Clever shoppers browse for the best used stuff

CELINA - Mercer and Auglaize County second-hand, consignment, antique and collectible shop owners have revealed their tips and tricks to a successful shopping trip for beginning bargain hunters wanting to acquaint themselves with the art of thrifting.

Benefits of buying used

Buying items that have been previously owned offers value to spare, local store owners said.

Christa Bruggeman, an employee at Hidden Treasures, Coldwater, said buying second-hand can help the environment while saving money.

"It doesn't go to a landfill, it keeps moving," she said.

The store donates everything it doesn't sell or accept to the Special Olympics, Bruggeman said. According to the U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste, Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person per year.

She added the store accepts only clean clothing free of stains, tears and holes, with brands ranging from Walmart to Buckle. Buying pre-owned clothing can mean a better fit too, Bruggeman said.

"When you get (clothes) here, it's already been worn, already been laundered. So it'll fit like it's supposed to," she said.

Diane Stromblad, owner of Hidden Treasures, opened her store more than 22 years ago to make both unique and name-brand clothing available to the community.

"Buying and wearing name-brand is too important in this society to a lot of people," she said.

Being able to buy name-brand at a fraction of the cost is a benefit for people who have less income or even just want to save money, she added.

Jennifer Garrett, owner of Jen's Furniture and Collectibles in St. Marys, said buying used furniture can be a huge money saver for young people who are living on their own for the first time.

"Kids don't have $700 for a new sofa," she said. "Kids don't have that kind of money nowadays."

Garrett said college students also likely don't know how (or bother) to care for their furniture properly, so buying brand-new can be a waste of money, and pre-owned furniture is perfect for repurposing.

Buying gently used also means buying quality, Garrett said. Bookshelves, cabinets, tables and other solid, hardwood items have often withstood the test of time, a testament to its quality, she said.

"You can't beat old furniture," Garrett said.

Shopping at thrift stores doesn't always mean used. Bruggeman and Garrett said they both receive brand-new items at their shops, with Garrett adding her store gets semitrailer loads of brand-new furniture from stores such as Walmart and Wayfair two or three times a month by buying at auctions.

Rita Daugherty, owner of The Menagerie in St. Marys, said her store has several booths that are rented out by local vendors who sell brand-new items such as boutique clothing and honey from local beekeepers.

Shop frequently

One thing on which Daugherty, Bruggeman and Garrett all agreed is shopping frequently.

"You have to be consistent," Bruggeman said. "You almost have to be a regular."

Shops that specialize in previously owned items are constantly getting new inventory, meaning an item a customer wants likely won't stay on the shelves for long.

Hidden Treasures, along with other gently used and consignment clothing stores, are always receiving donations from customers who are looking to get rid of items or make a few spare bucks by splitting the profit with the store.

Garrett and Daugherty also receive new items daily. Daugherty has "pickers," people with an eye for antiques and collectibles, who traverse the region in search of unique finds for the store.

"If you see something, buy it, because there won't be more," Daugherty said.

Know when to buy

Bruggeman and Garrett said their stores are busy this time of year as kids begin to go back to school.

Garrett said her store has items such as twin and full beds, microwaves, cube organizers, TV stands and other college essentials that fly off the shelves.

Meanwhile, Bruggeman said the beginning of August is busy for the store as parents prepare for their children to go back to school.

Buying off-season is an excellent way to save money while shopping, and certain seasons mean certain sales.

Bruggeman said to keep an eye out for a two week storewide 50% off sale at Hidden Treasures beginning Tuesday as they prepare to make room for next season's inventory.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the busiest days for furniture and Saturday is the busiest day for collectibles at Jen's Furniture and Collectibles, Garrett said.

At The Menagerie, Daugherty said almost all items in the store are one-of-a-kind and can't be found anywhere else, so she has no set day or season that's busiest.

"You kind of have to buy it if you see it," she said with a laugh.

Check for quality

"By sight, you can see quality," Daugherty said.

Looking at the sturdiness of a material is a good way to check for quality. When looking at glassware, for example, shoppers should check for scratches and look for brand names.

They should check for dings, dents, scratches and blemishes on furniture. However, people shouldn't let condition be a deal-breaker - a small ding doesn't ruin the whole thing.

Shoppers also should look at clothing from every angle, from inside to outside. Nothing worse than getting home from a shopping trip to find the new skirt that was just purchased needs a new zipper.

Don't be afraid to ask about a product, Daugherty said. Customers can always ask questions about the quality of an item they like.