Goodwill Hunting: Specialty Secondhand Shops

By KT Boyle, April 27, 2010

Goodwill is getting a makeover. Charity shops of the past — many of which resembled rummage sales in dusty warehouses — have changed their look (nee entire business models) to cater to the new trendy, chic consignment shopper.

Specialty charity shops are popping up across the country, competing with high-end boutiques and thrift shops for secondhand designer product selection but while maintaining their budget-friendly price tags. Taking advantage of recession thriftiness and a new clientele, Goodwills stores on the whole are re-branding themselves and remodeling their shops to appeal to fashionistas on a Shoestring.

Gumshoes know that supporting thrift shops with a charitable mission, like Goodwill and Housing Works, is not only budget friendly, it’s also good for the planet and the people living on it. When you spend money at your local Goodwill, for instance, you’re supporting worker rehabilitation programs in your own neighborhood, which help the unemployed and others facing barriers to employment. Purchasing secondhand items not only helps your pocketbook, it allows charity shops to help those in need — changing lives and rebuilding careers, especially necessary in these economically troubled times.

Two of our favorite Goodwill stores, Goodwill of New York and NJ and Goodwill of Orange County, are leading the charge in creating specialty secondhand shops and are having a positive impact on the planet, the overall perception of secondhand shopping, and our pocketbooks in the process.

GOODWILL NY-NJ

Goodwill of New York and New Jersey has 38 stores, each filled with brand-name fashion, housewares, and jewelry. These neighborhood shops specialize in high-end items that appeal to the uniquely sophisticated secondhand clientele in Greater NY. Their blog, A Good Look by GoodwillNyNj, showcases the best and most unique finds, tastes, and atmospheres from each store.

In addition to A Good Look, Goodwill of New York and New Jersey created the Guide to Goodwill, an online directory helping customers and supporters get the most out of the thrift stores in their area: the neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to Goodwill retail stores is perfect for organizing those multi-stop thrifting trips.

Goodwill NY-NJ also recently launched a new Tuesday series called Boutique You, which highlights DIY projects made from items you can find at your local Goodwill (including easy-to-follow instructions). Goodwill NY-NJ also hold events for the crafty, DIY types in NYC: in 2009, they hosted a Low-Cost Halloween Costume Clothing Swap in downtown Manhattan to inspire celebrations and creativity on a Shoestring budget.

GOODWILL ORANGE COUNTY

Goodwill Orange County represents 19 retail stores in Southern California and also manages an online store, complete with events calendar. Goodwill OC specialty stores, Keepers and Classic Closet, offer a wider variety of outstanding values that sell brand name apparel at affordable prices. These shops only carry brand-name apparel, accessories, and home furnishings.

Computer Works, another Goodwill OC specialty store, offers a wide array of refurbished computer hardware, software, and peripherals at value prices. For computer wizards or fix-it techie types, it’s the perfect place to find computer parts for practice.

Shopgoodwill.com, run by Goodwill of OC, is another fabulous specialty shopping option for thrifters nationwide: this online shop was named one of TIME.com’s 50 Best Web Sites of 2009. And we can easily see why: there are more than 30,000 items for sale at any given time.

What are your favorite specialty charity shops? We’re always looking for great thrift, consignment, secondhand and vintage shops to profile here on Goodwill Hunting!