A quick note today for all of you Marshalls shoppers or are you a TJ Maxx Maxamista? These stores are just a great resource any time you need something!!! My friend Mary Korzinski just amazes me with how she can accessorize a room with a MARRSALLLS run!! Last years showhouse was proof of that, she needed some additional pillows and came back with an amazing finds!!

There are a few other stores that make my list. If I’m looking for a piece of furniture to do, or add to a design, I go to a couple of local thrift stores or used furniture stores like Salvation Army, or Goodwill another of my favorites Pier 19 Outlet in the Watt St. in Schenectady NY at the Watt St shopping plaza ,  also in that plaza is Tuesday Mornings, another good resource, I actually found some great items for this year’s showhouse room.

There are plenty of people who don’t think about shopping thrift stores.  It may be that they dislike or are afraid of used goods, or their local thrift location has useless junk.  Most thrift stores have unusable items, but I’ve  scored a few finds in thrift stores that could be resold for hundreds of dollars. When I shared a space in Vintage Chic Furniture I found an Empire Dresser for $9.99. The owner of Vintage Chic Furniture worked a little magic with some blue paint, and WELL-LA, she sold this beautiful piece for $395!!

(not the actual dresser ,just a google image as an example of Empire Dresser style)

It all depends on the particular thrift store, they’re all so very different.  Some ideas for successful thrift store shopping are:

Set out shopping with an idea of what you’re looking for.   Once you have found a great thrift store, stay focused!!!!! You can quickly get side tracked and your trip will turn into a shopping spree were you wind up with pricey things that you didn’t want, and you’ve brought home things you don’t really need.  Before you start shopping at any store, remember what you’re there for.  Stay focused on your needs and your budget.

Find out when they are having a sale!  Your local thrift store has sale days, plan show up early.   Where I live, the local salvation army gets donations in every Monday or Tuesday so I always try to stop in to see what’s new.  My niece Lauren loves Goodwill in Amsterdam, she has expanded her wardrobe considerably.  She’s found many designer labels and even items that are brand new and have never been worn, you just never know what you’ll find!

Hitting the jackpot, Finding the FIND……..  Shopping a thrift stores or junk stores can be hit and miss, and you never know what you’ll find inside, it just depends on a given day.  For me,  the most exciting and rewarding part,  is searching through a pile junk to discover a great find.  It’s like a treasure hunt that keeps you returning to dig deeper.

Search every corner of a thrift store, you never know what has just come in.  Also, keep in mind that time is money.   Always consider the time and cost of refurbishing a piece.  If it is one that will need to be completely restored, stained or painted, factor in that time and energy into the purchase price. I have waited a few days if I wasn’t sure that I wanted to pay the amount originally listed, and when I returned  a few days or a week later I’ve found items marked down!! If it was meant to be, it will be there for the price you want to pay!  Look for signs of quality construction, like solid wood and dovetail joints. Sometimes the runners on drawers are damaged, or bottoms need to be replaced or fixed if they have warped, they can be repaired just make sure your aware.

Use common sense! Leave Now!  Before I enter a thrift store I know what I’m searching for if  I see absolutely nothing I could use I leave!n I (try to) resist the urge to buy something and bring it home if I know it will not have a purpose.  I’m am an avid thrifter and my clients know it, so I always have a list of things I’m looking for, for me or for them. If I don’t see it, I walk out and come back to shop another day.

Beware of dirty items!    My friend Cathy owns a pest control company and  bed bugs, mites, or strange odors should send up a red flag.  This concern is legitimate, as outbreaks of bedbugs in many urban areas, are on the rise, so always take precautions.  If you bring home fabric, be sure wash it in hot water to kill any germs.  Resist the urge to buy anything upholstered you’ll sleep or sit on unless you plan to have it professionally cleaned or upholstered before you bring it into your home, and examine every piece of furniture for any signs of infestations.  If your furniture fine has an odor, you can use baking soda, white vinegar, witch hazel, Borax, and Murphy’s Oil Soap all help neutralize odors.

Leave the Children at home!  Plan ahead, make a play date or get a sitter if your budget allows that, children have no patience.  You want to be able to move quickly and accomplish your goal or find the treasure you’ve set out to look for.

The barter system.  Never be afraid to ask for a lower price.  Talk to the owner or manager, don’t waste your time with a clerk working in the store.  If you shop at a certain location regularly, chances are they will give you a discount.  Ask and you shall receive, start out low and go up from there. Get to know your shop owners,  When they see you, they will know that you are a serious buyer, they will remember you and sometimes give you a better deal.

Use your creativity!    Look past the finish if its rough, try to visualize the piece with a great finish or paint color.   Whenever I enter a thrift store, I see things for what they could become, not what they are.  Take the coffee table I recently blogged about.   This table had potential to be a completely amazing table !

Most thrift stores are for charity and are run by churches, but, many thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army actually exist to raise money for their organization.  Buying an item from these establishments means that you are helping land fills from becoming full, and saving great pieces of furniture.  So when thinking about purchasing something to accent your home, look for the bargains and think thrifty!!!!

As always, stay tuned ……………

XOXO

M

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