Sourcing your Thrift Store
It’s all about understanding the stores that your thrifting in. Which one has the best prices. What days the deals are happening. Which has the best inventory. Which has the most unique finds. Who has the most helpful staff. It’s trail and error to find what store(s) works best for you.
For me, my best thrifting is done when I travel. I research what thrift store are around the area that I will be staying in and try to (although I’m not great at it) plan out where I want to go and the time I want to spend there. It won’t always work that way because you may come across a store that has such great inventory that you end up spending hours in that one spot and that is when you have the most plentiful hauls. I would highly recommend finding shops outside the normal chain thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army or Savers. The smaller mom and pop thrifts have gems, great prices and deserve to be visited.
Don’t shy away from the Goodwill bins either. This is the last stop before the landfill and they house incredible finds. I’ve gotten a floor length 100% Fur Jacket, YSL Trousers, pristine vintage leather gloves, handmade cowboy boots and so much more. I would always suggest bringing large IKEA style bags or a rolling bag like the Hulken, as carts are not always available. Wearing gloves and taking an allergy pill is a must and on the off chance you are immune compromised or want another layer of protection, wear a mask. You pay by the pound so you can walk away with a lot and not break the bank. Recently I was at the Goodwill bins in Henrietta, NY and the cashier let me know that an individual clothing item caps out at $4 in their location so he weighed this leather jacket with a fur trim I found separately so that I would only be paying $4 for it instead of bundling it together with the rest of my haul. Ask about it next time you're at the bins!
Church thrift stores are my honorable mention. Some of them can be on the pricier side compared to your regular thrift stores but they have some of the most unique inventory. Some an also have great deals like fill a bag for $5 or buy one get one. It just depends on the area you're in. I also suggest if you are downsizing donate to the churches or small business thrift stores, they tend to remember you and give you some good deals on your next shopping trip!
