Sister Thrift in Watertown is one of many thrift stores in Eastern Mass.
Sister Thrift in Watertown sells and donates items people no longer want. All proceeds benefit the Metrowest Humane Society.
For many people, shopping is a therapeutic experience. And that can be especially true when you find a designer label at a bargain price in the place you least expect it: a secondhand store.
“Thrifting” has become a common term among people who enjoy visiting thrift stores like Main Street Thrift in Wilmington, owned by Emily Stewart and Joe Bayles of New Hampshire.
National Thrift Store Day is August 17th.
Stewart got into the thrift business five years ago when she met Bayles while working part-time at Witch City Consignment and Thrift in Salem, owned by Bayles’ sister. After working in international marketing for 15 years, she left that job to work full-time with Bayles at their thrift and used goods store on Main Street (Route 38) in Wilmington.
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Why do people like to shop at secondhand stores?
Where else but a thrift store can you get Louis Vutton shoes for $8, Lululemon leggings for $20, or a Free People jumpsuit for $20?
Stewart’s mother introduced her to shopping in second-hand stores when she was a young girl.
“Money was always tight and my parents made a point of buying secondhand clothes,” Stewart said.
She has also loved vintage clothing since she was 20 years old.
“I really enjoyed being different and always got a lot of compliments for wearing vintage clothes,” said Stewart, 47.
Meghan Dellaia of Woburn takes her 7-year-old daughter to pick out clothes she likes at thrift stores. She recently found some clothes with the tags still attached.
“The stuff is literally brand new and you can get brand new stuff without paying full price,” Dellaia said.
She loves to repurpose, recycle and reuse things. When her children outgrow their clothes, she donates them.
But for Dellaia and other thrifty shoppers, it’s not just about saving money and protecting the environment. They’re also interested in unique finds, such as a Christmas train with Winnie the Pooh.
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The inventory in second-hand shops changes frequently
“We’re bringing out new stuff every day,” Stewart said. “I think that’s a big attraction, that you never see the same thing.”
Whoever comes on Monday and returns on Wednesday will see new things.
“People are excited to search and find things,” Stewart said, noting that vinyl records are a big seller right now. Antique and military photos are also all the rage right now, she added.
“Young children come and spend hours looking at old photos,” Stewart said.
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If you have never shopped in a second-hand store before, Dellaia advises you to be prepared to take your time.
“You have to look through everything and check again often,” she said. “You might not find anything one day and two days later you’ll find the big truth.”
Jackie Damato of Brookline admits it takes time to browse the items in the Cambridge stores she likes to visit, including Savers, Goodwill, Garment District and Vivant Vintage.
“You don’t find something right away, but if you take the time to shop at a thrift store, you really find little items and pieces that you love,” says Damato, 21, who started shopping at thrift stores when she was 16.
Some commission shops pay donors 50% of the sale amount
Damato also likes to take clothes that she no longer wants or doesn’t wear to second-hand shops, which give her money so she can buy more modern clothes.
Many consignment shops, such as Main Street Thrift, pay donors 50% of the amount the item ultimately sells for.
However, Stewart said that due to space constraints, they are very selective about the items they accept. They do not take large items like furniture on consignment, nor do they take dishes.
Secondhand and consignment shops in Eastern Massachusetts
Main Street Thrift, 634 Main St. (Route 38), Wilmington
Sister Thrift, 370 Pleasant St., Watertown
Global Thrift, 322 Moody St., Waltham
The Garment District, 220 Broadway, Cambridge
Restoration project, 332 Pleasant St., Belmont
Gifts and thrift at Peppermint Place 5 Lexington St., Belmont
Buffalo Exchange 238 Elm St., Somerville
Salvation Army Thrift Store, 10 Munroe St., Lynn
The Goodwill Store, 301 Newbury St., Danvers
