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The most effective issues about being an expert thrift shopper and reseller is exploring totally different elements of the nation and seeing what nationwide and native chains do finest.
After 30 years of road-tripping and on-line flipping, I’ve developed a listing of secondhand buying hot-spots that may information your individual treasure hunt.
Listed here are the perfect thrift retailer chains.
1. Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Owned by native Habitat for Humanity organizations, Habitat ReStores resell constructing supplies and family items. Income helps fund home-building and renovation tasks for low-income households.
I used to keep away from ReStores as a result of I assumed the stock was restricted to uncooked development supplies and used home equipment. How mistaken I used to be! Shops are treasure troves stuffed with architectural salvage, space rugs, classic furnishings and art work.
2. SCRAP
SCRAP Artistic Reuse was the brainchild of a gaggle of public faculty lecturers in Portland, Oregon. In 1999, the group opened a artistic reuse area centered on repurposing all types of craft materials (suppose yarn, wooden scraps, tile, bottlecaps, paper, and many others.).
Immediately, SCRAP facilities (primarily thrift retailers with studio areas and courses) will be present in Portland; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Baltimore, Maryland; and Richmond, Virginia. Particularly fantastic for youths, SCRAP is sort of a funhouse for artistic minds — endlessly inspiring and chock stuffed with fascinating finds.
3. Disabled American Veterans
The DAV helps veterans transition to civilian life, entry advantages and safe housing. Although it operates thrift shops throughout the nation, the group provides little data on the overall quantity and areas.
That’s too unhealthy as a result of DAV shops deserve a giant PR increase. The shop nearest to me (Des Moines, Iowa) has been round for greater than 40 years. Costs are considerably decrease than the competitors, and all through the pandemic, DAV discounted each piece of merchandise by 50%.
Google “DAV thrift shops close to me” and if there’s one useful, make it a daily cease in your circuit.
4. Goodwill
Goodwill helped redefine the American thrift retailer chain. The group remodeled darkish, musty shops into gleaming retail areas absolutely built-in into mainstream buying hubs.
With 3,300 shops throughout the U.S. and Canada, the sheer dimension of Goodwill’s footprint makes it a mecca for secondhand consumers. It’s simple to find close by shops, or store on-line. Heck, you possibly can even purchase bargains by the pound at “the bins.”
Thrift retailer income helps fund Goodwill’s in depth job coaching, profession counseling and resume-building companies.
5. St. Vincent de Paul
From help with lease to meals and friendship, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides a wide range of companies to assist the poor world wide.
Affectionately nicknamed “St. Vinny’s” by consumers, shops have a wholesome stock of continually altering objects. Costs will be on the excessive facet, however the potential of discovering an actual treasure can be excessive.
Oddly, there’s no nationwide record of St. Vincent de Paul retailer areas. Do a fast net search to see if there’s a St. Vinny’s close to you.
6. The Brown Elephant
One of many Chicago metro’s finest saved secrets and techniques, the Brown Elephant operates three thrift shops within the Windy Metropolis. Proceeds assist Howard Brown Well being, an LGBTQ well being care and social justice group.
Brown Elephant shops provide an eclectic number of items — designer garments and jewellery, distinctive housewares and stacks upon stacks of books. Consider it because the World Market of secondhand shops or, higher but, the property sale of an eccentric, well-traveled uncle.
7. Housing Works
Based mostly in New York Metropolis, Housing Works is a nonprofit group devoted to combating AIDS and homelessness. Housing Works operates a profitable on-line store and 11 thrift shops and used bookshops all through NYC and Brooklyn.
Housing Work’s vibe and merchandise choice is much like the Brown Elephant. Look forward to finding odd, upscale and one-of-a-kind items.
8. The Salvation Military
What thrift shopper hasn’t been to “Aunt Sally’s”? Virtually synonymous with secondhand buying, the Salvation Military is an evangelical group that funds a wide range of social service applications for veterans, younger individuals and the aged.
In my expertise, Salvation Military shops are inclined to have a decrease threshold for acceptable and re-sellable objects. Which means consumers should dig a bit extra to seek out the great things.
And not too long ago, costs appear to be climbing, whereas stock is falling. Nonetheless, S.A. shops are a dependable a part of the thrift buying panorama and often good for a cut price or two.
9. Savers
Not like the opposite organizations on this record, Savers is a for-profit, privately-owned resale chain. The corporate operates shops within the U.S., Canada and Australia below the next names:
- Savers
- Worth Village
- Distinctive
I’ve visited shops throughout the chain and have discovered them to be well-stocked and arranged. The draw back: Clothes is priced increased than most rivals, and small objects, (kitchen utensils, jewellery, collectible figurines, and many others.) are sometimes grouped collectively in sealed baggage, which forces consumers to purchase in bulk.
10. Deseret Industries
Affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Deseret Industries operates dozens of thrift shops within the Western U.S. (with 15 areas in Salt Lake Metropolis alone). The few shops I’ve visited are clear and well-organized.
Sadly, costs at D.I. are steep. Should you’re looking for objects to flip for a revenue, this explicit chain will not be the perfect match.
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