Hayden-based resale clothing boutique Beau Monde Clothing Exchange LLC has opened its third store, a 1,000-square-foot outlet, at 3145 E. Mullan, in Post Falls.

Brooke Miller, who co-owns Beau Monde along with her husband, David, says she started the business in 2001 with a space in a small strip mall near downtown Coeur d’Alene.

“I’ve always loved second-hand shopping, and during college, I stumbled upon several resale apparel-type stores, and that got me thinking that it wouldn’t been too hard to start my own,” she says.

Several years after its start, Beau Monde’s first store burned down and the business started over in a small space off Government Way. Eventually it grew enough to move to a larger space in the Ironwood Mall, before finally settling in its current location at 250 W. Prairie in Hayden.

Miller says Beau Monde now operates in three leased locations: the 3,800-square-foot exchange store in Hayden; a 2,500-square-foot outlet store at 410 W. Neider, in Coeur d’Alene; and the new Post Falls outlet.

At Beau Monde, customers bring in their old clothing to its exchange store, where it’s sorted on the spot for items that can be resold.

Those customers are paid either 33 percent of the store’s retail selling price in cash or 50 percent in in-store credit.

Miller says items not chosen for resale are either returned or donated to thrift stores, and the business also donates a portion of its sales to local charities several times a year.

“We only accept and sort items at the exchange location,” she says. “Our outlet locations are a bit different. They carry bargain items that for one reason or another can’t be sold for full price at the exchange store. All items at our outlets are all priced at $5 or less.”

Miller says the business currently has about 20 employees, who move between its three locations.

“As a business, resale clothing is really growing so we’re excited to be riding the wave,” she says.