Palm Desert’s Thriftology Owner Inspires During Black Business Month

Black women are one of the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs in the United States, and Palm Desert is home to one of them. During Black Business Month, NBC Palm Springs’ Kai Beach spoke with Duchess Sanchez, owner of Thriftology, whose vision is reshaping both fashion and community in the Coachella Valley.

From the bold sign outside her shop that makes clear all are welcome—except racism, sexism, and hate—to the curated racks inside, Thriftology is more than a thrift store. Sanchez has built her business on sustainability and community. “We are sustainable and we try to keep all the clothes out of the landfill,” she said. “Gotta have the good vibes.”

Shoppers say the store represents more than secondhand fashion—it’s about resilience and representation. “A lot of discrimination happens nowadays, but when someone comes out and faces those adversities and becomes very, very successful, I think it’s really good,” one customer shared.

Inside, vintage finds take on new meaning. “This is from the 80s,” Sanchez said, holding up a garment. “Who knows how many people have already worn it and fell in love with it and had a good story behind it.”

National reports show Black women are among the fastest growing groups of business owners, but Sanchez says she values the slower pace of the desert as she builds her business legacy. As the first in her family to own a business, she hopes her impact lasts far beyond this month.

“It’s a huge sense of pride to continue the legacy for generations to come,” Sanchez said. “We’re not just selling product—we’re showing how we matter inside the workplace, inside the marketplace, inside here in the desert.”

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