10 Tips for a Successful Thrift Store Trip

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Thrift shops are the perfect place to find vintage collectibles, home decor and retro clothing. But sorting through secondhand junk can be overwhelming. Here are my favorite tips to have a successful and fruitful thrift store trip.

Have a thrift list

Keeping a thrift list helps SO much when you’re overwhelmed while shopping. Just like a grocery list, it keeps you on track while browsing. When I park my car outside a shop I check the Notes app on my phone to see what’s on my list (Currently: A cake stand and retro sandals). The list reminds me to check out the shoe racks, which sometimes I don’t bother looking at.

Know your measurements

Before going to a thrift store, take out some of your favorite shirts, pants, shorts etc. and grab a tape measure. For shirts, I measure pit to pit and arm length. Pants, inseam and waist. I record the measurements on the same Notes app and keep a small tape measure in my purse. The measurements came in handy when I wasn’t able to try on the red skirt below (Fitting rooms were closed due to covid). My portable tape measure told me it would fit so I bought it. It fits like a glove!

Wear layers

Be sure to wear a tank top under your clothes while thrifting. It makes trying things on that much faster and if the fitting rooms are full I’ll just change out in the open. It saves time which might mean I can hit another thrift store! Also, be sure to think ahead about what clothes you should wear to make your shopping easier. If you’re shopping for sneakers but you’re wearing sandals, bring a pair of socks for trying on shoes. If you’re looking for a fitted dress, be sure to wear a bra (haha!).

Let your friends and family know what you’re looking for

I get asked all the time how I find so many vintage sheets at thrift stores. The truth is, my mom finds more than I do sometimes! When she goes thrifting she checks the linen section out of me, texts me pictures and then I pay her back for what she finds. When my mom is looking for something she lets me know so I can return the favor. We both have another set of eyes searching at thrift stores which is a big help!

Follow thrift shops on Instagram and Facebook

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve raced to a store at open because I saw a social media post. I follow all my local thrift stores because they will post when they put out new items. Recently, one of my favorite thrift stores posted after closing time that they were making a display of vintage Pyrex that just came in. I was there when they opened to get the first pick. You can see the Pyrex that I found on my vintage Halloween hutch.

Be strategic about where and when you shop

If you’re looking for something specific, think about the type of store you’re visiting. Think about the people that are donating there. I’m normally looking for vintage items so I make sure to go to the thrift stores that have an older demographic. If I’m looking for high-end, trendy clothing I head to a younger neighborhood and a more modern thrift store.

Also, be strategic about when you shop. I avoid Monday mornings because everything is pretty picked over from the weekend. I like to shop Wednesday-Saturday so the volunteers have plenty of time to restock.

You can come thrifting with me during the YouTube video below! I show you exactly how I thrift shop and the sections I shop to find cute vintage clothing and home decor. Emily Retro YouTube Channel

Sign up for reward programs

Some thrift shops have punch cards and electronic reward programs. I sign up for all of them! One thrift store sends me “We miss you” coupons in my email when I haven’t visited in a while. I joined another reward program for the Goodwill that is a town over from me and I don’t visit very often. To my surprise, I had a $10 reward credit after shopping every once in a while for the past 5 years.

Scan

I have the best luck with quickly scanning all the shelves and clothing racks. I would rather spend half an hour at a thrift store and visit 5 different stores in one morning than dig around 1 shop for hours. It’s easy to spend too much time looking at every single clothing item and still find nothing. I skim through everything and yes, I might miss something. But I also could miss stuff if I didn’t have enough time to visit the other thrift store down the road. By quickly scanning the coat rack I found my favorite $5 yellow coat that I’ve had for years. You don’t always have to dig for hours to find the best stuff. Everyone is different, but that’s what works best for me.

Pay attention to sales

A few of my local thrift stores post monthly or weekly sale calendars. Sometimes they are posted online, a leaflet by the register or a sign in the shop. One day clothes will be on sale, the next plates and glassware, etc. I make sure to visit on the day that makes the most sense for me, like when linens are 50% off.

Strike up a conversation with a volunteer

I’m an introvert and don’t like talking to strangers very much. But when I notice a volunteer working in what looks like their specialty area (Like linens, clothing or the vintage section) I’ll go out of my comfort zone and talk to them. For instance, I had my eye on a vintage quilt from the ’30s for the past month. It wasn’t in great shape and it was $40. There was a sweet elderly lady pushing a cart of linens around and I could tell this was her specialty section. I mentioned to her how beautiful the quilt was and she agreed, asking if I would take it home. I told her I’ve been in love with it for the past month but $40 was too much for me. She asked if I’d take it home for $10 and I was so excited!

I never ask for items to be discounted at thrift stores because they are normally going to a charity. But the volunteer knew how long the quilt had been sitting there because she works in that area and she just wants it to go to a good home.

Alright, that’s my 10 best tips for thrift shopping! I hope you learned something. If you have any tips for me leave them in the comments below or on my Instagram. If you’d like some inspiration on what items to look for while thrifting check out my blog post 10 Cheap and Common Thrift Store Items to Add Personality to your Home.