Are you an avid thrift shopper or do you prefer brand new goods? Tomorrow, August 17, is Thrift Shop Day – a day set aside to encourage people to visit thrift shops in their area and to purchase second-hand items. It’s an opportunity to look at the benefits of second-hand shopping and some great reasons to love thrift shops.
Whether you call them second-hand stores, charity shops, consignment shops or thrift shops, there’s no denying these stores have seen a surge in popularity in recent years, especially among younger shoppers.
Changing perceptions
Until a few years ago, there was a stigma attached to buying second-hand goods. Many people viewed thrift shops as places for people who couldn’t afford to buy new things. I have to admit to thinking that way myself. Years ago, I remember my cousins excitedly heading out to a local thrift store and asking me to join them. At the time, I was thinking I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing something I bought in a second-hand store.
Times sure have changed. In addition to its popularity with younger consumers, in recent years thrifting has also become trendy among middle-income shoppers. Further, Chartered Professional Accountants Canada reports that 85% of consumers participate in the second-hand economy.
So what’s behind this trend? Why has thrifting becoming trendy, rather than something to be ashamed of? Is it the eBay effect? Or does buying second-hand just make sense?
6 reasons to love thrift shops
When I stopped to think about it, I came up with 6 great reasons for the increased popularity of thrifting. Here are 6 reasons to slip in a visit to your local thrift shop on Thrift Shop Day — or any day.
Save money
This is probably the first reason most people think of when it comes to second-hand goods. Why shell out good money for items that you can get for a fraction of the price? If you’re on a tight budget, or would just rather save your money or spend it on other things, you can save a lot of money by thrifting.
Declutter without filling the landfill
Since embarking on my decluttering journey, I’ve made a conscious effort to send as little as possible to the landfill. Donating to charity shops has been one of the ways I’ve been able to turn my junk into treasure. In fact, when our local thrift store was closed due to the pandemic, I accumulated quite a pile of stuff in the corner of my basement that I couldn’t wait to get rid of. I was so excited when they opened back up again.
And if you think it doesn’t make a difference, consider that The Salvation Army’s National Recycling Operations in Canada diverted 86 million pounds of goods from landfill last year. Multiply that by all of the other charity shops out there and the impact is huge.
Support charities
Many thrift shops are an important source of revenue for charitable organizations. By donating goods, or shopping at the stores, you’re supporting worthwhile causes.
As an example, last year The Salvation Army Thrift Store raised over $800,000 to support their programs and services in Canada. Donating to, or shopping at, one of their stores fights poverty, supports their Christmas Kettle campaign and helps send kids to summer camp. Definitely a win-win!
Help the environment
We’re learning more about the environmental impact of fast fashion and how many precious resources are used to manufacture clothing that is worn a handful of times and then discarded. Some of the best ways to reduce the impact are to buy less clothing, purchase quality items that you’ll keep for a long time, and buy second hand.
Thrifting gives us an opportunity to give old clothing new life, and reduce the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill or shipped overseas and burned. In fact, the ThredUp survey I mentioned earlier reported an 82% reduction in carbon emissions for a used clothing item compared to a new item.
Be socially conscious
In addition to the environmental impact of their manufacturing process, most fast fashion chains manufacture their goods in sweatshops, where workers earn low wages and work in unsafe conditions. By buying second hand, you can refresh your wardrobe while sending a clear message that you don’t support these kinds of practices.
Find unique items and rare gems
Last, but definitely not least, if you don’t want to look like everyone else, thrifting gives you the opportunity to find something unique and different that you won’t find on the racks in the big chain stores. There’s nothing worse than showing up at a party to find someone else wearing the same outfit as you.
And, you never know, you might just snag a designer item at a bargain basement price.
Is there a downside?
So, there’s a lot to love about thrifting, but is there a downside? One potential pitfall to be aware of is the deals may lead to overbuying. Don’t forget to practice mindful shopping so you don’t end up with a pile of stuff you don’t need!
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If you’ve been following my blog, you know I’ve been clearing out my wardrobe and reducing the number of new clothes I’m buying. In the last 18 months, I’ve bought only 5 clothing items which is a huge reduction from what I was buying before. It has been easy to do this in pandemic times when I’m living in yoga pants and t-shirts. But, the next time I want to buy something new, I’ll definitely check out local consignment and thrift stores.
Since I don’t need anything new at the moment, I’ll celebrate Thrift Shop Day tomorrow by dropping off a box of donations from my latest decluttering efforts.
Do you shop at second-hand or consignment stores? Are there other things to love about them that I’ve missed? Tell me your thoughts below.
Second hand stores are the best! It could be easy to overbuy but I think when you find yourself a good set of clothes, you won’t.
I agree. Instead of overbuying, think of what else you can do with the money you save!
I’m in love with thrift shops. I always check them out first before buying brand new.
They really are awesome. It’s great to give old things new life.
Absolutely!!!
Well we both know a couple of people who just love the Thrift Shops/Charity Shops! Like you, I used to think, no way, not going in there! But with some patience they sure can be treasure troves, can’t they? My dialogue with someone we know: “That’s so nice, where did you get it?” Pause….smile…… Me: “Oh, really?” LOL
Ha ha. So true. My mum has found all sorts of things at the charity shops over the years. They definitely can be treasure troves.
I love thrift shopping! The best feeling in the world is finding that gem at a great deal. It’s addictive! I hate overpaying for things that I know are purposely overpriced and more and more I’m conscious of the waste that goes along with fast fashion!
Right! Those are all great reasons to take up thrifting. There are some great deals to be found, but you have to be patient and look for them.
I used to avoid charity shops to buy my clothes, but now, I’d happily go to them. 😀
For me, that shift has happened with age, but it’s so great to see young people embracing thrift shops these days. I wouldn’t have been caught dead in one when I was in my 20s and even 30s.
Michelle how was your day but For me I used to put on old shoes but they last longer than new ones
Thanks. Sadly, that is true of a lot of old things. They were made to last. Our obsession with quantity over quality has made things that aren’t supposed to be disposable, disposable. 😢
Lovely post! I was of the same mind as you when I was younger. I thought I wouldn’t be caught dead in a thrift store or wearing second hand clothes worn by someone you don’t even know. But lately I have been open to buying things at thrift stores for all of the reasons that you listed in your post.
I think many of us grew up with the mentality that new is good and used is bad. But new things don’t stay new forever. And as long as the item is in good condition, who cares that it is used? It shows that the item is durable enough to last through many years/multiple people.
You’re right when you say new things don’t stay new forever. And sadly most new things these days aren’t made to last because we live in a disposable world where many people don’t want them to because they want new thngs all the time.
Absolutely. We have to strive to change that mindset
Madam Helen how are you doing
I’m great thanks
I love thrift shop shopping and wish there were more of them in my small town! When I visited Tucson, Arizona I was amazed at the sheer number of secondhand shops. My favorite place to go was an exchange thrift shop, where you could take in the secrets of your unworn wardrobe and exchange the good quality pieces for clothing straight out of the shop.
Thanks for sharing some lovely reasons why thrifting is beneficial in every aspect!
Oh that sounds like an interesting type of thrift shop! I don’t think we have any of these here.
I love a charity shop, we always watch out for books for large boy or bits of crockery we might need. I almost always donate to them too when we have a clear out. I once got 4 sets of micro scalextric for £5 and the shop didn’t want more because it hadn’t been tested and might not work.
It’s amazing the treasures you can find! Definitely a win-win when you can get rid of stuff and pick up things you need too!
I remember as a teenager going to a thrift shop in upstate NY and finding a BUNCH of jackets which all fit well. I am guessing someone who was just my size had recently de-cluttered their closet (or died) and they (or their family) had donated a bunch of his clothing to that store. Nowadays the main thing I look for is 32″ x 32″ black jeans/pants, which is what i wear for most of the year. And since I ride my bike a lot, i wear out certain areas of my pants relatively fast…
Wow. You really lucked out there, Will. That’s the downside of thrifing. You find something you love, but it’s not the right size!
I used to feel the same way about buying second-hand but my viewpoint changed as well. I’ve also noticed that since a lot of people overspend there are a bunch of new clothes, still with tags attached, for sale in second-hand stores.
I know. I have seen clothing with tags on them in thrift stores too. Crazy.
I love thrift stores for all these reasons! The benefits are so huge. I love finding little out of the way thrift stores because they always have the best treasures hidden in them 🙂
Thanks. Thrifting takes a lot of patience but that’s half the fun. When my daughter was doing her School of Rock shows we visited all the local Thrift Shops looking for costume pieces. The best find was a pair of Danier leather pants for $10.
Wow! That’s an amazing find!
I prefer brand new goods because I don’t like thrift shops or the concept of thrift shopping personally!! There are a handful of thrift shops here in the uae for like clothes but barely everyone goes to them. Great informative post Michelle
Thanks Maya. I used to feel the same way. These days I buy very little because I am trying to get rid of stuff!