Tina Owsley carefully inspected a straw hat at the Goodwill on East State Street, straightening the ribbon and holding it out in front of her. Not only did the hat pass her inspection, but the price was right.
All hats are $1
she read from the price sign before placing the hat in her cart.
Owsley, an Athens resident, came to Goodwill Industries, 743 E State St., on Wednesday to buy household items for her three children's new apartments. But she said she visits all three Athens thrift stores several times a month.
We'll go to (thrift stores) first she said. I like the idea of cheaper items and all the things they carry are quality.
Rising gas prices and a troubled economy are changing the way people shop, Owsley said. And more consumers nationwide are choosing to shop at thrift stores to save money.
Any time the economy slows down
more people become aware of (thrift stores) or decide to give it a try
said Adele Meyer, executive director of National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops.
Thrift stores are run by nonprofit organizations and the majority of thrift stores sell donated goods, while resale stores buy merchandise from individual suppliers, according to the Association.
In a September Association survey of more than 200 thrift and resale stores, from January to August of 2008, 65 percent of stores experienced a 25 percent increase in sales compared with the same time period in 2007, Meyer said.
Within the first seven months of 2008, Goodwill Industries' national sales were up 6 percent compared with the first seven months of 2007, said spokeswoman Lauren Lawson.
It's definitely due to the economy. We've heard from a number of agencies that they've seen an increase in the number of shoppers
Lawson said.
The Athens Goodwill store has seen increases in the number of customers as well as donations, said Keith Alcorn, executive director of Goodwill Industries of South Central Ohio.
What history tells us is that if shoppers are dropping off at major retailers
they are dropping off (for thrift stores) as well
Alcorn said. But with this (economic) slowdown
it seems to be a little different. We are seeing some folks shift
we are picking up some extra (customers).
Part of Goodwill's customer increase is caused by the economy, while part of it can be linked to adjustments the store has made, Alcorn added.
Donations to thrift stores are also up, with a 71.4 percent increase in new suppliers or donors since last year, Meyer said.
Debbie Hatfield, the store manager of New-To-You Thrift Shop, 90 Columbus Rd., said she has seen an increase in donations from yard sales. People will bring in the items they have left over, she said.
Some of the most popular items in the store are clothes and furniture, she said.
With an increase in donations, Reuse Industries has also had to deal with an increase in dumping, said Cathy Wilson, executive director.
With the economy bad
there's a tendency for people to want to dump stuff
