Holley shop offers a mix of thrifted finds and unique fashion

Eh Collective named New Business of the Year by Chamber of Commerce

Photos by Isabella Zasa: Erin Hackenberg, owner of Eh Collective in Holley, is shown inside her shop, which features a curated selection of clothing, accessories and home decor.

By Isabella Zasa, staff writer

HOLLEY – For shoppers looking for affordable clothing and unique finds, Eh Collective offers a mix of fashion and home decor at 110 Geddes St. in Holley.

Holley native Erin Hackenberg has turned her love of fashion into a shop with a focus on curated merchandise, affordability and giving preowned items a second life.

Now in its second year, Eh Collective began as a way for Hackenberg to share items from her own closet. It has since grown into what she describes as a curated thrift shop, featuring clothing, accessories and home decor.

“I call my store a curated thrift,” she said. “It’s not consignment, it’s not all antiques and it’s certainly not all brand new. But every item in my store is hand-sourced and curated by me.”

Hackenberg regularly visits thrift stores to find merchandise, keeping her customers in mind as she selects pieces. She said she aims to offer quality clothing in a variety of sizes and styles at prices lower than those typically found at major retail stores. The approach also allows her to give clothing and other items another purpose rather than having them end up in landfills.

She has also found the store to be an outlet for other mothers who want to shop and treat themselves to quality clothing without spending a lot of money.

Eh Collective was recently named New Business of the Year by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. Hackenberg received the award Nov. 5 during the chamber’s annual awards ceremony.

Hackenberg said owning a store had always been a dream, although she never knew exactly what it would look like. Her interests in fashion, styling, designing and creating eventually came together through Eh Collective.

“I’ve always loved fashion and have found it to be a creative expression,” she said. “This has truly been my passion project.”

Hackenberg also offers a selection of upcycled clothing at Eh Collective. She holds a thrifted sweatshirt that she customized with graphics of her own design.

In addition to its regular merchandise, the store offers upcycled clothing, including thrifted sweatshirts customized with graphics Hackenberg designs herself. Shoppers also can create custom hats by choosing from an assortment of patches and putting together their own designs in the store.

Hackenberg graduated from the University at Buffalo in 2011 with degrees in communication and psychology. She previously worked for a nonprofit organization and as a paralegal with Jeff Martin before becoming a stay-at-home mother following the birth of her second son in 2021.

She now operates Eh Collective while raising her three children, Emma, Levi and Luke. The shop is located in a warehouse owned by her father, Greg Weber.

Hackenberg manages nearly every aspect of the shop, from washing and organizing merchandise to arranging displays, posting new arrivals and managing social media.

Social media plays an important role in how Hackenberg connects with customers. She regularly shares available clothing, including sizes, online so shoppers can preview merchandise before visiting the store. Hackenberg said this is particularly helpful because women’s clothing sizes can vary and are not always consistent.

Another section of Eh Collective features racks of clothing and displays of handbags and accessories.

The store also hosts events throughout the year, with an upcoming warehouse sale scheduled for Nov. 21. The sale will feature boxes of clothing priced at $1 and $3 for shoppers to sort through.

Store hours vary each week, with evening openings to accommodate Hackenberg’s schedule as a stay-at-home mother. Weekly hours, new arrivals, events and other information can be found on Eh Collective’s Facebook page.