Business phone system for used merchandise stores in Arkansas

The used merchandise store industry in Arkansas

County Business Patterns counts 215 establishments in Arkansas classified as Used Merchandise Stores (NAICS 453310) for 2023. They employed 2,468 people in mid-March and reported $44.7 million in annual payroll. That is the 30th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Used merchandise stores make up 0.31% of the 70,452 business establishments in the state.

Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Arkansas has 7.0 used merchandise stores, 21.6% above the national rate of 5.7. The average establishment has 11.5 employees against 11.4 nationally. Payroll per employee is $18,101, 26.2% below the U.S. figure of $24,523.

Used merchandise stores by metro area in Arkansas

Census published used merchandise store counts for 14 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Arkansas. The largest is Memphis, TN-MS-AR, with 74 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans). Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 80% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.

Team sizes at used merchandise stores in Arkansas

50.2% of Arkansas's used merchandise stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 43.2% nationally. 70.2% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.

Calls a used merchandise store in Arkansas has to catch

Thrift, consignment and resale stores take calls about donations, consignment terms and stock. Consignors call to check on their items.

A few of the calls that come in to used merchandise stores in Arkansas:

• A customer calls about a piece of furniture.
• A customer calls about donation drop-off hours.
• A consignor calls to check on sales.

Texting customers

Stores text consignor updates.

Texting from a local number in Arkansas requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.

Callata vs. per-seat pricing for used merchandise stores in Arkansas

Used merchandise stores in Arkansas average 11.5 employees, so the comparison uses an 11-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 11 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $330.00 a month and 11 on Ooma Office Pro cost $274.45. Callata comes to $219.00 a month for 11 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.

Over a year, that is $1,332 less than RingCentral for a used merchandise store in Arkansas of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.

Area codes in Arkansas

Arkansas has 4 geographic area codes in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a used merchandise store can hold a number in more than one of them.

How Callata works for used merchandise stores in Arkansas

Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.

Porting a number you already use in Arkansas is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.

AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.