Latest news with #thriftshopping
CBS News
07-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- CBS News
Tips and tricks from a Colorado thrifting expert on how to thrift shop and score the best finds
Whether you're looking to save a few bucks or find some unique articles of clothing, thrifting is becoming more popular nowadays. A local thrifting expert is sharing tips on how to find the best deals and score the best finds. Katie Bergman is an avid thrift shopper. CBS Like many people, Katie Bergman has always loved shopping and buying clothes. However, the prices of everything have gotten expensive, especially when trying to update your wardrobe and what's in your closet. So, she became an avid thrift shopper and now has her own business where she's a thrift personal shopper and finds outfits and new wardrobes for clients. Bergman recommends going to the store with a game plan, sticking to your budget, and making a list for yourself. She also recommends shopping based on whatever colored tags are on sale for the day. You can find items 30% off or even 50% off based on the colored tags. It's also recommended to get to the stores earlier in the day or throughout the week when stores are less busy. Thrifting has become more popular as the cost of living increases. CBS "People will clean out their closets and things over the weekends, and so you will get lots of great things that people have cleaned out, and they're usually put on the racks earlier in the week. Tuesday, Wednesday are usually going to be your best days, and sometimes Monday, but they might be recovering from weekend sales." Check every aisle and each item on the rack and inspect items carefully. Some stores also have sales racks too. Be on the lookout for designer items or certain brands that will last longer. "Another thing you can look at is to shop off-season. So, if you want sweaters and long-sleeved shirts, now is the time to shop for those because they're not incredibly picked over at this point, and you can find a lot of really great items for cheap that you wouldn't normally find," said Bergman. If you have sewing skills or are willing to get things tailored, keep that in mind as you're shopping. Always try to pick things that are bigger in size, rather than smaller, as those are easier to get tailored. Also, check the store's re-stock days. Have an open mind and have some fun. Katie Bergman shows how to update your wardrobe by thrifting. CBS "I think thrift stores are overwhelming, and that's the main reason most people are kind of intimidated by shopping in a thrift store. But when you know what you're looking for, for example, a certain color jacket or something like that, or you're looking for long-sleeved shirts specifically. You stick to just those colors and just those items," said Bergman.
South China Morning Post
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- South China Morning Post
Best places to shop second-hand clothes in Hong Kong from an avid buyer of preloved wear
Hongkonger Dianne Gupta has a laser-sharp sixth sense as she wanders around Mee & Gee, one of her favourite second-hand clothes shops, in Kowloon's Mong Kok district. Advertisement Dressed in one of her favourite preloved outfits, the 28-year-old scans the racks with lightning speed. 'Some people walk into second-hand shops and feel overwhelmed, but for me it is like a treasure hunt,' she says. It does not take long before something catches her eye: a retro-style dress covered in bright yellow stars. She gives the fabric a feel to test its quality – something she does with every potential purchase – and checks the seams to make sure there is room to move. Advertisement 'It's also a good idea to check the zips and buttons.' The dress passes the test, and at HK$40 (US$5.10), it is a bargain.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Customer calls out local Goodwill after spotting baffling items for sale: 'Let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly'
Thrift shopping is a fantastic way to find high-quality items while saving money, but like everything, it can come with its ups and downs. Take, for instance, a recent post on Reddit that highlighted a thrift store selling Amazon mystery boxes for what appears to be a considerable sum. Posting on the subreddit r/ThriftGrift, a thrifter shared images of the Amazon mystery boxes found at their local Goodwill priced at $59.99. The post received over 100 comments from people who were mostly confused as to why these might sell. "Let me make sure I'm understanding this correctly. I could give Amazon $60.00 for something that I absolutely 100% know for sure that I definitely need OR: I could buy this," one commenter wrote. Another added, "I'd be so [skeptical]!" While it's not clear what is in these particular boxes, people are right to be skeptical following reports of thrift stores selling low-quality or overpriced items, or even putting half-empty consumables on their shelves, resulting in a negative experience for the shopper. These instances are clear examples of corporate greed bleeding into the thrifting industry, but fortunately, these cases are not very common. Shopping at thrift stores can be a great experience, enabling people to search out high-quality items for a fraction of their original cost while also being treasure troves of unique and rare items. Thrifting often leads to significant savings on a range of items from home furniture and decor to clothes, shoes, and other apparel. Some thrifters have even reported purchasing mystery bags at their local thrift store and being overjoyed by what they found inside. In addition to being budget-friendly, thrifting is also a fantastic way to extend the life of items that other people would have ordinarily thrown out. This helps keep items in circulation, reducing the amount of waste filling up landfills. Buying secondhand also reduces the need for new products to be made, conserving valuable resources and saving energy, which together help protect our planet. What's your primary motivation in shopping at thrift stores? Cheaper clothes Trendier items Reduced environmental impact I don't thrift Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Entrepreneur
29-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Her Dorm Room Side Hustle Led to $60,000 in Sales Overnight — Then Over $1 Million.
When Ali Grace was in high school, she loved thrift shopping for vintage denim with her mom. She'd cut up old jeans and repurpose or tailor them to fit her. And when she went off to college at UMass Amherst, she studied math and computer science. But by her senior year, in 2018, she'd gotten a little bored with her STEM studies and started looking for a creative outlet. She and her roommate started prowling thrift shops for vintage Levis and customizing them to fit the girls who lived in their dorm. Word got around, with more girls requesting their own custom jeans, and soon it became a side hustle, with Grace selling five to ten pairs a month for about $150 each. Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free newsletter packed with creative side hustle ideas and successful strategies. Sign up here. " I had this thing on my website where you'd do a deposit and you'd fill out a form with all your measurements, inspo photos, what you want, and then I would individually text every single customer and talk to them about their order one-on-one before I Venmo requested them," she says. Around that time, Grace made her first wholesale connection. "I met this guy in front of a wall of Levi's at a thrift store, and he was like, 'Oh my mom has a barn of these.' It's crazy that the lady had the same birthday as me, drove the same car. She was essentially me but 55! Her name was Karen." During that period, Grace also took a class called Creative Entrepreneurship, which she credits for changing the trajectory of her life. The professor introduced her to a local business accelerator, which she decided to apply for, and got in. From the top 300 businesses, she made it through multiple rounds of elimination to the top 12, and won a few thousand dollars. "It wasn't about the money," she says. "It was about proving that this small business had the potential to be something big and that we were on the cusp of it. Once I saw the momentum, I moved forward with aligrace at full force." Image credit: Lauren Alexandra The first couple of years after graduating, her business, which she called aligrace, was a one-woman show. She opened a little boutique in Cape Cod, and then moved to California. "I will say I was extremely profitable then, and our jeans were probably 30% to 50% cheaper than they are now because I didn't have rent. All I had was the cost of inventory, the labor cost of me working on the jeans, and the seamstress cost." Related: She Quit Corporate Life to Pursue a Side Hustle With Her Sister. They Saw Over $100,000 During Launch Weekend — and Now Have an 8-Figure Brand. Profitable or not, those years were a grind because Grace wanted to maintain personal connections with her customers. She texted each buyer in a kind of one-on-one consultation. "I remember I would stay at my office until midnight because I had to text everybody," she says. "Like, there are 75 people that I have to get through before I can start their orders! But it was really impactful and because when they would get their jeans, they would personally text me like, 'Oh my God, I've never had a pair that fit like this before!' When the pandemic hit, Grace shut down for a couple of months to cope with the chaos. But when she was ready to take orders again, she opened her website around midnight and went to bed. " I woke up and we had like $60,000 in sales in like 12 hours," she says. "At this time, I'm operating out of a shed in my yard. I have hundreds of Levi's, but I don't have a setup to accommodate like 300 orders in a day. So I got a warehouse. I expanded, I bought more inventory. I hired my first employee. I started hiring more teams of seamstresses. Things just really snowballed from there." To the uninitiated, building an entire business on customizing vintage Levi's might sound like an impossible sourcing dilemma. But, as Grace explains, there's actually a vast Levi's wholesale market, with sellers all over the world. After all, Levi's has been making jeans since 1873, and their jeans last a long time. "All of the denim we have is 20 to 30 years old," Grace says. "We have some jeans that are even older than 30 years old and they really hold up." In many ways, it's the most sustainable possible model for a fashion brand: recycling used materials, paying for local labor. But, unsurprisingly, everything about the business — from sourcing to the actual alterations — is labor-intensive. "One of our main wholesalers is in San Jose and he ships us like a thousand jeans at a time," Grace says. "We'll go up there on buying trips, which can be upwards of a 10 to 12-hour day. We drive up there with a U-Haul, dig through pallets trying to find grade A or B vintage denim. Then we size it, grade it and organize it by waist, butt and length, so when orders come in, it's really easy to find the sizes we need. Then we alter it to the desired style, with all the little extras — tilted pockets, split seam, unfolded hem, whatever it may be. It goes to the seamstress, and then there's a whole stain treatment process to clean the denim, since it's vintage. It's very hands-on and it's definitely been a grind to figure out how to scale this." It was in 2020, after ramping up production, that Grace also started reaching out to influencers. "To this day, we haven't paid a dollar in influencer marketing," she says. "Everything is just pure gifting. I don't ask anything in return." Image credit: Lauren Alexandra And though it took a little while, those no-strings-attached influencer relationships paid off in a big way. Revolve, the online fashion retailer, had long been a dream partner for Grace. "I tried all my avenues of getting in touch with Revolve and everything was a dead end," she says. "Then one day, I think it was in October 2023, I had a DM from Casey, the denim buyer. She had found us on TikTok through Kelsey DiPrima, one of our OG influencers." Related: Why Big-Name Influencers Are Losing Power — and Micro-Influencers Are Taking Over Still, even if it was the dream, selling to a retailer like Revolve meant finally developing standard sizing — a departure from Grace's foundational concept of vintage denim customized to each woman's body. "That was kind of hard for me because I loved that we were fully custom for so long," Grace says. "But it's just not scalable, you know? So I developed our 23 through 35 standard sizing based on all of our customers' measurements over the previous seven years, and then we crafted these standard size guides. But you still have the option to buy custom on our website." Since starting their partnership with Revolve, aligrace has also started selling at FWRD, the showroom Place, and recently launched with Anthropology. Last year, the company hit $1 million in sales, and Grace says, "I believe we can do $2 million this year with our website and wholesale connections." For Grace, one of the most rewarding parts of her journey has been staying connected to the "ride or die" aligrace customers she was texting into the wee hours, six years ago. "Some have like 15 pairs of our jeans in their closets now," she says. "They're my friends. It's not possible for me to be that hands-on anymore, but if I didn't do it like that back then, I don't think we would be where we are today. It really developed a community of people who wanted to support us."
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Vinnies surprises Aussies with major announcement that's set to change the way you shop forever
One of Australia's favourite op shops has finally launched a digital store, offering 30,000 pre-loved fashion pieces - ranging from designer labels to popular high-street brands. Vinnies has taken thrift shopping to a whole new level with its new platform, aptly named Vinnies Finds, making sustainable, affordable style more accessible than ever. Every donated item has been carefully curated by a team of 25 staff and volunteers at Vinnies' warehouse in Sydney 's inner west, with shipping available nationwide. With new men's and women's clothes, shoes and accessories dropping daily, shoppers can grab bargains on their favourite brands - including Burberry, Kate Spade, Christian Dior, Chanel, Zimmermann, New Balance and Nike and more. With growing demand for second-hand shopping and vintage clothing - along with the rise of the thrifting trend on social media - it's no surprise that op shops have seen a huge spike in popularity in recent years. And now, after more than 100 years of running brick-and-mortar shops, Vinnies is expanding its internet presence with its first-ever online store, offering tens of thousands of donated items, including pre-loved treasures and unique pieces. 'As shopping habits evolve in the digital age, our move online ensures Vinnies remains relevant and accessible. Today's consumers are seeking convenience, sustainability, and style, all in one click,' Vinnies NSW CEO Yolanda Saiz told FEMAIL. 'Going digital allows us to reach a wider crowd and keep up with the growing demand for eco-friendly options, all while giving pre-loved clothes a second life.' Avid thrift enthusiasts can shop by category, brand, curated collection, price, or by using specific search terms, making it easy to browse and purchase second-hand menswear, womenswear, shoes, accessories, and jewellery. 'New items are uploaded daily, ensuring a constantly refreshed product offering. Items will be rotated seasonally so at the moment you will see a lot of Autumn and Winter wear, but you can also shop now if you want to get summer clothes for your Euro Summer trip,' Ms Saiz said. 'Shoppers can expect a carefully curated range of fashion that includes everything from everyday essentials to high-end designer pieces. You'll find well-known names alongside one-of-a-kind treasures you won't see anywhere else. 'Prices are designed to focus on quality and affordability, reflecting Vinnies' commitment to accessible fashion for all. 'Whether you're hunting for a statement dress, designer shoes, or a timeless vintage jacket, there's something for every budget.' Not only will shoppers find great deals, but they will also be supporting a worthy cause with every purchase. 'Vinnies Finds combines the treasure-hunt experience of thrifting with the convenience of shopping online, all while supporting the work of Vinnies in communities across NSW,' Ms Saiz said. 'It's an affordable way to enjoy fashion while supporting sustainability and giving back to the community.' The online inventory is managed at the Vinnies Finds warehouse in Stanmore, where a dedicated team - many of whom are fashion students or sustainability enthusiasts - pick and pack orders from Monday to Friday. Shoppers are welcome to donate their pre-loved clothes to Vinnies for inclusion in the digital store, Vinnies Finds. 'The process is straightforward and ensures that only quality items make it online,' Ms Saiz explained. 'To donate, simply drop off your clean, gently used clothing and accessories at any Vinnies shop during business hours. A helpful rule of thumb is: if you'd give it to a mate, it's good to donate. 'Once your items are donated, each item is carefully sorted and assessed for quality. Suitable items are prepared for sale in our shops and online store. This includes photographing and cataloguing items for Vinnies Finds. 'By donating to Vinnies, you're not only giving your pre-loved items a new life but also supporting a sustainable and circular economy, all while helping those in need.' The proceeds from these sales directly fund Vinnies' programs and services, supporting thousands of vulnerable individuals and families across NSW each year. 'What's exciting about launching Vinnies Finds is how it brings together purpose and convenience. It's not just about shopping, it's about making second-hand fashion easier to access, giving clothes a second life, and supporting local communities at the same time,' she said. 'It's also a big move toward a more sustainable future. By making it easier to buy pre- loved items, Vinnies is helping to reduce textile waste and support a circular economy. 'And while shoppers find great pieces online, they're also helping fund essential services like crisis accommodation, food support, and help for families doing it tough.'
