How to find hidden treasures while thrift shopping

A thrift store is not only a good place to purchase items at a fraction of the price you’d pay at a retail store, it brings the thrill of the possibility of finding a treasure. It’s also great for the environment, as it prevents those goods from going into a landfill. When it comes to clothing, the production of it alone requires 400 gallons of water to grow enough cotton just for one t-shirt, while a pair of jeans needs 1,800 gallons or more. 

While there’s little doubt that thrifting is fun, if you’ve been wondering how to actually find those hidden treasures beyond luck, these tips can help you achieve your goal. 

Go early and often

Plan to hit the thrift store as soon as it opens. Earlier in the day, it’s less likely to be crowded so you won’t have as much competition and it’s easier to look through it all. Going often is also key as merchandise usually changes every day at these shops. The more you go, the more likely you are to find some fabulous gems. 

Search for more off-the-beaten path stores

If you go to out-of-the-way thrift shops, they obviously won’t be as picked over. The bigger chains like Goodwill, for example, often get tons of customers making it difficult to get to that proverbial needle in a haystack. Think mom-and-pop type stores and those located in more obscure places that most people don’t know about. 

Shop online

Shopping online isn’t just for new items or those sold on places like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace. There are online retailers that offer handpicked, gently used clothing which can make finding those treasures a lot less time-consuming than if you were to drive around to a dozen different thrift stores. All you have to do is click.

For example, you might find a fabulous cashmere peace sign sweater your daughter will love as part of her autumn wardrobe for far less than what you’d pay to buy new. A big win! 

Look through everything

Not only should you look through all the offerings when shopping online, but you’ll have to put in the time when visiting brick-and-mortar thrift stores to search through it all. A lot of people tend to just look at a few things on a rack and then give up quickly. It takes patience in order to find the good stuff and you might even want to enlist a friend or two to help. Sometimes you’ll find that even though you’ve combed through the same rack and didn’t find anything, your friend discovers that perfect item you somehow missed. Remember to check racks that are just outside dressing rooms as they can be a treasure trove of pieces that someone else found first but weren’t a good fit.

Don’t forget the books

The book section can also turn up some amazing treasures. Learn how to spot the valuable ones as this is something often missed when a store’s staff members price items. Most thrift store books are priced at under $5 and if you can turn up something collectible or rare, even if you only make $100 when reselling it, that’s a massive profit. 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a Roald Dahl classic, could earn you quite a bit if you find the right copy. The first edition, published in 1964, is the one you want but it has to have the original dust jacket and be in excellent condition. The year is likely to fool many into thinking it’s not old enough to be valuable, and with 10,000 copies printed, the odds aren’t bad of finding one.