purchased by the store — something they’ve offered since they started the business 14 years ago. At the store’s first location, she said they had a Big Brother Big Sister bin in the parking lot which allowed people to donate immediately. They have since donated to various local charities such as Dove Center, Switchpoint Community Resource Center and Hope Chest. 

Currently, customers that wish to donate their clothing can leave them at Coyote Exchange. Items will be donated directly to the PAWS Thrift Store. Goodspeed said the money earned at the PAWS Thrift Store goes directly toward the needs of the animals, including vet expenses and food.

A sign for Coyote Exchange is seen outside the store, St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A sign for Coyote Exchange is seen outside the store, St. George, Utah, June 19, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

In 2012, Goodspeed bought out her son’s portion of the business and has been running it solo ever since. As she looks back on the last 14 years, she said the ability to have her own business has been a wonderful blessing and gift she doesn’t take for granted. 

“We’re so fortunate to be here,” she told St. George News, tears welling up in her eyes. “It’s been a rocky road, and COVID was a close call. We just have the best customers, we really do. They have supported us through everything, and I cannot thank them enough.”

Coyote Exchange is located at 140 N. 400 W. in St. George. For more information, find them on Facebook and Instagram, or call them at 435-688-1089.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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