As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, thrifting has emerged as a popular and sustainable way to shop for unique and stylish items.
However, with more people exploring thrift stores, it may feel like the best pieces are always out of reach.
Fret not. Our comprehensive guide to thrifting 101 will help you uncover hidden treasures and make the most of your shopping experience.
By choosing to thrift, you're making a conscious decision to reduce your carbon footprint while also saving some cash.
Continue reading to discover the five essential tips for successful thrifting and learn why our curated, secondhand collection is worth exploring.
5 Essential Tips for Thrifting Success
Navigating the world of thrifting can be intimidating, especially with seasoned thrifters seemingly grabbing all the best finds.
Follow our tips below to level up your thrifting game and snag some grails that will make your wardrobe stand out.
1. The Early Bird Gets the Best Finds
The number one key for being good at thrifting is to arrive at the thrift store early. It is that simple most of the time. There are new clothes and items arriving daily at the thrift stores and they are often put on the floor before the store opens.
Arrive before any other thrift shopper, and you will have the first choice of all the fresh racks lined with graphic tees, designer jeans, denim jackets, vintage sweatshirts and more.
2. Let Your Phone Be Your Thrifting Assistant
Your phone is your best friend when it comes to being good at thrifting. Just as you would at any other store, use your phone to look up the item you are considering purchasing. Cross check the price and see if the item is listed anywhere else for cheaper.
For clothes, I like to check Depop, Ebay, Etsy, Google shopping, and Poshmark to check to see if the item is worth anything.
At Birdbathvintage.com, you will find that the prices are always competitive and we will match the price if you find the same item for lower.
3. Educate Yourself on Brands and Materials
Of course, the biggest skill you must master to be a good thrift shopper is knowing brands and clothing materials. The more you know about fashion, the better you will be at spotting high-quality finds in the thrift store.
Check out the 120 million items listed for sale on Etsy to familiarize yourself with current fashion trends and pricing.
4. Become a Thorough Thrift Shopper
From my ten years of experience of thrifting and reselling clothes that I find, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to become a thorough thrifter. When you are at a rack in a thrift store, make sure to scour every single piece.
Learning to be thorough, but quick at the same time, will help you save time and make sure you never miss a piece of gold that may have been missed by others
5. Thrift with a Purpose
When you have a game plan in mind before you hit the thrift shop, your thrifting experience will likely be much smoother.
It is okay to stray from the plan when your eyes steer you towards something great, but knowing what not to buy is just as important as knowing what to buy.
3 Compelling Reasons to Thrift
Sometimes thrifting and shopping secondhand clothing can be looked down upon. But forget about those people.
Thrifting is more than just a trend – it's an eco-friendly and budget-conscious way to shop. Here are three key reasons to embrace the world of thrifting.
1. Thrift for the Environment
Because of how wasteful the fashion industry has become, shopping at a thrift store is a simple lifestyle choice that can help you make a difference toward a more healthy relationship with our environment.
You can support small, local businesses that will likely put the money back into the community or you can shop from big companies that are pushing out tons of new products each season, creating one of the most wasteful industries. If you are reading this, the choice is likely easy for you.
2. Thrift to Save Money
The most obvious reason that most people would want to shop at thrift stores is to save money. But seriously, before you buy anything new, you can check a thrift store and likely find what you want for a fraction of the price.
Even if it is a very specific type of item or article of clothing, check out depop or our collection of thrifted clothing to see if you can find exactly what you want.
3. Thrift to Make Money
When you can find really cool items at the thrift store for the fraction of the price of a regular store, many entrepreneurs spot the opportunity to make some cash by reselling.
Through the lockdown of the pandemic, reselling thrifted items became extremely popular as people were looking for a way to spend their time and make money being out of work.
Check back soon as we will give more detailed guides on how to make money by reselling thrifted items.
The History of Thrifting
Thrifting has a long and fascinating history that traces back to the practice of reusing and repurposing clothes throughout human history.
The modern concept of thrift stores emerged in the early 20th century with charitable organizations like The Salvation Army and Goodwill. Over the years, thrifting has evolved into a cultural phenomenon driven by sustainability, ethical fashion, and the desire for unique pieces.
Today, thrifting is a popular, eco-friendly, and budget-conscious shopping choice that offers an alternative to fast fashion and its environmental impact. Learn more about the history of thrifting through Birdbath Vintage.
More Tips for Thrifting
Thrifting is an art. It will never be perfected and there is no perfect thrift shopper.
Mastering the art of thrifting takes time and practice. To further hone your skills, consider the following:
Best Days to Go Thrifting
If you are wondering what are the best days to go thrifting, it will vary at each thrift store. It is best to ask the staff at each store to see if you can get insight to see if there are any days that they do not put new items.
But, items arrive and are put onto the sales floor daily at most thrift stores.
The best days to go thrifting will also depend on the area you live.
Tip: If you live in an area with a large population of high school or college students, it will be be best to shop up early on week days while all the cool kids are still in class.
Consignment Stores VS Thrift Stores
The difference between consignment stores and thrift stores is that consignment stores operate for profit and thrift stores typically operate not for profit.
Consignment stores are usually a little more expensive than thrift stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army, but the selection of clothing is often curated more carefully with high-end, more desirable items.
Thrifting 101 - The Bottom Line
No matter how much you thrift, whether it is all the time or just occasionally, your wallet and collection will benefit from learning to thrift with efficiency.
Consider this thrifting 101 guide as your introduction to broadening your knowledge of fashion and where you get your clothes.
While you’re at it, check out our curated collection of vintage and repurposed clothing. Get a good idea of what vintage items may be worth some money and perhaps find some inspiration for your own wardrobe.