Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries
Serving Greater Cincinnati

7 Savvy Thrift Shopping Secrets from Goodwill

Thrift shopping is a great way to express your one-of-a-kind style on a budget. Thrift stores like Goodwill stock almost everything under the sun, from clothing and accessories to books, furniture, and home décor. But with so many options, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and intimidated by the thrift shopping experience. How do you know what to look for? When is the best time to shop?

Luckily, you don’t need to be a professional thrifter to make the most of your next shopping trip. At Ohio Valley Goodwill, you can score incredible deals on quality goods every time you shop! Plus, Ohio Valley Goodwill’s retail stores are connected to an amazing cause: the dollars you spend help fund our skills training and job placement services for individuals with disabilities living right here in Greater Cincinnati.

Are you ready to take your thrifting to the next level? Check out our list of Goodwill shopping secrets:

Visit often

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, our retail stores are restocked daily with fresh new items. With an ever-changing inventory, you never know what you might find when you stop by your local Goodwill store. Part of the fun of thrift shopping is the thrill of the hunt ““ check back frequently and visit different locations to get your hands on the best items before they sell out! You should also take your time to peruse the entire store, because you may find hidden treasures that you wouldn’t spot otherwise.

Mannequin dressed in red suit with black briefcase and red purse

Display of backpacks and tennis shoes on floor Display of six pairs of fashion boots at Goodwill store

 

Check our monthly sales calendars

At Ohio Valley Goodwill, we’re proud to offer a large selection of clothing and household goods at the best bargain prices around. But did you know that you can save even more with our special offers? Check out our Retail Promotions website to view our monthly sales calendars with savings opportunities for every day of the week. We also offer a coupon for our featured store of the month, giving you even more chances to save money. Sign up to have our monthly sales calendars and promotions sent directly to your email inbox to make saving even more convenient.

Look for off-season finds

Where can you find festive Christmas decorations in the summer and a cute sundress in the winter? Only at Goodwill! We make it easy to shop for any season, any time. You can often find great deals on clothing and goods when you shop in the off-season. You can even plan a season ahead for growing children by buying a size up.

Get creative

Another fun aspect of thrift shopping is finding items that can be repurposed and customized to fit your personal style. With a little imagination and some elbow grease, you can easily transform gently-used furniture, home decor, and other items into something completely new! Get creative and look for the potential in an item, even if it has some flaws. You might be surprised at how easy it is to refurbish a scratched coffee table with a coat of spray paint or reupholster an outdated chair with some stylish new fabric.

Three mannequins displaying vests, coats, and jackets

Check out our boutiques

If you’re looking for a different kind of thrift shopping experience, check out our boutique locations. Our boutiques are stocked with carefully curated upscale clothing, accessories, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and other items offered at a fraction of the cost of what you could find in a full-price retail store. Our boutiques are frequently stocked with designer-label items, many of which come to us in ” new-with-tags” condition.  

Follow Ohio Valley Goodwill on Social Media

To stay up-to-date with Ohio Valley Goodwill’s latest savings offers, fashion-forward tips, and DIY project ideas, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn! We’d also love to see your Goodwill finds and DIY projects ““ tag us and use the hashtag #IGotItAtGoodwill for your chance to be featured!

Donate, then shop!

Thrift shopping is a great way to expand your wardrobe without breaking the bank. But if you’re running out of space in your closet, it might be time to let go of some of your gently-used clothing to make room. One way to ensure your closet is never too cramped is by donating something every time you go shopping at Goodwill.

It’s a good idea to keep a Goodwill bag or box in your closet and drop off your donations each time you plan to go shopping. This way, you can keep your closet clean and tidy while refreshing your wardrobe. You can feel great knowing that your donation will be used to fund Goodwill’s job training programs so people in your community can work!

Find an Ohio Valley Goodwill retail store or boutique location near you and put your thrift shopping skills to the test today! For a complete list of donation locations and home pick-up options, click here.