There's a lot of talk about "thrifted" items in the blog-o-sphere...but what does it mean???
Thrift:
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a thrift shop as "a shop that sells secondhand articles and especially clothes and is often run for charitable purposes"
Typically speaking, thrift stores are donation-based and, like the dictionary definition said, many times the proceeds go to a charitable cause. Because it is donation-based, the quality of the items may vary from location to location. Often times, the prices are set prices and usually the organization is by type of item and/or color.
Examples:
Goodwill
Salvation Army
Savers
Locally-based charity/donation shops
Consignment:
Consignment is a relatively new idea, possibly fueled by the present economic status. It is such a new phenomenon that the dictionary definition simply said "the act of consigning." Helpful, right?
To consign means to bring items into a store to sell. The consigner receives a percentage of what the item sells for. The most common split is 60/40 with the consigner receiving 40%, the consignment store I work at works on a 50/50 split, and there are probably many more variations. Most often you will have to wait for your items to sell before you receive your percentage.
Examples:
The Fairy Circle
Crossroads Trading Co.
Locally-based consignment shops
Re-Sale:
However at some shops (I like to call them resale), they will pay you upfront for your items...typically resulting in less than a 50/50 split as they are taking a chance that they will sell. Many resale shops offer cash on the spot or an immediate credit toward purchases in the store (often this will be a little more than what they could pay you in cash).
Examples:
Plato's Closet
Clothes Mentor
Buffalo Exchange
Locally-based re-sale shops (just ask if they buy outright or wok on a consignment base)
Some people consider "thrifted" to be strictly from a "thrift" store while others consider anything "thrifty" (including discount stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Rugged Warehouse) as in, anything that saves you a bunch of money. I love to shop all of the above as it is a way to re-use, recycle, and save a lot of $!
If you have any further questions or if you need help finding thrift or consignment stores in your area feel free to contact me via email or leave a comment! I'd be happy to help :)
