Samantha Rottscheit
People who scoff and stick their nose in the air when they hear the words “thrift store” are missing out. Some assume that if an item is used, it can’t possibly in good condition, and that if it’s cheap, it must be low quality. I mean, it makes sense, right?
Wrong!
I once subscribed to these false ideologies, too, until I had the privilege of working in a thrift store, and the experience was mind-blowing. How often can one wander into a department store and find an 80s prom dress (shoulder pads and all!), and when was the last time Kohl’s lined their shelves with wooden magazine holders someone’s grandfather made? Probably never. The odds of tumbling down the rabbit hole into a wonderland of nostalgia and unique treasures are significantly higher at a thrift store.
Why Thrift?
One of the biggest draws to shopping at a thrift store is, of course, being kinder to your bank account. We’re living in unprecedented times where uncertainty is in no short supply; with layoffs and delayed paychecks, it only makes sense to take some of the pressure off your wallet.
Even before COVID-19, I recall many of our clientele being college students looking to stock up before school started, parents who needed new clothes weekly because their kids either grew like weeds or spent too much time rolling around in them, as well as some particularly aggressive bargain hunters.
The Value
Thrift stores have to inspect each item for any sort of blemish or defect meticulously and price it accordingly. You can shop with confidence that the price was made with you, the customer, in mind.
These prices make thrift stores a goldmine for the financially savvy, as well as the artistically inclined. Where else can you get bold and pastel colors in one affordable package?
The art supplies found in thrift stores are usually a great deal, but artists can also find more unique materials for larger products.
Get Crafty
Repurposing is a trend that’s grown in popularity over the years, and we have thrift stores to thank for it. If you want to get wild when unleashing your creative side, wait until their busiest time of year: Halloween. With a keen eye, you can find anything and everything necessary for all sorts of costumes.
Dressing up isn’t exclusive to October, of course! If you’re looking to cosplay but don’t have hundreds of dollars to drop on a costume, thrift stores are a great place to find all the elements you need.
Of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention the environmentalist aspect. One of the lesser known benefits of thrift stores is just how much “junk” they prevent from being thrown away. There are lots of reasons that people get rid of clothing – maybe they don’t wear that style anymore, or they’ve changed sizes – but getting rid of clothes doesn’t have to mean adding to a landfill! If your used clothes are still wearable, donating them to a thrift store is a great environmentally-friendly way to rotate items out of your wardrobe.
In the U.S. alone, over twelve million tons of clothing are thrown out with the junk mail and neglected leftovers each year. Instead, consider donating to your local thrift stores. The planet, and people in need, will greatly appreciate it.
