Shopping in thrift stores takes a certain amount of dedication and practice. But as summer winds down toward the start of school, and the time for a new wardrobe, it may be the perfect time to refine the skills necessary to visit thrift stores.
With items and clothes in a revolving-door pattern, Dogwood Animal Shelter Thrift Shop manager Donna Morris says the best tip she can offer is to shop smart and shop often.
“We can’t place an order to get what we want, for a certain size for instance. So what comes in, we accept and try to sell,” Morris said.
This is good and bad news for the frugal.
With such high turnover, finding exactly what you’re looking for is sometimes as elusive as the proverbial needle in a haystack.
Morris described it as a treasure hunt.
“You may hit on exactly what you want, your style and it’s in perfect condition and it only costs a dollar,” Morris said. “On the other hand, you may be shopping for school clothes and find a remote-controlled hospital bed in great condition that your neighbor has been looking for months.”
The key is to take some time and have some fun.
Morris said there are several regulars who will run through the store at least every couple of days, if not more often, just to see if they can spot a deal. There are also those who will only strike a certain section looking for a bargain.
“If you don’t know what you’re looking for, make sure you take the time to look around. If you want adventure and do a little bit of snooping at the same time, thrift stores are the way to go,” Morris said.
Once inside, keep an open mind. You may have long outgrown the kids section, but those isles are stocked with Little League tee-shirts with ironed-on letters, old-school sweatshirts and dance costumes for that Halloween costume you’ve been putting together.
Sometimes it’s better to look at what an item could be and not what it is.
Morris said in the 19 years she’s been working at the thrift store, fashions have definitely come and gone, and sometimes come back again. While individual tastes remain steady, she said a few nips and tucks with a needle and thread can turn a piece of clothing into a whole new garment.
“People get really creative. I’m really surprised sometimes,” Morris said. “They come in and buy a shirt that I would have thought would have sat on our shelves for a few weeks and turned it into something really outstanding.”
There are several thrift stores in the area, including ones that are nonprofits, like the Dogwood Animal Shelter Thrift Store. Call ahead for locations and hours of operations.
While most do accept checks and/or credit cards along with cash as payment, Morris did recommend bringing cash.
“Cash just really talks a lot louder sometimes,” she said.
Contact this reporter at deannaw@lakesunleader.com