Thrift Stores Seeing Increased Business

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Thrift Stores Seeing Increased Business

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Posted: 10:26 PM Oct 9, 2008
Last Updated: 10:47 PM Oct 9, 2008
Reporter: Bill Murray
Email Address: bill.murray@wsaz.com

5 comments

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BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Retailers posted disappointing September sales this week. It's prompting shoppers to turn frugal and raises concerns of an even weaker holiday shopping season.

But, it appears what is turning out to be bad news for the economy is boosting the cash registers at Goodwills across the country.

Carolyn Workman considers herself someone who hunts for the best bargain. One of her stops Thursday was Goodwill.

"Wow, I didn't recognize the quality of it," Carolyn Workman said. "At first I was a little apprehensive but then I was like, wow, they got all kinds of brand name baby stuff and they got really good deals on it."

Some of the stuff is brand new with tags and never worn. Other stuff is consignment shop quality.

At Goodwill, business is up 18% this time from last year.

"We had a store spike here in Barboursville in September. We had a feeling it might be because of the Milton Flea Market fire, but that's consistently stayed for the last couple of weeks," Carter Seaton at Goodwill Industries said.

The local store in Barboursville has increased business in the 15% range this year.

Goodwill takes the money you spend at its stores and puts it into programs to train people to re-enter the workforce.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Frank on Oct 10, 2008 at 07:21 PM
We have to go somewhere, Steve and Barrys closed.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:09 PM
what a trip people are i thought by the news this morning that the thrift stores was doing increased business noe the top of the wsaz.com says the hurricane store is closing make up your minds people ,know thats news we all no .......you people are a trip

Posted by: Good, Finally - second post on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Also wanted to add that a lot of people always have thought it makes them look superior & "special" I guess if they walk around with items in a bag marked with some "upscale" companies name. Well most of their clothes etc are made the SAME place the ones from Wal-Mart, KMART or thrift stores are! CHINA! INDONESIA! Same poor quality, just with higher price tags & a "name" brand! Suddenly these snobs are realizing they need $$$$ for more important things like food, housing etc just like the rest of us. If you can afford to buy from "upper end" stores, fine. That's great & it's your right of course I'm not arguing that. I'm just pointing out that a LOT of people in this country have lived WAY beyond their means for a LONG time, charging & charging & making prices higher for all of us. Now ALL of us are having to bail them out as well. So suck it up folks join the rest of us peons & enjoy the thrift stores, Wallys Word, K-Mart It wont kill you or even hurt. Promise!

Posted by: Good! Finally! on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Oh well GEE! I'm so sorry that some of the snobby folks are finally having to live like the rest of us! A LOT of us out here have had to shop "thrift" stores for a long time. Hasn't killed us yet so it won't hurt them either. A LOT of people who have looked down their noses, made fun of & felt they were better than the rest of us are finally learning what saving a dollar means! A LOT of the problems in this country have been caused by folks living beyond their means & trying to keep up with the "Jones" as they say They chg everything & try to outdo everyone else & now we're all in a mess thanks to their overextending their credit & themselves to impress others or make themselves feel superior b/c they have better things (clothes, cars, houses etc) than the rest of us Now were ALL paying for THEIR silliness The older folks have ALWAYS said credit cards would be the end of us & they are!

Posted by: 2shoppers on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:42 AM
I shop at Goodwill alot and i absolutely love it. "One mans junk is another mans treasure." I am very thankful for Goodwill and I am very pleased with what they do with the profit they make. They are out to help and that is a blessing!!!

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