So, I'd like to think that over the past little while I've become quite adept at shopping in thrift shops. While I still have yet to take advantage of the middle aisles (which is usually where clothes are found) - I'm still not totally confident braving those racks yet - I am quite capable of handling the perepherial - which is a good thing since that's where the things I love to look for are found. While yes, thrift stores can be filled with junk if you know what to look for, and perhaps more importantly
how to look, there are great deals and treasures to be found. In the beginning, I felt quite...odd going into a thrift shop because, you know, that's where they sell all of people's crap that they don't want and that they gave to them in big black bags...why would I want to go through other people's crap. Well, let me tell you - people give away some good stuff! To be honest, it's a little bit hard for me to go into a regular store now and buy certain items at regular price! Let me share some of the tips I follow with you all.
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| A recent haul from the thrift shop. And yes, that white pot on the left is a Le Creuset - my first! |
1.
Always grab a cart or take a basket as soon as you walk in the door. You may not find anything and therefore may not use it - but it's always best to have it just in case. It sucks when your arms are filled with great finds and you can't pick up other potential great items to have a look because your hands are filled...then you have to walk back to the front to get a cart/basket all the while thinking someone is going to get to that item before you have a chance to get back to it...
2.
If you know exactly what you're looking for go to that section first. This is a case of practice what you preach because while I believe in this tip I don't always follow it. For example, I love looking for
wood bowls and other wood kitchen accessories - so I should head there first...but I like to go in order so it's usually halfway through the store. There have been a hand full of times when, by the time I got there, I see someone with something I would've wanted and I curse myself for not heading there first.
3.
Bend down a bit and look at the back of the shelf. I'm pretty good at skimming the shelves quickly but sometimes I forget to just bend down a bit and look at the back at the shelf...and there's been times when doing that has lead me to finding something I really like that was hidden behind something else or just out of view.
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| If I didn't put that yellow arrow in would you have been able to spot that beautiful marble pepper shaker? I almost missed it. Actually, I didn't see it until I was in the other aisle looking at the pots (seen in the back) - I promptly came back for it (and found the matching salt shaker on the shelf below). |
4.
Paint, polish, oil. Doing any of these to an item can breathe new life into or give it an entirely new look. See beyond the chipped paint, dry wood, dingy finish....does it have good bones? Awesome lines? Is it well made? How would it look with a new coat of paint? Perhaps the wood just needs to be oiled to restore the finish? Maybe that vase is an awesome shape just in a hideous colour? Could that stool be recovered in a fabric more to your liking? Perhaps that piece is just really dingy and needs some brass or silver polish to shine bright (like a diamond - sorry, I couldn't help it). Sometimes it just takes a little vision.
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| I immediately fell for legs on these stools - but the brass is dingy and the fabric terrible. Some brass-o and new fabric and they'll be fabulous! Only $3.99 each (+30% off!) |
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| How cute is this shiny stainless steel bottle opener - now that it's all polished. It'll look great on my thrifted bar cart. |
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When I saw this I thought "ew, gross!" but then I remembered it's brass - and pictured it all shiny....it'll look great on a bookshelf or table once it's shined up.
5. What else could it be used for? You might not need another tea cup but maybe you could use it to plant some herbs or for a pretty plant? Those fabulous curtains could be turned into awesome accent pillows. You don't really want a book of landscapes but you could easily frame a few pages for easy (and inexpensive!) artwork! Again, this tip takes having a little vision but once you start to think of things as being more than they are you'll get the hang of it.
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| I think this portrait would look amazing framed. From this book. |
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| I'm not too sure what this is intended for (note the notches on it) but I thought it could make a lovely planter for some succulents. |
6.
If you're unsure put it in your cart/basket anyways. Then you can think about it as you check everything else out or before you head to the register. Trust me, it sucks putting something back on the shelf that you're unsure of only to come back a few minutes later to find that its gone - someone else got to it. It costs nothing to put it in your cart/basket - and you're allowed to change your mind. See, told you you'd need that cart!
7.
Figure out what are the best days to go and go then. Most thrift stores will restock shelves throughout the day but, even still, I find some days are better than others. For example, the day I have the most luck at my favourite thrift shop is Friday. I had a theory that Mondays should be a good day but the handful of times I've gone then I've found nothing.
8.
Check for the brand stamp/logo then google it. Sure, if you really love a piece then it doesn't matter who it's buy and if it's real or not. But there are times when you might be on the fence about something and knowing if it's one-of-a-kind, collector's, what have you - would make a difference. I am always looking for the maker and googling stuff while I'm in the aisle. You may think that china cup is worth a pretty penny and hard to find but turns out it's mass produced and worth nothing. Or vice versa -
that $10 pan is an original DANSK and is priced amazingly low.
9.
When you've finished circle back, even quickly, once more. Sometimes the shelves have already been added to, or you've missed something, or someone has put something back that they changed their mind about. I can't tell you how many times I've found things on my quick final round that I'd missed the first time around (good as I've become even I miss things!)
10.
Visit often. And this is the hard part. You could find nothing today and 3 days later - wowza. Now that I've bought a car, I tend to try and visit my favourite thrift shop on my way home from work every Friday...or every other Friday. It's on my way home and so it's fairly easy to stop for a few minutes. It's simple math - the more you visit the greater your odds in finding something good.
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| This is the first piece of pottery I've thrifted. I fell for it big time and knew I'd be disappointed if I left it behind. Made in Germany. $8 (+30% off!) |
And it goes without saying -
only buy it if you really love it and will put it to use. Don't buy something just because you kinda like it and it's cheap - you'll end up with a house filled with stuff...and stuff that you just kinda sorta like. If I'm on the fence, I put it in my basket to think about it. If by the time I get to the register I've forgotten I've put it in my basket it - I leave it behind...I obviously wasn't thinking about it/excited by it. If it's meant to be I figure I'll see it again!
So there you go. 10 tips I follow that have lead to
great success in
thrift shops. Have you had any luck in thrift shops lately? Any tips to add?
