Buffalo Exchange Wins American Inhouse Design Award

NEW YORK, NY-Buffalo Exchange, a national mini-chain of hip resale clothing stores based in Tucson, was chosen among a select group of winners in Graphic Design USA Magazine's American Inhouse Design Awards, July 2009 issue. An award in the advertising category was given for Buffalo Exchange's Guilt-Free Fashion Newspaper Ad Campaign, the only Arizona winner published out of 27 winners in advertising. There were 4,000+ entries in this year's program nationwide. Fewer than 400 departments were "being honored for outstanding work in an extremely competitive environment," according to GD USA. This awards program is the "premier showcase for the outstanding, and too often underappreciated, work of inhouse design departments at America's great companies and institutions." This is Buffalo Exchange's sixth year designing in-house; the team is composed of Michelle L. Livingston, creative direction, and Kristin L. Welk, graphic design.

The only winner representing Arizona, Buffalo Exchange won two awards in the consumer category in HOW Magazine's In-HOWse Design Awards 2008 international competition, which attracted 4,000 entries. As Marketing Director since 1999, Michelle Livingston has been overseeing marketing, advertising, graphic design, public relations, promotions and the online presence for Buffalo Exchange. Kristin Welk holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Visual Communication Emphasis from the University of Arizona's College of Fine Arts.

Buffalo Exchange is unique because clothing and accessories are bought, sold and traded directly with store customers. Used clothes can be traded for any item in the store, including jewelry and brand new clothing. The ever-changing inventory includes designer wear, basics, vintage, jeans, leather and one-of-a-kind items. Buffalo Exchange is a sustainable company that works to protect the environment by reusing and recycling clothing. The store donates to local nonprofit agencies in the community through its Tokens for Bags(r) program, which has generated over $320,000 for hundreds of nonprofits since 1994, saving 6.4 million bags. Shoppers are encouraged to accept a token instead of a bag for purchases, and Buffalo Exchange donates five cents to a charity of the customer's choice. Including the new Ventura location opening on Aug 8, the resale clothing store chain will have 36 stores and 2 franchises in 13 states, with $56.3 million a year in sales. The resale clothing store chain celebrates 35 years of business in 2009. For more, visit www.buffaloexchange.com and www.myspace.com/buffaloexchange.