make the shift to Thrift

When I pitched this idea, only one reporter balked at spending time at a thrift store with his co-workers.

It’s okay, Mark. I understand. Even Scott gets tired when I drag him to a resale shop in whatever town we happen to drive through.

The premise for this story was simple: I will give each of you $10 to spend on an outfit or outfits. Who can get the most number of quality items at a low price and put together an outfit for work or a night out on the town.

Basically, I wanted to know which of us is the best bargain shopper. As far as I’m concerned, we all hit the jackpot.

On Friday, Elizabeth, Jenna and I headed to Ewing and visited the Sunset Store. The local thrift shop, opened in 2008, when Father James Kramper was unsure of where to take items left from a garage sale.

An idea - and a community effort - was born.

Originally, the Sunset store sat along U.S. Highway 275, located in the village’s former lumber yard.

Kramper’s original vision was to let God’s love reveal itself through recycling and generosity.

Now, individuals from the Summerland region volunteer, bundling items and offering great deals. Profits from the shop fund projects within the communities it serves. Volunteers are always welcome.

Not-for-profit resale shops, like the Sunset Store, and resale mainstays - Goodwill and Salvation Army - are among the 25,000 thrift stores in the United States, according to NARTS, the National Association of Resale Professionals.

“Resale is a multi-billion dollar a year industry,” the association said, with estimated sales totaling $24 billion in 2018.

With National Thrift Shop Day slated for Aug. 17, the three of us agreed we would wear one of our new-to-us looks to the office.

Money well spent.

Mission accomplished.

Favorite find: Pink lace dress

Dress, accessories, clutch and shoes Total cost: $3 Crazy, right? I enjoy thrifting because you get great quality, name-brand items for a good price. I got two complete outfits, shoes and accessories, plus two cute tops for the price of $6.50. I’m always looking to snag a good deal. What’s “old to one person is another person’s treasures.”

~~Jenna Hemenway

TOTAL COST:$5.24

Purchased: 8 pieces: New-with tags summer dress, white denim jacket, sandals, pewter daisy bracelet, Huskers jersey top, Bella Canvas burn-out tee, cotton cardi

FAV FIND:Cotton cardi because it’s 100% textured cotton with ceramic buttons -

so cute!

WHY THRIFTING MAKE ‘CENTS’ You can purchase clothes that you normally wouldn’t buy because of the low cost, try out a different look.

~~Elizabeth Odell

TOTAL COST: $8.44

Purchased: 11 pieces: New-with-tags wrap dress, black dress, pink denim jacket, white jeans, white cardi, two striped tops, floral sandals, Vierta bag, Jessica McClintock clutch, earrings

FAV FIND: Either the Vierta faux alligator crosbody purse or the pink denim jacket.

WHY THRIFTING MAKE ‘CENTS’ Try new labels I may not normally purchase. You can create a new look for a relatively low investment. Instead of supporting fast-fashion, thrifting is the ultimate form of recycling. It’s the thrill of the hunt.

~~LuAnn Schindler