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Business & Tech

Monkey Business: Excellent Resource for Post-Holiday Shopping

You don't have to flock to the malls for post-holiday deals.

Post-holiday shopping undoubtedly brings about a sense of gratification, especially when your new wardrobe benefits your wallet and the community.

A trip to Monkey Business might just help with that twofold goal.

The consignment shop, located at 8624 Germantown Avenue, tucked back behind Cosimo's Pizza and Chestnut Hill Coffee Co., has an exceptional staff of 32 volunteers who sell lightly worn or new donated and consignor clothing.   

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To ensure customer satisfaction, merchandise is seasonal, stylish and freshly laundered.  Unlike some consignment shops, where clothing is clearly in "hand-me-down" condition, Monkey Business sells quality garments, and does so for a good cause.  

For 56 years, Monkey Business has provided Chestnut Hill with high quality clothing and accessories for men, women, and children, and, as store manager Rose Malley said, "at a very reasonable price."

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Despite the store's bargain prices, brand names aren't an anomaly at Monkey Business.

"We, Monkey Business, have a very good line of clothing … from a Valentino jacket to Gap jeans." Malley said in a phone interview Tuesday. "We have nice labels and nice clothing."

Some other in-stock popular brands include Talbots, Calvin Klein, men and women Brooks Brothers, Fox Crous, Tommy Hilfiger, and Jones New York. Nevertheless, the brand names are only a small sample of the quality merchandise available to customers.

During a brief visit to the store Tuesday afternoon, Malley showed off some of the merchandise, which was being organized by volunteers Barbara Culbert of Mount Airy and Ginny McDonald of Chestnut Hill.

McDonald, who has been helping out at the shop since 2007, said she enjoys volunteering now that she's retired from her 25-year career at Philadelphia International Airport.

"It's to give back," she said. "We price clothing, we sort. We make sure the clothes are organized."

Malley couldn't say enough about the volunteers.

"There would not be a Monkey Business without these people," she said. "Those volunteers are unbelievable."

As for the shoppers, they vary in age and style, as do their consigners. Since each batch of donations brings in new styles for varying ages, the store has a plethora of clothing to choose from, and likely a style to match every trend-from sophisticated class to young and quirky.

"Most people shop here because they believe in recycling and benefiting smaller organizations that contribute to another organization or benefit," Malley said during her earlier phone interview, referencing the customer base.

While shopping for a new suit at an inexpensive price is always rewarding, a purchase from Monkey Business will also benefit the Green Tree Community Health Foundation, a nonprofit public charity that serves Northwest Philadelphia and Eastern Montgomery County.

According to its Web site, the Green Tree Community Health Foundation has a localized focus on the "elderly, children and families, and under and uninsured."

In addition to keeping these groups in mind, Green Tree provides help to local community organizations that share their mission.

Monkey Business is one such nonprofit organization that benefits from Green Tree.

To learn more about Monkey Business, read its pamphlet on information about clothing donations.   

 

Chestnut Hill Patch Editor Jon Campisi contributed to this report.

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