A trip to the thrift shop can be the perfect place to create a style of your own. Thrift shops are unique “green” businesses. They help the environment by keeping many usable items out of landfills. They are the shops that help the community providing affordable shopping for every household and anyone looking to save money. They are changing the shopping culture of many communities.
Then there’s the fun to be found at shopping “thrift.” Scanning the shelves for unique glassware, dishes, bric-a-brac; checking out the clothing racks for designer labels at a fraction of their original price; finding the original painting by a famous artist or simply looking for the “ugly” sweater for the upcoming holiday party; this is the place to find just what you’re seeking. This is a paradise for collectors and bargain hunters. Actress Eva Mendes, who selected a $6.00 dress from Goodwill to wear to her first Red Carpet event, shows a perfect example of great thrift shopping. She definitely created a style of her own.
For those who don’t know, thrift shops are not the same as secondhand shops. There is a distinction that sets them apart. Thrift shops benefit an organization providing a service to the community. Volunteers or member volunteers of the organization staff the shops. None of the volunteers receive pay for the hours they volunteer. A secondhand shop is privately owned and the proceeds are not returned to the community in terms of programs or projects. If you’re not sure about the type of shop in which you are shopping, talk to the workers, i.e., thrift or secondhand?
Remember, whether you’re shopping at a thrift shop for yourself or for someone else, your purchase gives twice–once for yourself and once by supporting a charitable program that the organization supports.
