Best Thrift, Resale, Vintage and Consignment Stores in Santa Cruz California (2024)

FAQs

What is the best day to go thrifting? ›

According to Goodwill, the perfect time slot to shop at thrift stores is in the morning on both Monday and Tuesday. This is because, at least as far as Goodwill is concerned, people tend to donate garage sale remnants on Sunday, so the pickings are new and fresh come early weekdays.

Clothing. Clothing is an item that sells best in thrift stores. Accounting for 31.8 percent of industry revenue, clothing is the largest revenue generator in the Thrift Stores industry, according to IBISWorld. Instead of paying higher retail prices, many people are switching to thrift stores for their clothing needs.

Hesitate to Bargain

Thrift store prices are low, but that doesn't mean they can't go lower. If you think something is priced too high for what is, ask if they're willing to take less for it. Just be polite in doing so and don't be discouraged if they're not open to bargaining.

Vintage shops have much higher prices than thrift stores; because of the merchandise. Unlike thrift stores, which often receive their products through donations, Vintage stores seek out/buy their products from sellers with products that fit their store's persona.

Most secondhand stores don't wash the clothes before selling them. Donations are typically washed before they're donated, but we still recommend giving them a good cleaning when you get home. Even if the clothes are washed before they hit the thrift store floor, people will have since touched them.

If you're planning to visit only one store, $30 ought to be enough if you're only going to buy a few things, and those few things cost less than $10 on average.

Vintage Clothes Are Among the Best-Selling Items

Reselling shoes and sneakers, vintage jewelry and accessories, but also, kitchenware and entertainment products can also be very profitable.

High-demand items include branded sneakers, vintage T-shirts, and designer jackets, all of which have a dedicated buyer base. The key to success is pricing goods appropriately. Know brand values and current fashion trends to enhance sales potential. Capitalize on limited-edition sneakers or a classic leather jacket.

How to thrift shop like a pro? ›

Thrift shops are generally lower priced and you can find some killer items if you dig. Vintage shops will do most of the digging and processing for you. Good vintage shops also professionally clean your items. Both save you time, but it comes at an expense.

Another way to determine a garment's age is by examining its construction and materials. Vintage clothing was often made with high-quality materials like silk, wool, and cotton, and was constructed with great attention to detail. Look for features like French seams, hand-stitched hems, and unique buttons or closures.

Thrift store chic refers to a style of dressing where clothes are cheap and/or used.

Wondering when thrift stores like Goodwill restock? Tuesdays are terrific for those in the know—often, this is when a Goodwill store refreshes its inventory and rolls out new items that weren't on shelves over the weekend.

For frugal shoppers, shopping means buying clothes when you can get the very best prices, which can often take a bit of pre-planning. You can follow a few simple timing guidelines to get the best deals on new clothing, such as knowing that Thursday night may be the best day of the week to go to the store.

While specific days of the week are best for saving on specific items, the best overall shopping days are Wednesday and Thursday. Bread and beer are typically marked down on Wednesdays, and snacks are often cheapest on Thursdays, according to shopping experts.

Give yourselves a budget (it can be whatever you'd like, $25, $50 etc.) to create a “look” for the other person. You can have a lot of fun with this and go hunting for something the other person would actually wear, or you could go for the most “unique” look.