Jennifer Sievers loves to recycle.

But for her it’s not as much about soda cans and old newspapers. Rather, it’s more about clothes.

When the owner of Arizona Trading Co., 734 Mass., moved to Lawrence from Arizona to attend Kansas University, she brought with her a love for Arizona’s buy, sell and trade stores.

“That was a market that was really getting going there,” she said. “I got so addicted to having a constantly changing wardrobe. When I came here, I couldn’t believe there was nothing like that.”

Still feeling her addiction in her last semester of school, Sievers opened Arizona Trading Co. in December 1991. Downtown Lawrence, she said, with its eclectic shops and laid-back attitude, would be a perfect fit. She was right. Since the company opened, several buy, sell and trade stores have surfaced in Lawrence.

Resellers concentrate on children’s clothes, music and sports equipment. Sievers said resell clothing works well because it’s a fun way to shop.

“It’s useful, and it’s an easy business to get into,” she said. “It’s not an easy business to maintain. When you have people bringing in your inventory to you, you have a captive audience.”

Shoppers at Arizona Trading Co. range from teenagers to retirees. Some look for bargains, some look for something no one else has, and others look to make some fast cash.

Jessica Mortinger, KU sophomore, knows buying and selling pays off. Mortinger has been scouring thrift stores and garage sales since her freshman year. She sells at Flush, 17 E. Seventh St., Wild Man Vintage, 939 Mass., and Arizona Trading Co.

Mortinger, who grew up in Hays, says location is key when it comes to the buy, sell and trade industry. Being in a college town provides stores a seemingly endless supply of inventory.

“You don’t find these kind of stores in noncollege towns, and there’s a reason for that,” Mortinger said.

Sievers said a variety of clothing from college students was a benefit, but she also credited the “eclectic” feel of Lawrence with the store’s success. Most clothing resell stores buy seasonally.

If you’re looking to sell, bring in last season’s clothes, and a buyer will look them over. They’ll pick what they think will sell in the store. Arizona Trading Co. buying manager Heather Neuberger says they usually look for current trends but take a little vintage as well – and then come up with a selling price.

Arizona Trading Co. will give 35 percent of the selling price in cash or 60 percent in trade. For Mortinger, the company is the last stop on a selling trip because Flush, which has stopped buying from the general public but continues to buy from long-time sellers like Mortinger, and Wild Man Vintage both offer 40 percent of the selling price in cash, 60 percent trade. She takes the cash option – always.

For some, stores like the trading company might seem trendy, but for people like Sievers and Mortinger, it’s a way to make a living.

“It’s something that every single person who lives in Lawrence can use,” Sievers said. “We don’t look at it as something that’s trendy or where we’re the coolest store in town. We look at it like we provide a necessary service that everyone can use and that’s really fun.”