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Black Friday.  Cyber Monday.

GIVING TUESDAY!

America’s Thrift Stores has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide.  Occurring this year on December 1, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

As you know, our goal is to donate $100 million to our ministry partners over the next 10 years.  We can’t do that without your generosity.  This year on Tuesday, December 1, we are encouraging those to take an #UNselphie when they donate gently used clothing and hoursewares to our donation bins, manned trailer sites and stores.  Simply download the sign below and write the following sentence:

“On #GivingTuesday, I gave back to _______________________” (write the name of the ministry you’re supporting in the blank)

Then, snap a picture with your sign at the place you brought your donation.  Share it on your social media with the hashtag #GivingTuesday and #UNselfie.  If you share it on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, please tag us (@americasthrift) so that we can share your generosity with others!

We’re excited to participate in a day of giving!  After you’ve shopped and decorated, take some time to give back to our ministry partners and let’s make a difference together.

Download your #UNselfie sign here.

We had the pleasure of introducing blogger Vanessa from A Budding Fashionista to our Huffman location. It was her first visit to one of our locations and right off the back, beginners luck took over.  She found some amazing fall pieces, some of which we were jealous of! She also learned that sometimes, you just have to try on things over clothing, and in some cases under skirts you find in the store, to see if they’ll fit.  We can’t wait to see how she styles each of her finds! Until then, check out some photos from her visit:

This weekend, we had the pleasure of hosting Troy, the voice behind Thriftanista in the City, at our Riverdale location.  While she shopped, we asked her for a few pieces of advice to anyone who is beginning their thrifting journey:

1. Patience is a virtue.  It takes a lot of patience to go through each rack and inspect each element of clothing.  Don’t come in expecting to walk right to an item that is made for you.  Be ready to look and spend time hunting through the racks and shelves.  After spending that time looking, it makes the find that more special.

2. Come in a long skirt or tight pants.  Most thrift stores don’t have dressing rooms, but the good ones have mirrors.  So, don’t be afraid to try on clothes over those tight pants or under your long skirt.  While we do take items back, it is for store credit only.  Make sure to get the best bang for your buck by slipping on an article of clothing in front of the mirror.

3. Want a tank top?  Look in the lingerie section. Yep.  Sounds weird, right?  But, think about it.  Some sleep tops are silky and still appropriate to wear under jackets or sweaters.  Plus, there’s a possibility that a silky or satin tank top was mistaken for a sleep shirt.

4. Trust what you like.  Yes, that top may be $.99, but if you don’t like it, it’s not for you.  Don’t worry about name brands or how much the items are.  You are shopping for you.  And if you don’t like it, odds are, you’ll never wear it.  Thrift stores carry a variety of looks, brands, and trends.  So, make your money count by shopping for items that you like.

We had such a fun time shopping with Thriftanista in the City!  Check out the gallery below to see her trip.

We received 24 submissions to our Thrifty Treasure Contest, and after the polls were closed, we had a clear winner.  With 102 votes, Michele Simpson is the lucky one to receive a $50 shopping spree with a thrifting expert!  Michele found this CD Player in our Riverdale, GA location.  She writes:

“After searching at other thrift stores, my husband and I finally found a CD/cassette player in excellent condition for our little girl at our local America’s Best store.  I had saved and accumulated favorite music cassettes and books on tape from childhood, and I am excited to be able to pass these “oldies but goodies” on to the next generation.  And to top it off, the player is purple…her favorite color!”

Thank you to all who participated!  We loved seeing each of your treasures and learning why each was special to you.  There’s no telling what all you can find in our stores. From toys, to clothes, to antiques, there are so many treasures to be found in our stores.  Remember, you can always submit your Thrifty Treasure to us by snapping a picture and telling us more about why it’s so special to you.  We might just feature your submission on our Thrifty Treasure website or Facebook page!  Don’t forget to stay up to date with all of our sales, tips and contests by signing up for our emails!

Check out the gallery below for all of our entries! We’ll be moving them to our Thrifty Treasures page soon!

Is Dad hard to shop for? Not anymore!  Give Dad a beautiful bouquet this Father’s Day he’s sure to love.

Supplies:

Thrift store vase or large candle holder

Popsicle/craft Sticks

Tissue Paper

Floral foam

Packing tape

Dad’s favorite snacks (individual sizes)

Ribbon and Card (optional)

Let’s do this:

1. Cut floral foam to fit inside the vase leaving 1/3 of the top of the vase/candle holder empty.  Wrap the foam in tissue paper and insert it into the vase/candle holder, making sure the tissue paper sticks out of the container.

2. Take the sticks and tape them to the back of each individual snack.

3. Time to arrange your arrangement!  Start in the middle and work your way outward.  Place the smaller items in the front leaving the taller items in the back.  Stagger the goodies so you can have a clear visual of each one.  Mix colors and items to make it festive. Have fun with it.

4. Once you’re arrangement is complete, place your Father’s Day card in the middle of it and tie a ribbon around the vase.

In just a few minutes and for around $10, you have a unique gift for dear ole Dad with his favorite snacks!