The History of The Thrift Store in America

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The History of The Thrift Store in America
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• Despite the fact that clothes have been
  repurposed by people throughout the centuries,
  the invention of the American thrift store is a
  relatively new one. While clothes were used,
  reused, and used again in days of old, this all
  began to change towards the end of the 19th
  century, when cities expanded bringing with them
  the industrial revolution.
• The industrial revolution
• With clothing now being produced on a mass scale,
  it became more affordable to buy, and Americans
  felt less of a need to keep their clothing once
  it spoiled or a child grew out of it, for
  example. Clothing in effect, became disposable,
  and as urban populations continued to grow,
  living spaces shrunk and clothes were thrown away
  along with many other items.

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• Money to be made from thrift items
• Pawn shops were created at around this time to
  try and help those with items to sell, and to
  give people an opportunity to buy things such as
  clothes, if they were hard up and couldnt afford
  to buy their own. However, wearing clothes that
  had previously been worn by a stranger had a
  stigma attached to it then, in part because the
  items were a sign of a lack of money, and also
  due to the bias attached to the people selling
  the items. Often available from pushcarts owned
  by Jewish immigrants, few people wanted to buy
  from those who were often outcast from society
  for antisemitism. That said, there was clearly
  money to be made from used clothing and other
  items, and the Christian ministries soon saw it
  as a way to fund their outreach programs.

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• The salvage brigade and Goodwill
• Launched in 1897 from a mens shelter, the
  Salvation Armys salvage brigade was formed of
  a group of community residents who would go from
  house to house asking for used clothes, with food
  and lodging given to them in exchange. In 1902,
  Goodwill was launched by a Methodist minister in
  Boston, who hired poor and disabled people to
  gather the used clothing and carry out repairs on
  them as required, from a shop in the
  neighborhood. Immigrants were then able to find
  clothes that they could afford, becoming
  Americanized in the process.
• Many of these so-called thrift stores were also
  offering social service operations alongside the
  goods they sold, much as they do to this day.

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• Thrift stores in the 1920s
• Growing in popularity, thrift stores began to be
  organized in the same way as traditional
  department stores, and thanks to the clever way
  in which the shops were marketed, middle-class
  housewives could feel good about buying something
  new, that also enabled them to give something
  back to their community.
• Come 1935, and thrift stores were popping up all
  over the country.

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• The Great Depression
• Support soon began to outstrip demand in the
  Great Depression, and during World War II, but
  during post-war prosperity, thrift stores did a
  roaring trade as people began to donate items
  again, in order to buy newer, more modern and
  colorful items.
• Vintage clothing
• In the 1950s, wealthier consumers began buying
  vintage clothing, and the trend hasnt wavered
  since. In the 21st century, vintage and used
  clothing can easily be purchased online, too,
  although many prefer to see the items first-hand
  before buying them.

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• Now part of a 14 billion industry, thrift stores
  are a mainstay of American society, and if you
  havent yet discovered the many benefits of
  thrift store shopping, stop in to your local
  Goodwill today!

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• Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi is a non
  profit organization with donation centres
  thrift Stores near D'Iberville and 9 other cities
  in South Mississippi. We work to enhance the
  dignity and quality of life of individuals and
  families by strengthening communities,
  eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping
  people in need reach their full potential through
  learning and the power of work. Donations are
  our driving force, and without community support,
  Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi would
  not be able to achieve our mission. Visit our
  Goodwill second hand stores in D'Iberville or to
  know more visit or website https//www.goodwillsms
  .org/