How many times have you walked into a thrift store knowing that you only have 20 minutes to shop? Without a plan, this can seem pretty overwhelming. You don’t know where to start and the 20 minutes meant for shopping disappears. So it is really important that you enter these situations with a plan. Otherwise, you will waste 20 minutes of precious shopping time. To make this process a little easier, I wanted to share my tips on how to thrift with purpose with you.
1. Set a Timer
So the first thing that I recommend when entering a thrift store is to set a timer. This may sound silly or like a waste of time but trust me, it is not. You don’t know how many times I have lost track of time while shopping. When I shop, 20 minutes can turn into 2 hours very, very quickly. To prevent this from happening, set a timer (usually on a phone) and keep track of how you are utilizing your time.
2. Make a Priority List
Next, you need to have a narrow focus when shopping within a short time frame. When you walk into the store, you need to know exactly where you need to spend your time prior to entering the store. Personally, I would recommend writing out a list of 2-3 items that are the highest on your priority list. Spend the limited amount of time that you have focusing on these items. Having a list will also help to limit distractions while shopping and keep you focused.
3. Develop and Use Your Well-Trained Eye
Having a well-trained eye takes practice just like any other life skill. Shopping in thrift stores as a reseller for as long as I have, has helped in training my eye. At this point, I can spot a well made, high quality piece from a mile away. The biggest tip that I can give to finding high quality pieces is to know exactly what to look for when shopping. Focus on finding pieces with rich colors, textures, and materials. These pieces are typically high-quality and well made. When you physically touch these items, you can immediately feel a difference in their quality.
Another skill to have while thrift shopping is to get really good at sifting clothes. I can sift through racks of clothing with both my eyes and hands. This skill is really helpful to have when you are limited on time. Being familiar with designer brands is also helpful as you will learn how to recognize brand-specific patterns from a distance.
I hope that you found this information to be helpful and let me know if you have a thrift/resale topics you would like me to discuss.
Leave a Reply