seek and you shall find: tips to scoring big at thrift stores

Most of the decorative accessories in my house have come from thrift, consignment and antique stores…I love those one-of-a-kind pieces that won’t be found in anyone else’s home. My weakness for vintage mason jars, silver Paul Revere bowls, woven demijohns and blue and white pottery has been satisfied mostly from these stores.  If you’ve ever visited a thrift store and walked out empty handed, here are a few tips to scoring big time.  They’ve worked for me time and time again, and now my clients are having luck, too!

1. Go often.  The key to hitting the jackpot at thrift stores is to go a couple times a week.  People are constantly dropping off their wares, so every time you go, I guarantee there will always be a different selection of items to choose from. 

2. Go early.  The best time to shop thrift stores is first thing Monday morning (or Tuesday morning, if they’re closed on Mondays).  Most people don’t have time to go through their closets or garages until the weekend, so when you show up early on Monday, their goods are already out on display and you get first dibs.  I’ve seen many antique store owners in my area visit early, too…they’re on the hunt for the same things you are and then they jack the prices way up to sell in their store, so go early!

3.  Make friends.  There are about fifteen local thrift and consigment jaunts that I frequent in my area and the salespeople at almost every one of them knows me by name-partly because I visit so often, but mostly because I make it a point to be nice and chit chat with them.  The ladies that run the thrift shops I like most always ask what I’m looking for, how I’m going to use it in a project, etc.  This has paid off for me in spades in the past because those who have a good idea of what I usually end up buying have pulled things I might like off the shelves and set them aside for me when I visit next.  That’s how I scored the two antique wine jugs in the picture below.  If those had made it to the shelves, they would have been gone in a flash.  It pays to be nice…and not just because it’s the right thing to do.

4. Look for potential.  Silver can be polished, furniture can be refinished and almost anything can be brightened up with a coat of paint.  You go to thrift stores to find major deals, yes, but also because you haven’t been able to find what fits your style elsewhere, so keep an open mind.  I once found twenty brass candlesticks for $5, spray painted them gold and used them for a spectacular centerpiece for a baby shower.  I never would have been able to have made such a big impact on so little money elsewhere.

5. Know the specials.  Most thrift stores run specials every week, offering substantial discounts to make room for new inventory. In my area, one store in particular takes 50% off items with a different colored tag each week, another discounts items that are more than sixty days old, and just last week, another one ran a sale-fill an entire paper shopping bag for $3.  Habitat’s ReStore in my area posts a calendar for the month when they will give 50% off categories like “furniture under $150”, “books and art”, “patio furniture”, etc.  If you don’t see any postings, don’t be afraid to ask. 

Happy thrifting!