I was chatting with a far-off friend recently, and he mentioned that he’d noticed how much attention the press has been giving thrift shops. I said yes, indeed, it’s a great way to shop, to save money and to be careful with our planet’s resources.
“Oh, I don’t shop at those places,” he said.
“I’d feel like I was cheating
the poor out of good buys. I can afford to buy new but they can’t so it’s not fair for me to shop there.”
John had the mistaken idea, as many middle-class-and-above people do, that thrift shops are in existence simply as “subsidized shopping” venues for the poor. These well-off folks think that by avoiding shopping in your thrift store they are doing good by “leaving the bargains for those who need them.”
While many not-for-profit shops do indeed see part of their mission as providing a valuable shopping opportunity for those of limited means, most shops also aim to make profits in order to provide other services to the needy. It’s important that well-off potential shoppers know this.
“Shopping at OurStore not only gets you deals, it gets you warm fuzzies: The profits from your purchases provided a safe place for mothers and children to stay for over 12000 nights last year.”
So if your potential customers do not understand that “thrift shopping isn’t just for the needy” , make sure they receive the message that “Our proceeds fund X and Y so we invite you to find the deals you deserve, for the sake of those in need in our community.” And make sure they receive this message over and over again.
I was able to conclude my conversation with John by saying, “Thrift shops not only are an inexpensive way for everyone to shop, and a great opportunity to re-purpose everything from the kitchen sink to a tool box, but their retail profits help your community.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
[…] Why does this tag line deserve a TGtbT Kudos? Because it not only tells the reader that the business needs both actions to do their good work, it also, oh-so-subtly, address the age-old mistaken impression that purchases made at a charitable thrift store by people who can afford to buy at a “real” store are somehow depriving the underprivileged. (More on THAT topic in this past blog post.) […]
Thank you Kate, it can be a hard thing to put into words, but you have done it beautifully. I have a map that shows all the resale clothing stores in our town and people are shocked that I am encouraging them to shop at the NFPs-I am the only for profit that is only clothing/accessories. I am never too sure about how to word my encouraging them to shop at the NFPs. Now I have some great wording.
MollyB!
Kate – Thank you for the validation, I have actually lost friends to this mindset.
Some one actually accused me of stealing from the poor when I shop at a Thrift store. Well, That thrift store actually gives 25,000 in scholarships away each year.
Oh, and this thrift store give people job training and job placement.
Oh, and this thrift store… do I need to keep listing all the good re-sale stores and nfp thrift provides to the community.
So timely… Thank you!
Glad I could contribute to your peace of mind Tanya! (I was actually thinking of you this evening as I was cooking, remembering your skills in my kitchen for the Flamingoettes dinner 2 years ago!)
In almost every NFP thrift store consultation I have ever done, one of the top “Action Items” I leave with them is: Promote your Cause! They do such good, but they hide their light under a bushel. Sometimes I feel like taking them by the shoulders and shaking them: don’t be so darn humble! Brag! Knowing where the money goes makes people WANT to buy from you!