Resale shopping isn’t for everyone. It requires lots of hard work, time and patience. But the payoff cannot only be cost-savings, it can also, if you’re into fashion, be transformative. Nothing is more thrilling than unearthing a one-of-a-kind vintage sweater or high-end designer suit that fits as if it were made just for you.

But as I said, resale shopping isn’t for everyone, and initially neither Jourdan Fenster nor Joanna “Jojo” Gubin thought it was for her. Both twentysomethings grew up Jewish in West County at a time when there weren’t a lot, if any, cool or funky resale shops in Creve Coeur or Chesterfield. Moreover, Jojo’s mother, Jill Gubin, was in a volunteer leadership position with the National Council of Jewish Women’s local resale shop, and would sometimes bring home used wearables for Jojo and her twin sister, Allie. “When I found out they came from the NCJW shop, I would stop wearing them,” admitted Jojo.

That was then. These days, both Jojo and Jourdan are singing “Second Hand Rose” at the top of their lungs.

Not only do they now shop resale —both say it’s cheaper, more eco-friendly and can result in great treasures — it’s also their livelihood. The two work at the Women’s Closet Exchange in South County, which is the basis for a new reality show, “Resale Royalty,” making its debut on the Style network at 8 p.m. Sunday. According to the network, the show follows Sue McCarthy along with her daughters, Diana Ford and Laura Maurice, who own and operate the Women’s Exchange, one of the best resale stores in the country. With more than 25 years of experience in the resale business, Sue has big plans for the future, but she’ll need her daughters to help manage the expanding empire. However, mixing family and business is never easy as their differing personalities put their business relationships to the test. 

Both Jojo and Jourdan are featured as part of “an eccentric staff, who are also (like) family,” throughout the 10-episode series, which takes viewers inside the spectacular closet buys of posh St. Louis socialites to exclusive shopping tours across the country. “We’re both very active characters on the show,” said Jourdan, 23, who graduated from Lafayette High School and Drake University and is a member of United Hebrew Congregation.

Jourdan was hired by Ford as her personal assistant last year, about a year after Jojo was hired. “When I first came on there was a little tension, which is understandable and natural when you are new to a team,” said Jourdan. “It took time getting to know (Jojo) better. Now we’re inseparable.”

Adds Jojo: “We’ve been asked if we are friends in real life and the answer is yes. We are inseparable. Some people ask if we are twins. I explain I already have a twin, I don’t need another one.”

Jojo, 25, graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School and George Washington University and is a member of Temple Israel. She said she relates to the realty show, and the “very funny dynamic between the mother and daughters” because she, too, used to work for her mother (when she was in advertising sales at Alive magazine). “All the emotions on the show are extremely real,” said Jojo. “I think audiences will enjoy seeing how we all play off one another. Not everyone always gets along but we figure it out.”

Jojo now works at the Purple Cow, which is the children’s counterpart of the Women’s Closet Exchange and located in the same shopping plaza. Jourdan serves as operations director to Ford, who runs The Shopping Co, which arranges shopping excursions and “boutique crawls.” 

Of course the two are very excited about the show, though they aren’t sure how, or if, it will change their lives or what opportunities might emerge. “We’re both in similar stages of our lives, so we are each other’s sounding boards,” said Jourdan. “I couldn’t predict six months ago I would be on a realty show and I don’t know what I will be doing six months from now. But it’s exhilarating that at a moment’s notice I can pick up and move anywhere in the world.” 

Both she and Jojo think “Resale Royalty” will shed a positive light on St. Louis and definitely up its coolness quotient. Jojo goes one step further, saying St. Louis isn’t a bad place at all for young Jewish singles.

“When I initially moved back (to St. Louis) after college, I was kind of in my own zone,” she said. “But I have some older friends who got me into YPD (Young Professional’s Division of Jewish Federation) so I’ve met a lot of people through that. I have to say, it’s been a whole lot of fun.”

The young and the restless

One of my favorite achievers, fifth grader Gabe Fleisher, recently wrote a book about his school entitled “Hear Us Roar: A History of Flynn Park School.” As if writing a book wasn’t enough, Gabe is also the author, editor and publisher of the weekday e-newsletter “Wake Up to Politics.”  He’s been featured on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” where he bested the Political Junkie, Ken Rudin, in a trivia showdown.  Gabe has also been featured on television and radio programs to discuss “Wake Up to Politics,” and even wrote a commentary piece for the Jewish Light last October about the presidential election.

At 7 p.m. Monday, Gabe will talk about his book and sign copies at the University City Public Library, 6701 Delmar Boulevard. All profits from book sales will go to Flynn Park 5th Grade Promotion activities later this month.  Light refreshments will be served.

Gabe is the son of Rabbi Randy Fleisher of Central Reform Congregation and his wife, Amy.