In thrift stores or charity shops, the best pieces never stay on the racks for long. Fortunately, there is a way to increase your chances of finding a good deal and all you have to do is talk to the manager.
Walking through the door of a thrift store is the ultimate fashion shopping experience: you never know what ready-to-wear gems you’ll come across. Between a vintage jacket for 15 euros, second-hand designer jeans or a trendy sweater, the shelves are full of unique pieces to enrich your wardrobe. If finding the rare gem among the clothing collections seems to be a matter of chance, the buyers who regularly leave with the most beautiful designer finds are not relying solely on luck. They apply very specific shopping techniques.
Contrary to what one might believe, regulars do not necessarily spend three hours searching each rack. They take the time to create real contact with the people who work in the store. No need to become their best friend, but a simple hello, a few exchanges over the weeks and a little loyalty are often enough to better understand how the place works. Employees and volunteers alike know their stock perfectly, see hundreds of items of clothing passing through each week and quickly know which items are likely to go very quickly.
In this context, the question that can help you do better business than ordinary customers is: “What day of the week do you renew the shelves?“By knowing when new clothes go on sale, you considerably increase your chances of spotting the best pieces before the others. It’s also a good time to tell the manager what you’re looking for. A wool coat, a vintage dress, a well-cut blazer or a pair of ankle boots in your size: if a piece matching your criteria arrives, he or she will be able to think of you. An editor at Money Saving Expert also says that after passing up a Laura Ashley suit at a low price, she finally contacted the manager of her usual store on Instagram, who agreed to put it aside for her until she returned. Without this relationship of trust, the garment would probably have disappeared into the hands of another customer.
Note that the choice of store can also play a role. Connoisseurs do not hesitate to travel a few kilometers further to visit second-hand stores or solidarity boutiques located in more affluent neighborhoods. The reason? Donations reflect the habits of residents. In certain sectors, it is not uncommon to see clothing from big brands, almost new coats or shoes that have been barely worn. This obviously does not mean that the other stores are less interesting. A nugget can appear anywhere. But some addresses offer nice surprises a little more often.
