Thrift stores thrive in trying times

By Thomas V. Bona - BusinessRockford.com – 11/26/2008

ROCKFORD — Some local retailers are seeing more customers now that the economy is down. That’s because their best sales aren’t just on Black Friday, they’re year-round.

Thrift stores around the Rock River Valley are seeing increased business from savvy shoppers looking to stretch their dollars. That follows national trends.

“I think they realize you can get nice stuff for a less expensive price,” said thrift-store shopper Torrie Mills of Rockford.
Area Goodwill stores had their best month ever in October, partly because of the economy and partly because of a new store in Machesney Park.

“I think what happens in these economic times is people tend to shop down a little bit from the higher-end stores,” said Sam Schmitz, president of the Abilities Center, the nonprofit organization that runs area Goodwill stores.

Increased revenue for thrift stores means more money for the nonprofits that run them: Abilities Center job placements, Salvation Army adult rehabilitation programs, Habitat for Humanity homes, Rockford Rescue Mission homeless services and the Sharefest effort to spruce up local schools.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Rockford has seen a 15 percent hike in sales this year, which means it can fully fund a new Habitat house next year, manager Lori Springer said. The ReStore has a niche market because it sells building materials, not clothes, toys and household items.

“Obviously, they’re staying in their homes a little more rather than trying to sell them, so things they need to fix up, they’re trying to do more economically,” Springer said.

But the economy also could take a toll on thrift stores. Nationally, they’re seeing a drop in donations, though local stores say they haven’t yet felt the pinch.

“What happens in a down economy is that people tend to hold on to their things a little longer,” Schmitz said. “We’re really encouraging people to take a look at what they don’t need and continue to make donations.”

Popular items include Christmas decorations, household appliances and gifts. But clothes still are the biggest seller for most thrift stores.

“I certainly don’t see thrift stores as the place where people are buying Christmas gifts, but maybe they’re buying things for themselves, saving themselves money and using it to buy gifts at other stores,” said Chuck Noble, director of retail operations for Rockford Rescue Mission’s Mission Mart stores.

The stores have an added benefit of keeping consumer goods out of the landfill, said Elizabeth Maring, associate directional leader for Heartland Community Church, which runs the Sharestuff store in Rockford.

“By recycling things in thrift stores, we aren’t only helping the community and helping people on a tight budget, but it’s also very green,” she said.

Contact staff writer Thomas V. Bona at 815-987-1343 or tbona@rrstar.com.