Thrift is green, local and easy on your wallet

By Marissa Hermanson

December 3rd 2009

Save money and give something unique this holiday season by hitting up local thrift and consignment shops. Not only are you getting a bargain, but you’re helping the environment through recycling. Also, if you shop at a nonprofit thrift shop, like the Salvation Army Thrift Store or Boulder Humane Society Thrift, you are also funding a local organization. Thrift shops are filled with unique gifts that you can’t find at your nationwide retailer. Looking for a yellow-paged Jane Austen or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic? Check out a used bookstore. Or how about a gently worn Michaels Kors coat or vintage flapper dress? Boulder has thrift shops for vintage garments as well as recent high-fashion apparel. Or stop by a furniture consignment shop and pick up some decorating bric-abrac for a gift.

The National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops (NARTS) predicts a large increase in sales for the resale industry this holiday season. Economic downturn has caused more and more people to turn to the resale industry for their goods in the past year. Seventy eight percent of thrift stores that are NARTS members say that their sales increased, at an average of 35 percent, within the past year.

“Resale shops offer unique merchandise … making them an increasingly popular destination for gift shopping,” says NARTS Executive Director Adele Meyer. “With the recognition of resale shops as mainstream retailers, they have become a favorite source for presents, as well as holiday fashions and décor for smart consumers seeking quality at a savings. Resale gives consumers the opportunity to accomplish their holiday shopping while staying within their budget.”

Last year thrift shops reported an average increase of 27 percent in holiday sales, according to NARTS.

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