The Thrifting Fad is Back

     The recent Great Recession that plagued the US caused most Americans to flock to methods of saving money. Some of the most popular methods of preserving income were auto repair shops, dollar stores and of course, thrift shops. Not surprisingly the quantity of resale stores (thrift, consignment and other secondhand establishments) has increased by seven percent within the past year.
     A very well-known secondhand store, Goodwill has over 2,700 establishments in 15 different countries since it's opening in 1902. Savers is another up and coming thrifting source that is expanding its presence by adding 20 new stores annually to its already existing 270 stores. 

Britt Beemer, founder and chairman of America's Research Group, says that "About 20% of people shop in thrift stores regularly, compared with about 14% in 2008."

     It's an obvious truth that people, especially teenagers, love to create their own trends. They want a style that's unique and all their own. They want to wear items that will receive compliments because a million other people in the world won't be wearing the same thing. Vintage is definitely a style that has resurfaced in a variety of social circles, particularly college campuses and high schools.
     Thrift shopping is an activity and/or lifestyle that will only rise in approval rates because of people's desire to reduce their spending in rough economic times. Soon there will be no embarrassment or shame associated with being a customer at these resale outlets. Instead people will feel proud and excited about buying these distinct, sturdy items at much lower prices.

For more information about this topic visit the link below:
The Thrift Store: Not Just for Penny-Pinching Grandmas Anymore 

    

Thrift Stores Aren't Alone

     As a bargain shopper I've always stuck to surfing the racks at thrift stores. However, there are three other types of second-hand stores including consignment, classified and pawn. These are all places where you can save money while still getting stellar deals! The main difference between these four shops is the moment you surrender ownership of your items, when you get paid and whether or not someone else helps you sell your items.
     Consignment Shops: These shops will sell goods for the owner; the owner will retain ownership until the goods are sold. An example: If you consigned a stereo for $30 then the shop would take 50 percent ($15) and as the owner you'd receive the remainder of the money. Items are usually in place for 30, 60 to 90-day cycles. If the item fails to sell then it'll be discounted. Consignment stores are loved more by the buyers than the sellers. 
     Pawn Shops: Most people wouldn't believe that pawn shops are considered second-hand but they actually do meet the qualifications! As a seller you will surrender ownership of your items immediately when you receive payment for their worth. Two well-known chains that use pawn shop standards would be Plato's Closet and Half Price Books. The payment you receive from the store won't be affected if the store isn't able to sell your items; all the risk is now on the store itself. 
     Classifieds: This is a way to advertise for your goods by placing an ad in a newspaper or online source. Classified ads are popular because the fees that are required are significantly less than the ones charged by pawn and consignment shops. Craigslist is, hands down, the most popular option because it's free and gives the seller more control. E-Bay and Amazon are also examples of classifieds.
     Thrift Shops: Most of these stores are run by non-profit organizations and are donation-based. The donator will receive a tax-deductible receipt for the estimated cost of the items they give the shop. Most people enjoy donating their items because they know its for a good cause. The thrift store giants are Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
Website Link

Fashion Mission: Thrift Store Edition

     I came across a video recently called "How To Shop At a Thrift Store." The video was an episode from Cosmopolitan's show called Fashion Mission. The show stars two fashion bloggers named Lindsey Calla, who has been in another video I've posted, and Karen Blanchard. The episodes involve different fashion challenges that Blanchard and Calla are assigned to take on. 
     In this specific episode their assignment is to design an outfit for a blind date. The challenge is that they're only allowed to spend $50 at a Goodwill. The video does an excellent job showing the process and strategy they use while surfing the racks and selecting what items to purchase. 
     The one thing they mentioned that stuck with me was that when you're shopping at a thrift store you shouldn't be paying attention to the sizes. The reason for this is because the racks are filled with a mix of items from different years so size really doesn't mean much. Plus you can always use the money you'll be saving and spend it on tailoring the clothes if they're a little too big. Overall, this video was very upbeat, enjoyable and definitely incorporated some good lessons about thrift shops! 

 CLICK HERE to Watch Episode