Hello there! Welcome, and I’m so glad you stopped by today. It’s the next installment of the THRIFTED GOODIES series. If you enjoy thrift shopping and love the thrill of the hunt, then this post is for you. Thrift stores are a wonderful resource for so many things. Most thrift stores will indulge their clientele with special events and sales, which are worth visiting if you are serious about thrifting. Today I am sharing tips on how to navigate a thrift store special event sale. It’s not the normal thrift experience, to say the least.
Thrifting is an adventure, which yields unexpected and unique results. Special event sales can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on circumstance and point of view. Come on in and let’s discuss how to navigate a thrift store special event sale in detail.
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All About the Thrifted Goodies Series
The Thrifted Goodies series consists of monthly posts where my friend, Rachel, from the Antiqued Journey, and I share thrift store intel. Topics might include particular finds, tips, stylings, techniques, up-cycles, and general advice about thrift shopping mostly for home decor in general. Some months we invite a guest host. Thank you for joining us.
For today’s post I am breaking down how to navigate a special sale event at a thrift store. These tips will help you before, during and after the thrift sale. If you have any further insight, please share in the comment section, since I’m all about upping my thrift store game.
Rachel is sharing thrifted fall decor today. She always finds the most amazing pieces! You don’t want to miss her latest post. If you don’t know Rachel yet, when you are done here, head over to visit Rachel and introduce yourself, while you check out her secrets for thrifted Fall decor post.
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If you are coming over from Rachel’s place, welcome! I am so glad you are here today, and I hope you enjoy yourself. Drop me a comment down below and introduce yourself. I would love to hear from you.
Thrifting Pro Tip: Make a list of items you would like to find while thrifting on your phone, and you will always have the list with you whenever you pop into a thrift. Update the list regularly as you find treasures and seek others. Have fun!
Let’s Break Down How to Navigate a Thrift Store Special Sale Event
Like everything in life, having a strategy always helps. Thrifting has become a scene and special events like this can cause commotion, excitement and extra energy. Being prepared, having a plan and keeping a positive attitude goes a long way while navigating the thrift craziness.
The local hospice stores have hosted an annual vintage event for years during the Fall. When I started attending way back when, it was a true sale where fabulous vintage pieces could be found at fortunate prices. Those days are gone. There fabulous vintage pieces have multiplied, which is a good thing, but the prices unfortunately have become quite spicy.
Know All the Details
Become informed of all the logistical details of the event. When it starts, what the hours are, when it ends and if there are any price reductions on the last day, etc. The particular event I attend starts on Friday and goes through Sunday, BUT after Sunday any remaining merchandise stays in the. shop. Consequently the increased vintage items remain in the store for quite a bit while it sells down. This also involves 4 or 5 different locations, providing more options.
Scout the Scene
If possible peruse the store to preview some of the selections. My particular location starts to set-up days in advance and have the vintage home area corded off. You can have a sneak peek to see some of the selections available. For example, last year I was able to spy this swan (the larger piece below) and it was my primary focus when I hit the sale.
Create a Strategy
Decide how you want to approach the sale. If you are highly motivated, arriving when doors open on the first day yields the biggest selection. This was my strategy last year, and there was already a line at the door when I arrived 15 minutes before opening. For the first hour there was a frenzy and flurry of activity with many resellers looking for coveted pieces. This year I chose to skip the early burst since I hadn’t spied anything I had to have during set-up. Instead I attended in the afternoon, which was busy but not crazy. Below is my haul from last year.
Make a Wish List
Creating a list of wanted items provides focus and organizes the treasure scavenger hunt called thrifting. For this particular sale my targets were my regular thrift store wants. Last year I picked up the tapestry you see above and my daughter ended up with it at college. It hangs over her bed and I love that she loves quirky vintage too. So when I saw the bin with tapestries I zeroed in on them and FaceTimed her at school. Of course she wanted it all including the needlepoint which I think is awesome!
Identify Target Makers and Brands
Knowing about brands and makers helps in determining fair pricing. Certain makers warrant a higher price point than others so it’s good practice to be aware and knowledgeable. For example, I bought a couple of purple Transferware plates last year by Royal Staffordshire, which is an English manufacturer. This year I found a purple transferware bowl also by Royal Staffordshire, but with a different pattern. I bought the bowl since it compliments the plates, although it was priced higher than I would have preferred. On a side note…do you see a collection growing? IYKYK
Scan and Scoop
When you enter the sale scan as much as you can to get a feel and scout out any targets. Anything you “think” you might want, scoop it up right away. Always pick up anything you’re considering at a thrift store, even if you change your mind later and put it back. It prevents another customer from scooping it up while you’re mulling it over. In this particular event, I actually didn’t buy anything on the first day. I went back on Sunday and picked up the pieces the had stuck in my brain if they were still there. More on that below. By the way, I almost scooped up these plates, which were front and center when I walked in. They were marked $25 dollars each. Yikes! Holy spicy Batman. They were still there on Sunday when I went back.
Stick to a Budget
Give yourself a certain amount you want to spend whether it’s for a particular piece or for the entire haul. For example, last year when I spied the big swan pictured above, I gave myself a $20 budget. When I picked it up and saw it was priced at $11, I was pleasantly surprised and it came home with me. This year I found a much smaller swan and it was priced at $18. Too spicy for my taste. When I turned it over I discovered it was a Belleek piece from Ireland. I somewhat understood the price then, but I still found it overpriced for a thrift store piece. This was the only item, which was not there when I went back on Sunday. Not sure if I would have paid that price on Sunday either, but obviously someone else did. That’s the beauty of thrift shopping.
Have Fun!
Thrifting is an adventure, which should not be stressful. Just remember to have an open mind, have fun and embrace the unexpected. If thrift shopping is not working for you, walk away. Thrift shopping should be rewarding, offering treasures and unpredictable surprises. There’s always the next thrift shopping adventure around the corner.
Benefits of Thrift Shopping
Environmental
Buying reused items is good for our planet since it recycles items others have used, and it keeps more things out of our land fills. I love to upcycle, recycle, and reuse items whenever possible.
Economical
Thrift shopping usually yields a great value on items you might not necessarily pay regular retail pricing. Granted these items are used but sometimes this doesn’t really matter since the items are in great condition. Or the fact that they are used gives them wonderful patina and distressing that sometimes takes years to develop.
Exceptional
Since thrifted items have already had a life before you find them, they have a story to tell, which tends to make them unique. Many of the thrifted items I find and choose would probably not be items I would select as new. It makes the process of thrift store shopping super interesting and provides unique looks.
Closing Thoughts
These thrifting finds create a signature style for any home, which can’t be replicated. Thrifting is a fun treasure hunt for adults and a secret weapon for interior designers and vintage store owners. I lean into thrifting to provide fresh and unique pieces for our home. If you enjoy thrifting and vintage decor, please consider joining the Masterpiece community. Sign up below and receive all new content directly into your in-box.
I thrift shop frequently and add treasures throughout our home regularly. Thrift finds give your home a unique look and are budget friendly. I hope this inspires you to go thrifting, or if you’re already a thrifter, I hope it gives you a new insight.
Don’t forget to hop over and visit my thrifty friends Rachel @ The Antiqued Journey for more thrifting inspiration. Thank you for being here today and may the Thrifting Gods be ever in your favor. Au revoir!
Shopping the Thrifted Decor Look
- Purple Transferware Plate Crown Ducal Colonial Times England
- Medieval Vintage Tapestry Wall Hanging
- Tuscany Estate | Woven Tapestry Wall Art Hanging
- Lot of 10 ANTIQUE Old Vintage Books Collection Set
- Ceramic Swan Figurine – Modern Minimalist Porcelain Statue Art Decor
- Vintage Small Gold Ring Dish,
- Gold Taper Candle Holders
- Brass Gold Taper Candle Holders Set of 2, Vintage Metal Candlestick Holders
- Decorative Vase Weathered Vintage Amphora Centerpiece Vase with Scroll Handles
Don’t forget to Pin It and save for later. You never know when inspiration will strike!
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Thrift is of great revenue.”
Marcu Tullius Cicero