Thrifty and busy: Amid uncertainty, Missoula thrift stores seeing brisk business
By MARK PAGE for the Missoulian
As uncertainty spreads throughout the United States about the economy, one segment of the retail market is feeling no pain.
Thrift stores are generally the go-to option for those who need housewares, clothes or furniture but are living on a tight budget. As consumer confidence plunges, thrift-store aisles could get crowded.
“It will be interesting to see what our growth rate looks like in the next couple months,” said Cindy Weese, executive director of the Missoula YWCA, which runs three Secret Seconds stores. “What I know to be true is that our business won't drop in this economic downturn.”
In fact, the YWCA just opened a new store near the University of Montana, next door to Bear's Brew Coffee House.
University of Montana student Emily Creasia contemplates the clothing racks at the YWCA's Secret Seconds thrift store near campus Thursday morning. Creasia says she is “a poor college student” and frequents thrift stores. Photo by KURT WILSON/Missoulian
Kathleen Bavrovsky, who was shopping at the new store on Thursday, said she doesn't really need anything, but likes to see what's on offer for cheap.
“I don't spend a lot,” she said. “I don't go out and spend $80 on a pair of jeans.”
The Secret Seconds stores generally see an annual growth rate of 8 percent to
12 percent, Weese said. She said she was still surprised in September when sales grew about 15 percent over September of last year.
“With the economy not doing well, people that might not be shopping look to us,” Weese said.
It's the same story over on California Street at the Budget Corner. Manager Tracy Blome said revenues are up compared to last year, when the store saw a dip in sales. She said that the purpose of stores like the Budget Corner is to help people make ends meet in hard times.
“We're pretty excited about being able to help those people with their budgets,” Blome said.
At the Goodwill store in Missoula, sales have been brisk. But Bill Collins, the vice president overseeing sales for the Northern Rocky Mountain Goodwill stores, does not attribute this to the economy.
While sales at the Missoula store were up 4 percent compared to last September, such an increase is not unusual. Collins said the economy does play a role, but can actually push sales down.
“As donations decrease, sales decrease,” Collins said. “Currently in Missoula we are seeing high levels of donations.”
For all of North America, Goodwill has seen above-normal increases in sales, according to Lauren Lawson, the manager of media relations for Goodwill Industries International. She said the economy has not yet caused an expected donation drop-off.
The next few months will be telling, Collins said.
Right now customers are still donating used goods, and are still buying. Vicky Ecton brought a bag of clothes to Missoula's Goodwill store on Thursday, then went looking for some out-of-date children's clothes that she couldn't find anywhere else.
Asked if she would be more likely to shop thrift with the economy tanking, she said, “Oh, yeah.”
“I think everyone is concerned about the economy,” Ecton said.
At the YWCA, Weese said Missoulians will shop at thrift stores no matter what because they would rather see goods reused than thrown away.
“Missoulians like it because it's a form of recycling. It's a green business,” she said.
At the Goodwill store on Brooks Street, Arnold Lucero gave his reasons for staying out of the big chain stores and buying secondhand.
“The quality is better,” he said. “I've always shopped at thrift stores.”
