SPOKANE, Wash. — With the holidays just a few weeks away, shoppers are busy picking out the perfect gifts for under the tree. This year, more people are heading to thrift stores to find those presents.
Everyone wants a great deal on holiday gifts. And shoppers are heading to one place they know they’ll save.
“I know family members who this year are specifically buying secondhand where they have never done that before,” said Luke Riddle, manager at Spokane Valley UGM Thrift Store.
According to online thrift store ThredUp, this year consumers plan to spend 40% of their holiday budget on secondhand items. That’s a 10% increase from 2024. Sixty-two percent of shoppers say they are turning to resale to save money.
Thrift stores all across Spokane have noticed that boost in business.
“The amount of customers we’re seeing is about 1,200 more compared to last season. And that’s just in the winter months,” Riddle said.
At Next to New Thrift Shop in Spokane Valley, the owner says she is so busy, some items are leaving the store faster than they are coming in.
“We are pretty low on clothes,” said Denise McMillen, owner of Next to New Thrift Store. “I think people are hurting out there and they need some place to come that is not going to be super high prices. And thrift stores do that for them.”
At the UGM Thrift Store, items like holiday decorations, toys, and winter gear are on many Christmas lists.
“Most people are going to come and stop here first, because the prices are less than a department store,” McMillen said.
Stores say that not only are people thrifting to save money, but they’re thrifting to purchase that unique gift for someone special.
“Well, I’m in the mood for doing some Christmas shopping, and, I know this place has the best prices. So I came here, and immediately I walk in the door, and I have Scooby Doo in a hot air balloon. That’s going on my tree,” said Gina, a holiday shopper.
Both shoppers and thrift store owners say this trend is not surprising.
“We’re hearing that people are just wanting to come in and spend less and get more. And I think they can do that here,” Riddle said.
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