Thrift stores struggle to stay open - Donations of items is down

[Liberal_in_LA]

Thrift stores struggle to stay open, fund programs

The Salvation Army is closing its thrift store in White City, Ore., because of declining revenue.


"The demand and need is … 10 times bigger than our ability to keep up with it," he says.

The most dramatic declines in donations are in regions where the recession has been deepest and most long-lasting, officials of both groups say. Salvation Army donations are off 20% in California and other Western states, says Chang, who is based in the Salvation Army's Long Beach, Calif., regional headquarters.

The South and Mid-Atlantic have also seen declines in clothing and household item donations, says Col. Larry White, who oversees the stores in 15 states from Maryland to Texas. Overall the donations are down 15%, and in central Florida donations are off by 25%, he says. The Salvation Army averages $140 million in total thrift-store sales annually in that region and uses it to operate 24 adult rehabilitation centers, he says.

"It's been a struggle to maintain the sales so we can keep our rehabilitation centers open," White says.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/sharing/2010-04-21-thrift-stores_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[texanwitch]

1. This is not good.

I love thrift stores.

[HopeHoops]

2. I was at two today - Community Aid and Goodwill - both were hopping!

There was actually a long line at Community Aid. It moved quickly because they had three registers open. I think that was because the clothing is 50% off on Wednesday. We (middle daughter and I) scored a lot of cool stuff for my youngest daughter's 15th birthday tomorrow.

[grasswire]

3. I've never heard of White City Ore.

And I'm a native.

I have a suggestion for thrift stores. Instead of selling the donations, start giving some of them directly to people in need. The people I see buying in thrift stores are mostly those who not in desperate need.

I realize that selling donations pays for the bureaucracy of the organization and provides some jobs. But maybe it's time to restructure and think outside the box.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Of the 2 "re-tread" stores here, one just closed.

But.....it must be pointed out that down in this teeny southern town where unemployment is
usually high anyway, the thrift store that is still open has virtually nothing of value, never has,
because people do not throw stuff away. They use it up or wear it out.
The store that closed had only been up and running for a year and was full of very overpriced
3rd and 4th hand stuff.

Thrift stores in cities, THAT is a whole other kind of shopping, and I have scored some great
stuff from them.

One of the few things I miss about not living anywhere near a city, the options for good
bargain shopping.

[louis-t]

5. The ones by me are expanding...

and busy all hours of operation.

[SoCalDem]

6. What's extra sad in this, is that when houses are taken away

the "cleaner-out-ers" just toss everything into dumpsters. They are paid by the house, and are actually forbidden to try and "save" anything. The people who run these businesses have said it takes too much time to coordinate with charities, that often did not arrive on time, or with vehicles capable of hauling it away, and some were picky and just wanted to choose some items..

People who are truly walking away, maybe should remember to call Good Will before they leave, and let them have a go at it before the clean out people come through...but of course despondent, desperate people often are in shock, and don't do that.

Our PBS station did a piece on this and it was heartbreaking to see stuff just tossed into dumpsters..stuff like tvs & clothes & toys & china cabinets (still full of dishes).

[pipi_k]

10. That IS sad...

:(

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

7. They could up the prices.

Clearly, used items have more value as supply dries up.

[blue sky at night]

8. we do an anual treasure sale.....

at our Church and it is getting harder and harder to get anything worth reselling, folks are just hanging on to what theyv'e got.

[pipi_k]

9. Did a lot of de-cluttering a couple of weeks ago...

probably stocked the whole local Goodwill store just on the stuff I brought in one day.

By the same token, that same Goodwill store is always very busy anytime I've gone in looking for used books and stuff.

[SoCalDem]

11. I've started donatiing to the Foster Family Association here

They have quarterly "garage sales" to raise money for the foster kids, and they come to my house & pick it up:)

[noamnety]

12. craigslist is probably giving them a run for their money.

It's so much easier than it used to be to sell used things directly. Used to be you had to hold a garage sale and spend a full day getting ready for it, commit to manning it a whole day, deal with putting away items that didn't sell. Maybe in a whole day you'd make serious money - or maybe you'd make peanuts.

Then we went to ebay, but packing and shipping is a pain.

CL makes it super easy to sell direct to people who come pick it up with an appointment, and you can sell a few things at a time. There may be a few no shows, but it's still nothing like sitting at a yard sale for 8 hours straight.

[uppityperson]

13. Our local Goodwill charges $7-10 for a blouse, pants, etc.

They have enough product, but it seems high for a thrift store.

[Libertyfirst]

15. Prices have gone up at most thrift stores in our area, but Goodwill is actually cutting some prices.

[TheDebbieDee]

14. I'm in Kansas City and I shop frequently at thrift and second-hand stores.

I have noticed for the last 18 months or so that the thrift stores that I go to usually have more customers milling around in them than K-Mart or Target.

At a couple of my very favorite thrift stores, I have to drive around the parking lot, looking for a place to park!