Megathrift Tours for Thrift and Consignment

A Note from Twice Is Nice

2012-02-27T23:14:00.000-05:00

Shop Smart ~ Shop Resale

In today’s uncertain economy isn’t it wise to spend less and get more? Shopping at consignment & resale shops allows you to do just that! Consignment & resale shops are independently owned and provide a greater price-to-product ratio. This means that you get more merchandise for less money!! Items are usually priced at about one-third to one-half of an item’s cost when it was new.
And these already low prices are reduced during sales just like in the traditional retail stores! Additionally, many stores reduce the price of their items exponentially each month the item remains in the store.

All shoppers are familiar with the ‘thrill of the hunt’, and the huge feeling of pride and satisfaction they get when they find a real steal on something they love, right? Shopping at consignment & resale shops means you’ll be able to experience the thrill more often because of the savings you’ll find on gently used treasures. Because you can shop more often, you’ll be able to change your style, your family’s style and your home’s decor more often. And don’t forget to bring in those no longer wanted items to give someone else a chance to enjoy them. Then shop some more and earn those bragging rights for being such a savings savvy shopper!

In addition to the great deals you’ll find in consignment & resale shops, the warm and friendly atmosphere makes the shopping experience even more enjoyable. Many consignment & resale shops are independently owned which allows each shop to showcase its own unique personality. The variety of clothing & home decor you’ll find in consignment & resale shops farexceeds that of any traditional retail store and many shops restock on a daily basis. That means the selection changes often. If you don’t find what you’re looking for today, chances are it will be there tomorrow. Consignment & resale stores carry name brand items, and many are brand new with the tags still attached. Shopping consignment & resale gets your creative juices flowing! Because of the great selection of different styles, manufacturers of clothing & home decor, you can try putting several items together that you might not normally have thought of, thus letting you find a look that fits your individual personality. And because these are small, independently owned enterprises, you’ll find that the proprietors and their staff really care about their customers. They get to know them as people, not just as dollar signs…which, let’s face it, is how most of us feel when we go into one of the big name, traditional retail stores.

The Three R’s ~Reduce /Reuse /Recycle

We are all becoming more socially conscious and trying to reduce waste. Consignment is the ultimate in mind-full consumption. And isn’t it time we added another R to the list? Resale!

Shopping consignment and resale reduces waste. Just because one person no longer wants something doesn’t mean it’s no longer useful. Gently-used clothing and home décor will find a new home with a new family, it will be re-used rather than being shipped off to the local dump. Recyclingyour unwanted, but still wonderful, possessions will ultimately help the earth. Your purchases will also help the local economy by helping the owner of a local small business. Your purchases might also be helping a neighbor in need. The consigner could be someone who needs the extra cash. Consignors get paid for items they bring in and that extra bit of cash could be just what they need to carry them through a rough spot. So you see, consigning and resale helps everyone!

Thanks

Rose Banner

Twice Is Nice Consignments~Hartville

Another successful Thrift and Consignment Tour Road Rally!

2012-02-27T21:21:00.000-05:00

2-25-12

Waking up to a few inches of snow and the streets a little slippery I pondered the thought of how many people would cancel their plans for today's events. The phone rang with my first cancellation for a party of two. Then it rang again and it was one of my sisters cancelling. At that point I decided that no matter how many people cancelled we would make the best of it and have a great day. Needless to say it exceeded all of my expectations!

Planning prep work:

The itinerary to include directions to each store using yahoo directions

A sneak peak at the itinerary up close

Shrinky Dink Name Tags for our group

Goody bags for all of our shoppers

Italian pinwheels for my riders

a light snack to keep my riders happy

The Tour

After advertising by word of mouth, on Facebook (Megathrift Tours for thrift and consignment) and emails there were over 30 people who would be in attendance for this road rally.

Steve and Tammy Lamiell hosted a wonderful breakfast for everyone before our first stop. This was their first of many tours to come and five family members participated.

To my surprise and delight, my sister who had cancelled earlier had changed her mind and was already there when I arrived. Yay!

And they are off! There we were chasing sparky (If you've been to Wheeling Downs to the greyhound races you'll get this) through Canton, Hartville, Uniontown, Tallmadge and Akron to so many great stores for the best in resale treasures.

We introduced over 30 people to Deviti's Italian Deli which is one of Akron's oldest family owned businesses.

I'd say we certainly stimulated local economy on this tour! Forgive me for not getting more pictures. I tend to get a little frazzled before half time. (Yes, this is definitely a sport!) Here's what I did capture:

In addition to the store that were on the itinerary we found a new store to add to our list:
http://mybestadvice.hubpages.com/hub/Thrift-and-Consignment-Shops-in-or-around-Canton-Ohio

Upscale Resale

298 West Ave

Tallmadge, OH 44278

Lots of goodies that consist of furniture, household, stained glass, jewelry and just about everything but clothing. We made a new friend, Irene Dickey, too. Very nice shop Irene! Prices are great as well. She just recently relocated her shop from Streetsboro and had some insight on great shops in that area for future thrift tour planning.

What a great day! Thanks to everyone who participated in yet another successful tour. Hope you all found what you were looking for. I know I did!

Here are my scores:

Road Rally Thrift Tour / Itinerary for February 25, 2012

2012-02-16T13:25:00.000-05:00

Megathrift Tours for Thrift and Consignment

Road Rally Thrift Tour Itinerary for Saturday, February 25, 2012

Canton / Hartville / Uniontown / Akron / Tallmadge

Total: 32.2 mi, 57 min

Start time: 08:30-08:45 / If you intend to join us for the complimentary juice, coffee, donuts and fruit generously offered by Tammy and Steve Lamiell. Everyone is welcome to participate and we would like confirmations on those attending. If you do not intend to participate in breakfast, meet us at LOCATION B at 9 am. Lunch is on your own and I recommend picking it up at Deviti’s Italian Deli.

New Beginnings:

In the spirit of giving we are starting a new tradition of gathering donation items in each thrift tour and picking a nonprofit organization that will pass it on to needy recipients FREE OF CHARGE. The below listed organization is who will benefit this trip and I would like to make arrangements for a representative to meet us at one of our locations. Please check your stash for any unwanted items that may benefit them and let me know if you will have a donation. Thanks!

Here is the nonprofit selected for this tour:

Suitably You is a nonprofit organization helping the unemployed in Summit County with finer clothes for interviewing and new jobs. If you have clothing you would like to donate we offer free pick up in the Akron/Summit County area. We need the following:

*Slacks for both men & women-Navy blue/Khaki/black

*Men’s shirts and suits or suit jackets

*Women's nicer clothing for the casual office environment

*Men & women's shoes

*Perfume & cologne

All services are free! Make a difference! Contact Heidi 330.208.6732

Mission Statement

Founded in 2011, the mission of Suitably You is to assist those seeking self-sufficiency by providing professional clothing, fashion consolation, and interview counseling to those currently unemployed. Our goal is to prepare each client for the working world while building confidence towards becoming self sufficient. Our services are available at no charge and by referral for men and women of all ages, currently unemployed who are actively seeking employment.

Clothing Consultation

Our clothing program provides professional attire and accessories to men and women who are entering the job market or who have recently started a new job. Clients meet with trained volunteer staff, which assists them in assembling a professional wardrobe.

**If you are aware of any organization like this that we could sponsor in future tours please contact me with the information.

A to B: 0.4 mi, 2 min

A: Complimentary Breakfast

Courtesy of Steve and Tammy Lamiell

142 35TH St NW, Canton, OH 44709

1. Depart 35TH St NW toward Logan Ave NW

2. 0.1 mi

Turn left onto Logan Ave NW

3. 0.1 mi

Turn right onto 33RD St NW

4. 0.1 mi

Arrive at 416 33RD St NW, Canton, OH 44709

The last intersection is Harvard Ave NW If you reach Yale Ave NW, you've gone too far

B to C: 9.9 mi, 18 min

B: Kimbell-Brown Tag Sale Location:

416 33RD St NW, Canton, OH 44709

http://kimbell-brown.com/febsale.html

1. Depart 33RD St NW toward Harvard Ave NW

2. 0.4 mi

Turn left onto OH-43 / Market Ave N

Pass Wendy's in 2.9 mi

3. 9.5 mi

Turn left onto Sunnyside St SW

4. 253 ft

Arrive at 134 Sunnyside St SW, Hartville, OH 44632

The last intersection is Robson Ave If you reach Belle Ave SW, you've gone too far

C to D: 1.0 mi, 3 min

C: One Vintage Lane

134 Sunnyside St SW, Hartville, OH 44632

Offering a wonderful collection of vintage finds for your home. French country, shabby chic style that blends well will today’s décor

http://onevintagelane.blogspot.com/

1. Depart Sunnyside St SW toward Belle Ave SW

2. 0.2 mi

Turn right onto Stadium Dr SW

3. 385 ft

Turn left onto OH-43 / OH-619 / W Maple St

4. 0.2 mi

Keep straight onto OH-619 / W Maple St

5. 0.5 mi

Arrive at 1120 W Maple St, Hartville, OH 44632

The last intersection is Milan Ave SW If you reach Bixler Ave NE, you've gone too far

D to E: 3.2 mi, 5 min

D Twice is Nice

1120 W Maple St, Hartville, OH 44632

http://hartvilletwiceisnice.com/

We carry clothing for children, Jrs, Formals, Womens, Plus to 4x, Petites, and Mens.

Many items are so new they still have tags! Accessorize with shoes and New Jewelry!

Check out our Retro and Vintage selection as well... We offer Household goods and Furnishings, Christian books, and popular fiction!

1. Depart OH-619 / W Maple St toward Market Ave N

2. 3.1 mi

Turn left onto Cleveland Ave NW

BP on the corner

3. 333 ft

Arrive at 12992 Cleveland Ave NW, Uniontown, OH 44685

The last intersection is OH-619 / Edison St NW If you reach Pine St NW, you've gone too far

E to F: 59 ft, < 1 min

E: Fashion Finds

12992 Cleveland Ave NW, Uniontown, OH 44685

We specialize in the sale of new and consigned name brand apparel and accessories for women.

http://fashionfindsshop.com/

1. Depart Cleveland Ave NW toward Pine St NW

2. 58 ft

Arrive at 12980 Cleveland Ave NW, Uniontown, OH 44685

The last intersection is OH-619 / Edison St NW If you reach Pine St NW, you've gone too far

F to G: 4.4 mi, 8 min

F: Consign and Design

12980 Cleveland Ave NW, Uniontown, OH 44685

Offers High Quality - Name Brand - Gently Loved Furniture
Beds, Tables, Rugs, Artwork, Chairs, Sofas, Lamps, Book Shelves, Dressers, Desks, Mirrors, and Many Other Home Decor Items.

http://www.facebook.com/consigndesignhome

1. Depart Cleveland Ave NW towardOH-619 / Edison St NW

0.9 mi

Road name changes to OH-91 / Canton Rd

Pass GetGo in 2.3 mi

3. 3.4 mi

Arrive at 1185 Canton Rd, Akron, OH 44312

The last intersection is Old Home Rd If you reach McElwain Dr, you've gone too far

G to H: 9.8 mi, 12 min

G: Pickers Gallery

1185 Canton Rd, Akron, OH 44312

At Pickers Gallery we specialize in antiques, collectibles, unique items, gifts, furniture, households and so much more. We have something for everyone! Stop and check us out today!

http://www.facebook.com/PickersGallery

1. Depart OH-91 / Canton Rd toward Old Home Rd

2. 465 ft

Turn right onto US-224 / E Waterloo Rd

BP on the corner

3.9 mi

At exit 4B, take ramp right for I-77 North toward Akron

4. 2.5 mi

Keep straight onto OH-8 North

5. 1.9 mi

Keep straight onto OH-8 North / OH-59 East

6. 1.0 mi

At exit 3B, take ramp right for Gorge Blvd toward Tallmadge Ave

7. 0.2 mi

Turn right onto OH-261 / E Tallmadge Ave

8. 0.2 mi

Arrive at 560 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron, OH 44310

The last intersection is Ranney St If you reach Damon St, you've gone too far

H to I: 1.2 mi, 4 min

H: Deviti’s Italian Deli

560 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron, OH 44310

Among the great attractions at DeVitis & Sons is the daily lineup of hot, freshly prepared carry-out lunch entrees, soups and cold cut sandwiches. The rotating menu of homemade lunch specials invites hundreds of customers into the store during the lunch hour, the store's busiest time of the day. To meet the demands of the lunch crowd, DeVitis prepares more than 300 sandwiches daily. A variety of salads, including pasta, tortellini, bean and cole slaw, are put together each morning.

http://devitis.com/

1. Depart OH-261 / E Tallmadge Ave toward Damon St

2. 1.2 mi

Arrive at 1188 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron, OH 44310

The last intersection is Redstone Ave If you reach Wade Park Ave, you've gone too far

I to J: 0.7 mi, 2 min

I: A New You

1188 E Tallmadge Ave, Akron, OH 44310

An upscale woman’s boutique offering clothing, shoes and accessories.

1. Depart OH-261 / E Tallmadge Ave toward Wade Park Ave

2. 0.3 mi

Turn left onto Brittain Rd

McDonald's on the corner

3. 0.4 mi

Arrive at 1662 Brittain Rd, Akron, OH 44310

The last intersection is Brittain Circle If you reach Yorkshire Dr, you've gone too far

J to K: 82 ft, < 1 min

J: Abbey Ann’s

1662 Brittain Rd, Akron, OH 44310

Furniture New & Used – Antiques – Appliances - Collectibles – Estate Liquidations – House Wares – Sofa & Futons – Beds & Frames – Dog Cages – Dining Sets – Hardware – Patio Furniture – Mattress Sets – Vintage & Retro

http://abbeyanns.com/

1. Depart Brittain Rd toward Brittain Circle

2. 84 ft

Arrive at 1634 Brittain Rd, Akron, OH 44310

The last intersection is Yorkshire Dr If you reach Brittain Circle, you've gone too far

K to L: 1.5 mi, 3 min

K Salvation Army

1634 Brittain Rd, Akron, OH 44310

1. Depart Brittain Rd toward Brittain Circle

2. 0.4 mi

Turn left onto OH-261 / E Tallmadge Ave

McDonald's on the corner

3. 1.2 mi

Arrive at 51 West Ave, Tallmadge, OH 44278

The last intersection is Wright RdIf you reach Tallmadge Circle, you've gone too far

L: Abbey Ann’s

51 West Ave, Tallmadge, OH 44278

http://abbeyanns.com/

And IF you are not too tired and would like to shop more:

6.8 mi, 10 min

12 min with traffic

51 W Tallmadge Ave, Akron, OH 44310

1. Depart W Tallmadge Ave towardWall St

2. 0.1 mi

Road name changes to E Tallmadge Ave

3. 0.2 mi

Keep straight onto OH-261 / E Tallmadge Ave

0.6 mi

Take ramp right and follow signs forOH-8 South / OH-59 West

5. 1.2 mi

Keep straight onto OH-8 South

2.1 mi

Road name changes to I-77 South / Vietnam Veterans Memorial Hwy

7. 1.6 mi

At exit 123A, take ramp right for Coventry St toward Waterloo Rd

8. 0.3 mi

Turn right onto E Waterloo Rd

Marathon on the corner

9. 0.7 mi

Arrive at 193 E Waterloo Rd, Akron, OH 44319

The last intersection is Thornapple Ave If you reach Wilmich Dr, you've gone too far

B Village Discount Outlet

193 E Waterloo Rd, Akron, OH 44319

If you are too tired, just follow these directions to Rt 8 South and to I-77 to find your way home.

New Blog Site / Master List of Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops

2012-01-16T00:32:00.000-05:00

For an updated master thrift store list for Canton, OH and surrounding areas, please visit:

http://mybestadvice.hubpages.com/

Please bookmark this site and check back often as this is where I will retain my most updated list of stores.

May the bargains be with you!

Wishing you a very Merry Thriftmas!

2011-11-01T23:38:00.000-04:00

Breaking the bank again this season?

Remember: Just because you still have checks doesn't mean you still have money!

Don't drain your bank accounts and rack up your credit cards trying to keep up with the hype of providing the most sought after gifts this holiday season.

Instead, how about a little unconventional giving?

Let's make Christmas this year a little less commercial, a lot less stressful and a great deal more memorable for your family and friends!

The "unconventional" I'm referring to is the way it used to be when no one had tons of money and they had to rely on their own imaginations to create a perfect holiday for their loved ones. Everyone has such great memories of simpler times when Christmas wasn't about the cost of your gifts and how many you got, it was about attending church, getting together with family and friends and celebrating the season!

-------------------------------------------------------------

Here's some of my stories and ideas that I hope will inspire you to roll back your holiday to simpler times:

Don't be an overachiever: It's great that you have the ability to provide wonderful gifts for children, but please take into consideration that their parents and SANTA have to account for their actions when you have provided WAY MORE than either of them have. Also take into consideration that the parents are more than likely strapped for cash and are doing the best they possibly can in providing ample gifts for everyone. Can you imagine how they might feel if you provide more than them and make them look bad? Example: Being a single mother with NO cash I was able to spend a limited amount of money for Christmas on my only child, then 2. Imagine my HORROR when I brought her downstairs on Christmas morning and it looked like Toys 'r Us blew up in my living room! It was completely filled with things she did not need, was too young for and entirely too many toys for one child to enjoy. There in the corner, pushed aside, were the items I had bought her for Christmas...completely minimized by a mesmerized child who had no idea where to begin. Honestly..the only thing that was not covered was the car she would get a 16! To add insult to injury, all of these presents were purchased by my sister's boyfriend who had a really sick need to be continually recognized for his efforts. The next few hours went a little like this:

My sister, "Who go you that, Ashley?"

Ashley: "Santa!"

My sister: "No, Uncle *&^% did!

As horrible as it sounds, I sat in the corner silently wishing one of the WONDERFUL gifts would have been a blow gun so I could use it on the goof!

The moral of this story: Think before you act! If you feel the need to overachieve, perhaps it could be blamed on Santa instead of used as a tool to make those less fortunate feel even worse about their efforts?

------------------------

Last year's popular gifts can be purchased at minimal pricing at thrift and consignment shops!

I remember being pressured by a family member in the 90's to purchase "the only two things that my daughter asked for for Christmas", MALL MADNESS and MYSTERY DATE. I gave in and I bought them for a whopping $44 bucks each! Caving to peer pressure I neglected to consider that:

a) She is an only child

b) Sorry, I'm not playing these games with her

c) Even when her friends and family came over they didn't play them!

The moral of this story: Kids want everything they see on TV. What is popular today will be quickly replaced by something even better and you've wasted your money on the last "hot item". Don't cave to peer pressure and always trust your better judgement.

Needless to say, that's the year she no longer believed in Santa Claus and the years following she was given cash to buy exactly what she wanted, which I will discuss later in this post.

Here's my point:

We're all thrift shoppers at heart and want the best possible bargain. Just the other day I saw MALL MADNESS in mint condition at GOODWILL and was reminded again that this was not such a good purchase at $44 retail, but you could now steal it for $3. I was also reminded that it apparently lacked any substance as the "desirable" game of the season as here it is, many years later, in mint condition. After having my silent retail horror flashback, I left it on the shelf where it will probably sit for another 20 years!

Getting back to overachievers, they really do provide a great service to thrifters. (Though I do apologize to any of you who endured the same horror as I did!) You see, since they provide more products than one child can use, many of their purchases end up in secondhand shops and thrift stores in mint condition. Now we're talking! If you are patient, you can collect all sorts of neat gifts for your loved ones at a small fraction of what they cost retail.

Start a new tradition! How about Santa leaving gifts unwrapped under the tree? Go to the thrift store and purchase some of these barely used items in great condition. Who cares if they have a box? You don't need one! And now you don't need to waste money on wrapping paper either. In addition to the money you've saved and the wrapping paper you did not use, some other poor sap has not only assembled these toys for you, but they spent painstaking hours putting the little decals on too! It's a no brainer!

My challenge to you: Pick one child and take $20 to a few thrift and consignment shops of your choice and see what types of items you can come up with for gifts now that you don't have to bother wrapping them or putting them together. When you are done, research these items and see what you would have paid if you purchased them retail. Put them under the tree and watch your magic! Not only have you provided some excellent gifts, you did it at a fraction of the cost.

------------------------

Remember that wrapping paper you didn't use?? It will come in handy for this next project:

Goody Baskets!

Ever been to a benefit or silent auction and you notice that most of the baskets donated are from the same person? How do you think they did it? I think you've caught on, but I'll tell you anyway...

THRIFT SHOPPING!

Any great THEME BASKET starts out with a trip to the thrift store. Look at how many wonderful items you find there with the tags still on them or that are in mint condition.

Theme baskets are perfect gifts and let you use your imagination to create one of a kind memories.

They don't necessarily need to be in the form of baskets, either.

How cool would it be for your nieces and nephews to get an inexpensive snow disc (purchased at a retail store) wrapped with ski pants, hats, scarves, gloves, hats and boots (purchased from a thrift store)? Throw in a package of hot chocolate, a mug and a poem or note indicating that you will be taking them sledding at the next possible opportunity. Would you be the coolest aunt or what? Heck to the yeah!

How about a game night package? Scoop up all the $3 games in mint condition and present them to your loved ones with a promissory note of having them over for pizza and game night.

Grandma's Attic:

Got little girls who love to play dress up? Leave the messy make up alone and replace it with bling! Since the airlines reduced their luggage sizes there are lots of big old suitcases just prime for the pickin' at thrift stores for..next to nothing!

Pick out some great costumes (1/2 off after Halloween), clothes, purses, lots of shoes and jewelry and fill the suitcase with them. It's amazing what you can come up with and it will provide hours of enjoyment!

Got little boys instead? Fill it with trucks, fire engines, bugs and spiders, GI Joes, etc. Don't forget the army men!

Adults:

Have someone who really loves your cooking? Buy them all of the ingredients and make a gift basket. Include your special recipe and some other kitchen items in your basket.

There are so many themes you can create that will be perfect for gift giving and cost only a fraction of what you would pay retail.

I always threatened to make a basket of all the junky little toys at the checkouts that I refused to buy Ashley because they would break before I got them out of the package. The only reason I have not done this yet is because I still refuse to buy them unless they are in a $2 grab bag at a thrift store. (It would be funny though!)

Now, about that wrapping paper you don't need anymore? Shred it and use it for filler in your baskets.

Where do you get baskets in bulk? Salvation Army on Lesh Rd in Canton usually has big old bags of baskets for $3-5. Take what you'll use and donate the rest back for the next person to buy.

Wrappings? My favorite and most inexpensive wrapping is Tulle. I buy it in 25 yard bolts and it looks wonderful on a basket. You can usually purchase it with the 50% coupon from JoAnn Fabrics and get a much better deal, but there are also sites on the internet with some really good prices. Use zip ties (Dollar Store / assorted sizes) to pinch them off and add your bow there. I do, however, find discarded Tulle at the thrift stores on occasion which is the best pricing I have found! (You can also use Tulle to create your own balloon drop, saving the price of helium, but that's a whole other blog!)

Explaining the fact that I gave Ashley money to buy exactly what she wanted for Christmas:

This seems insensitive, but here's why I did it: By the time she was 12 she had an agenda all her own. This was the time that she would tear jeans up and make her own outfits, rip t-shirts and string them with side panels, etc. There really wasn't anything I could possibly buy that she would like. The thought of wasting one dime on something that would not get used or would go to waste was unbearable. In addition to teaching her the value of money, she also got to hand select the perfect gifts for herself. (Of course she had to wrap them all and suffer without them until Christmas though.) There was always a few things she didn't know about wrapped for her along with a bag of natural pistachios that are her favorite!

This brings me to the point of re-gifting. While I am very thankful for unwanted gifts that end up in thrift stores for me to buy later, it really is a shame that people pay as much as they do for things that are not wanted.

Making gifts baskets about food, drink or other useful items just makes sense. It brings us back to the simpler time when homemade gifts were a blessing by those who made them and cherished by those who received them. Do you ever find yourself picking up meaningless gifts just to have them on hand in case they are needed? Make something instead!

Now I will caution you, you may still get your feelings hurt! When in doubt, stick to food and drink! Remember those really cool Quillows (Quilts that folded into pillows when not being used) that were popular in the 90's? Yeah, those ones. I thought I was cool making one in Americana material to present to a new friend of mine to use in her newly constructed house that had that decor. Imagine my surprise when I visited and found that the use for it was in the dog's bed! Instantly deflated my ego, totally insulted me and haven't talked to her since! Looking back at it now, I realize that she didn't have children and adored that dog as if it were her own child. It had the coolest bed, it was a covered wagon. Perhaps I should suck it up and call her? She was a good friend. I'm just sayin'...what was an insult to me may have been perfectly logical for her.

In all seriousness, now, I hope to have presented you with some useful information to make your season brighter and less expensive. Fight the urge to shop retail and replace it with resale! Remember that in shopping resale you are still supporting charitable causes!

Merry Thriftmas to all and to all a good plight!

Here's a bonus non-Christmas idea for you to ponder for your next vacation or event:

----------------------------------------------

Planning a trip to Disney??

This is perhaps the most brilliant idea I have ever heard!

My sister was taking her 4 year old to Disney World and of course was on a very restricted budget. She had the sense to put her thrifting skills to work and make it a huge success!

Realizing just how many discarded and again in WONDERFUL SHAPE Disney items she saw at the thrift stores she started stockpiling before her trip.

She arrived at Disney with her little girl and a big bag. Like a super hero (I gave her some of my Megathrift powers before she left) she was able fight the temptation of peer pressure and inflated retail pricing by reaching into her bag and producing the same item she had already purchased at a fraction of the cost. It was a sad day for Mickey Mouse, but a great day for them!

**This can also be useful when attending the circus**

Vote YES on Issue 29! Stark County Sales Tax

2011-10-27T19:55:00.000-04:00

I know that I created this blog mainly as a place to share money saving tips and other strategies for stretching your dollar, but this is important to me and TOTALLY on topic:

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE STARK COUNTY OHIO SALES TAX!

Why is this on topic?

BECAUSE IT IS NECESSARY AND IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE OTHERS ASSIST US IN OUR EFFORTS WITHOUT BEARING THE BRUNT OF THE BURDEN OURSELVES!

Being thrifty is just one strategy for saving money which has become more of a necessity than a sport for most people in the failing economy.

Think about this:

I am constantly posting great deals, store locations and other money saving ideas on both my Facebook page (Megathrift Tours for Thrift and Consignment) and this blog. We've all traveled great distances in pursuit of the ultimate bargain that have taken us into surrounding counties in addition to Stark. When we shop Stark County we are contributing nothing to local government to support CRIMINAL and ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE. We all shop other counties and don't think twice about paying for their local services, why is it a question about ours? I don't know about you, but I've never batted an eye about paying a sales tax in another county on the bargains I've found there, nor have I ever cancelled my order when I found out how much it was.

Here's what you are paying when you shop elsewhere:

Summit County: 6.5%

Cuyahoga County: 7.75%

Medina County: 6.25%

Tuscarawas County: 6.5%

Portage County: 6.75%

Franklin County: 6.75%

Holmes County: 6.25%

Stark County is currently at 5.75% and is asking for a .5% increase, which will still be lower than most of these counties.

Just as an example, Belden Village Mall (Can you tell I'm not a retail shopper? I can't even get the name right and it's been changed several years ago) estimates that 40% of their shoppers are from areas other than Stark County. Another example is the number of people that visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. How much of these types of revenue would relieve us of the burden of paying it all ourselves?

It's a small price to pay and even smaller since we are all bargain hunters! We won't stop shopping other counties because of their taxes, will we? If you don't shop much, it's even better. Let residents of other counties who frequent retail and food establishments in Stark County help us help ourselves.

So here's the scoop:

Of our current sales tax rate, 5.5% goes to the State of Ohio and .25% goes to SARTA. None of this goes toward Stark County government. If this levy does not pass, the Sheriff, Prosecutor, Courts, Clerk of Courts and the Coroner will be cut by 40%. Criminal and Administrative Services constitute 67% of Stark County's General Fund expenditures.

Being a 25 year Sheriff's Office employee (Civilian / Support Staff) I can tell you that this is not a scare tactic! "Living the dream" as some people like to describe it is more like "Re-living the nightmare over and over again!" I've been on the receiving end of very nasty Stark County residents who feel the need to remind me that they pay my salary, threaten to vote down any tax support in the future and insist on telling me what I am going to do for them without any consideration of my circumstances. I manage to keep my composure most of the time, but my patience are wearing thin. What I really would like to say is, "I know you pay my salary and thank you. I am very fortunate to have a job in today's economy and am doing the best I can with the tools that I have to work with. Thank you for your support. As for voting down any taxes, you have already repeatedly voted down any effort to save this sinking ship which is why you cannot have things your way. You had to realize that someone would suffer because of your decision, but were you really that naive to believe that it wouldn't be you?

--------------------

But enough about me! Let's talk about you:

Here is the plan if Issue 29 does not pass:

SHERIFF'S OFFICE:

The jail will be reduced from 501 prisoner capacity to 122 beds which will result in 379 people in our community that really should be behind bars.

People charged with domestic violence, burglaries and drug offenses being free to repeat their offenses.

Not worried because you have your own police protection?

That's a false sense of security. Unless your police department houses their prisoners in other locations than the Stark County Jail and uses other court systems, you are still in danger.

Sheriff road patrols will be limited for the approximately 90,000 people who count on them for police protection. This has been an issue already due to cuts and it can only get worse.

COMMON PLEAS COURT

Judges will be forced to release prisoners or not sentence people at all for their crimes against you or your loved ones

Programs to reduce recidivism could be terminated

Mediation programs may be eliminated

Capital (death penalty) cases will be impacted

PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

Will not be able to properly prepare for trial and try felony cases in the 5 Common Pleas Courtrooms

Presentation of cases to the Grand Jury would be delayed 4-8 weeks

Law Enforcement could wait as long as 4-6 weeks to obtain a search warrant which could cause loss of evidence

One of the 3 grand juries could be eliminated resulting in indictments not being timely

JUVENILE DIVISION OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

Staff would be cut to 2.5 assistant prosecuting attorneys to handle over 5,240 cases such as those that were handled in 2010

Reductions in staffing that normally accommodates 3 judges and 7 magistrates in Juvenile Court

New complaints that could not be reviewed on time and in the best interest of the child as required by Juvenile Rule 9

Attendance and participation at Drug Court and Truancy Court would be eliminated

Special untrained assistant prosecuting attorneys would have to be appointed by the county to prosecute the most serious felonies and serious youthful offender cases, all at an added cost to the county

VICTIM WITNESS DIVISION

Will not meet state mandates with regard to victim's rights

There will be no crime victim advocates in the 3 municipal courts, juvenile courts and very limited service in the court of common pleas

Crime prevention and crime programs would be cut

CORONER

Office Staff work week will be two days

Autopsies will be performed only on cases mandated by law

Families or physicians requesting autopsies will have to use a private autopsy company at a fee of approximately $4,000

Many death certificates will be issued with cause/manner of death listed as "Undetermined" which mean insurance companies may not pay benefits

Death certificates that presently take approximately 4-6 weeks will be extended to 6 months

Comprehensive/Advanced toxicological testing will be cut by 75%; no longer sending out testing if drugs are suspected. Those cases will be ruled "Undetermined"

Budget will allow for transport of 100 bodies per year. (The normal case load is 450) Any bodies in excess of this 100 will be the responsibility of funeral homes and billed to families of the deceased

FAMILY COURT

In 2010, the Family Court held an average of 60 juveniles per day in detention. Previous budget cuts resulting in a decrease in staff limited this to 35 juveniles on average in 2011

----------------------------------------

With that being said I am asking you to strongly consider voting YES! for ISSUE 29. Support Stark County Criminal and Administrative Justice so that we can provide the citizens of Stark County the services they deserve.

If you had to pay for one of the services yourself that will get cut without passage of this levy it would probably cost you more than your contribution through the sales tax. Be thrifty! Let someone else reduce your cost for these services.

You'll want to take ANOTHER LOOK

2011-03-29T22:49:00.000-04:00

An UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

And..Another one of my favorites! My friend, Lynn Savage, introduced me to this store in the 90's and I've been a fan ever since. Located in Cable Shores Plaza on Fulton Rd NW in Lake Cable, it's an upscale boutique with a trendy twist.

(Megathrift Tours shoppers / 2010)

The owner, Ohio native Susan Knisley, has been at four locations since opening in 1991. The business began with 1,000 square feet and has more than tripled to 3,300 square feet. She offers clothing, shoes, purses, new jewelry, scarves, formals, children's clothing and men's clothing.

Consignments are taken for all items mentioned with the exception of jewelry. Consignors are offered 40% of the sale price of these items.

If you haven't been there, you'll want to write this down:

Another Look Consignment Shop

5410 Fulton Dr NW

Canton, OH 44718

Hours of operation:

Mon-Tues: 10-6 pm

Wed-Thurs: 10-7 pm

Fri-Sat: 10-5 pm

Closed Sundays

Sue worked in Corporate America for 15 years and always wanted to own her own business. In February 1991, her dream became reality. Enter...ANOTHER LOOK. She has built this business to the success it is today and has turned it into an upscale boutique that she can surely be proud of! She describes her life outside of work as being very peaceful and happy. Her time off is spent enjoying Bible Study, Yoga, Biking, Family, Exercise and Church.

Shellie, the store manager, is helpful and kind and Sue considers her to be very instrumental in the success of the business. Rachel is the "Organizational Queen" and Michelle Fox from the French Market decorates the store.

Modern technology is not an issue for these gals as they have streamlined the manual system to be very efficient. (Not a bad gig, considering they stock over 1,200 items per week on their racks. I am so conditioned to working with computers, I can't imagine doing it by hand! Amazingly enough, checkout is a breeze and as quick as those using computerized systems!)

Susan is constantly pondering thoughts on innovative ways to better serve her customers.

Her goals for the coming year include but are not limited to:

-Hiring a fashion stylist who will help women put together a new wardrobe that will fit both their body and life styles.

-Offer the service of a stylist to visit your home, clean out and organize your closet.

-Offer a wider selection of accessories to compliment your wardrobe such as jewelry, scarves, etc.

-Offer style seminars on Saturdays offering assistance in using accessories and creative ideas to make your wardrobe trend chic.

Sounds wonderful, Susan, keep us posted!

My favorite fabulous find here:

$6!!!

On a personal note, I TOTALLY APPRECIATE THIS STORE. In 2002 I travelled to China with my sister, Erin, to pick up her newly adopted daughter, Sage.

Keeping the extreme temperatures in mind, I opted for the thinnest material I could find and set off to find my China wardrobe. As luck would have it, Another Look was having a killer sale and my entire wardrobe for the trip was purchased there at a fraction of retail pricing! The extreme heat was as expected, however, my newly purchased attire was much more accomodating for these temperatures.

Put them on your list of "things to do", you won't be disappointed.

Twice is Nice..Something for everyone!

2011-03-16T06:28:00.000-04:00

Looking for one-stop shopping? This is it!

Twice is Nice

1120 W Maple St

Hartville, OH

Winter hours~ Mon 10-7 Closed Wed & Sun all others 10-5

Owner and Ohio native, Rose Banner, started this business in 2000 with the hope to provide affordable fashions for the family and home.

You've succeeded, Rose!

Not only does she offer ladies clothing and accessories, she has expanded her business to include Furniture, family clothing & footwear, antiques, jewelry, collectibles, tools,decorative housewares, Longabergers Baskets, etc.

Working now with over 3,800 square feet of space, there's room for just about anything!

Yes, this is a truck bed liner!

(You just never know what to expect to find here.)

This is the fourth location for Twice as Nice and by far, the biggest. Rose took over the business from her partner and friend and had 224 consignors. She now has over 3,956 consigners who provide her with just about everything she needs to make her business a success.

In addition to the power of prayer, she credits her consignors, employees, friends, and shoppers for her success. One friend in particular that she would like to credit for her contribution in the success in her business is Kate Holmes.

One obstacle for Rose is finding the balance between work and home. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, volunteering at her church (Celebration Worship Center - she also donates goods to their store), and going to garage sales, rummage sales, thrift stores and flea markets.

(Geesh, when do you find the time, Rose??)

Her answer:

Her employees. "They are dedicated hard workers, each have their own individual personalities." The employees also help her with decorating, each displaying their own unique taste and making the store look spectacular!

Twice is Nice has state-of-the-art consignment tracking program that keeps her inventory under control. Consignors are offered between 40 - 60% for their items upon sale, and a higher percentage for handmade goods. Once you sign on as a consignor it is quite easy to check your available balance. Simply sign on to myresaleweb.com and check it out.

No need for phone calls to the store and you can check the balance 24 hours per day!

The really nice part of being a consignor: As a consignor of handmade jewelry, it's a great barter system. When I shop there, I merely have them deduct my purchases from my account. So far I've "traded" for a leather jacket, a really cool jewelry armoir, jewelry to use as curtain tie backs, clothing and other accessories. My ending cost was next to nothing!

Twice is Nice is part of the following organizations:

NARTS - National Association of Resale and Thrift Stores

NORA - Northern Ohio Resellers Association

These organizations are important networking tools and give shop owners the chance to meet other shop owners and share success stories and other tips.

Rose also relies on these for marketing and stategy that directly impact the success of her business:

Website:

http://www.hartvilletwiceisnice.com/

Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Twice-Is-Nice-Consignments-Hartville/108589082495221

E-mail:
twiceisniceohio@gmail.com

-TV Commercials
-word of mouth referrals
-customer appreciation

Our appreciation for Rose:

As a "Thrift and Consignment Store Navigation Specialist" for Megathrift Tours for Thrift and Consignment, this is a regular stop on our tours. Rose was able to accomodate a bus tour of 38 people with another 20+ following by car last May with speed and accuracy. She provided refreshments for the group and brought in extra employees who were both courteous and helpful and gave us the ability to stay within our time limits set aside for this business. We have introduced new shoppers to her business and forged many new relationships and networking capabilites. She also keeps the members of our page posted on her latest sales:

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Megathrift-Tours-for-Thrift-and-Consignment/111674288843815

(Join us on Facebook for savings information, local garage sales information, member interaction, thrift tours, etc)

On behalf of our group, thank you for your kindness and support, Rose. You're the best!

P.S. If you would also stock bread, milk, eggs and munchies we wouldn't need to go anywhere else!

A Virtual Tour of Cheapness

2011-03-13T14:40:00.000-04:00

Expensive Taste vs. Budget....It's a WIN, WIN!

You ask yourself:

Because the economy sucks right now and so does my budget, why should I sacrafice good taste??

You Shouldn't, and I don't either!

I don't know about you, but nothing makes me feel better than nice things. Well, there is one..like getting those NICE THINGS FOR FREE or NEXT TO NOTHING!

After recently moving to a smaller place with character and charm and more to offer than my old place, I was faced with a few challenges: What to keep (I want it all!) and what to ditch (all of my friends got some great deals!), and finally, how to decorate!

In checking out my new GALLEY kitchen, my sister, Stephanie and I had the same thought...NAUTICAL. How fortunate that I just so happened to have many of the items needed to pull it off! I didn't worry about where my table would go, I had that covered.

In keeping with the red, white and blue nautical theme, these Clearly Canadian salt and pepper shakers looked too cute with the fish votive holder. The nautical knots picture was just purchased yesterday at Twice Is Nice (Hartville) for $1! All of these items were purchased at local thrift stores.

The kitchen cupboards were the deciding factor on the nautical theme and look great with the decor. With the exception of the microwave (bought retail for $40, still cheap), the rest of the decor came from local thrift stores.

One room down, four to go!

Straight out of house beautiful or what??

The chair is an "alley scarf" I picked up for free from the curb! The black table was $5 courtesy of Goodwill. The plant was retail from Michael's. Curtains were a bargain at Burlington for $20 per pair. The armoir was bought retail on sale at Target for $50 and is used for a pantry. The items on top were purchased at local thrift stores. The beautiful mirror was given to me by my friend, Liz.

The dresser was $40 at Salvation Army and doubles as extra storage space. The matching side lamps were $10 each (I know, too much, but sometimes you just need to splurge!) at Goodwill. The TV was a freebie thanks to my son-in-law, Kyle, who dropped mine in the move. Not really, they were getting a new TV anyway. He felt real bad about dropping mine though. No problem, Kyle, it was old as the hills anyway, but thanks for the UPSIZE on the TV with the built in DVD player.

The couch was free and given to me by my friend, Gail. It's a sofa sleeper and made my decision about needing a spare bedroom. NOT!

Now I can use that room for something cool (like a dining room since I now have a galley kitchen) and still have a place for sleepovers with the kids and out of town guests. After going through many, many, MANY couches in the last 10 years, I found that what I was in search of for comfort came directly from the 70's. Petite yet comfortable. Not digging today's oversized styles, my only problem now would be how to get around the blue colonial print that came with my new couch and matched nothing that I had for decor. ENTER THE COUCH COVER! A big thanks to my friends Karaoke Sherry and Ronnie who just so happened to have an extra they weren't using and it was just the right color. I love it when a plan comes together!

The mirror on the wall (looks like something from Snow White, but I haven't been granted any wishes regarding my knight in shining armor yet! Still waiting...) was given to me by Kathy, a waitress at Desert Inn, and it was from her Grandmother's estate. Totally appreciating your grandma's things, Kathy!

Britten Contini came to visit with my daughter, Ashley, and decided that she had the PURRRRRRRRFECT picture to go over the couch and donated it. You're right, Britt, it looks FABULOUS!

This cart cost me a whopping 3 bucks at Salvation Army and makes an excellent side table for my easy chair (a tan reclinger, not show here) that I jackpotted from Salvation Army for (a drum roll, please.....) $9.99! All of the other goodies shown also came from local thrift stores.

This sweet little table was given to me by a friend as it was merely hanging around his storage unit. The Ameritech phone retailed for $200 in its day and was purchased for a mere $2 at a local thrift store.

Let's Take it to the next level, shall we??

As I mentioned earlier, I don't need no stinkin' spare room! (Sorry, got caught up in the movies!)

My computer armoirs were bought online from Walmart.com and cost me $104 each and were shipped from site to store for FREE! They look excellent and apparently were lost in the decor of my last place as everyone that sees them thinks they are new. That's a complete makeover in itself! Lamps and other goodies were purchased at local garage sales and thrift stores.

Picture, mirror and lamp courtesy of local thrift stores.

Curtains courtesy of Goodwill for $14.

And here's my $200 pub table from K-Mart looking all kinds of SPECTACULAR!

This little beauty was given to me by Dondi Bellamy, my granddaughter's namesake and other grandmother. Not only does she have beautiful children who make even more beautiful children, she's got great taste in furniture as well. It also doubles as storage. Thanks for everything, Dondi!

These beaded curtain tie backs are actually necklaces I purchased from Twice as Nice in Hartville for $3-4 each and are couresy of the Claire's Boutique lady. Sorry, forgot your name, but I do know and love your product!

WAAAAAAAAAAAAY CUTE!

Don't forget to decorate the most visited room in your house!

Don't make it too comfortable, we don't want anyone lingering, if you know what I mean!

It doesn't get any cheaper than this: I bought some one time expensive Home Interior pictures from the thrift store at a fraction of the cost and replaced the pictures with one to fit my decor that I printed on my home printer.

Other decorations brought to you by local thrift stores.

And for my next trick....(no pun intended, I haven't stooped to those levels for making money)

TAAADAAAA!

The only thing bought retail in this room is my platform bed (even talked that guy down like he was a car salesman!) and bedding. The sheets were purchased at Marc's at a discounted price..who cares if the stripes are running the wrong direction? The bedspread is courtesy of Walmart's falling prices.

Curtains and accessories all courtesy of local thrift stores and consignment shops.

Another one of a grandmother's favorites that nobody wanted and I got for FREE, this very functional dressing table is the center of every woman's universe. The chair was purchased for $2 at Salvation Army and covered with a $6 towel from K-Mart. (Actually, half of the towel, so $3)

I don't usually like to keep repeating myself, so you know where the wall hangings came from, don't you?

Nothing like a good live auction to score a great piece of furniture for a mere $20.

And then there's the $23.50 kick-ass jewelry armoir that I scored from Twice is Nice in Hartville. Well, actually...I traded it for earrings! I consign earrings there and had a balance to cover the EVER SO LOW cost of this item. Yeah, Baby! That's what I'm talkin' about. (Sorry, can't stay away from the movies)

Now...do you really think I'm gonna fill it with expensive jewelry? NO-NO-and HELL NO! It's costume and home made jewelry all the way!

Matching Mirror and sconces courtesy of Twice as Nice, $8.95!! Dress form picture courtesy of Value City (Oh, how I miss you!), $14.95. I need a few more scarves to complete the whole over-the-bed sexiness I've got going on, but I'm waiting to get them at a good price...and I will..eventually!

All accessories to include the nightstand are courtesy of where?? LOCAL THRIFT AND CONSIGNMENT SHOPS!

Okay...so what have we learned here???

You can be very frugal and still manage to have great decor
Your house can look like a million bucks without spending it.
It's okay to shop resale...unless you're buying something I really wanted!
NETWORKING is huge! If people know you are looking for something you will find it.

Things to work on after you've achieved this great level of cheapness:

The urge to howl when your insurance agent asks you to put a replacement value on your furnishings should they be destroyed.
The ability to wipe out a room and transform it into exactly what you want at the moment for minimal prices.

The best way I can describe myself is that I am EASILY DISTRACTED BY SHINY OBJECTS. This being said, six months from now I am liable to be posting a whole new complete makeover to my living space. One thing I to be sure of, though, its that it will not cost me an ton of money to do it!

Oh, by the way, I scored a BASEMENT with my new place. Stay tuned for the ultimate jewelry making workshop / hobby room / storage room makeover.

March 12, 2011 THRIFT TOUR / Road Rally ITINERARY

2011-03-10T22:27:00.002-05:00

Come on people get it in gear,

for the first rally of the year,

SOUND OFF!

Sorry, couldn't help myself! It does, however, require some mental preparation to get ready for an upcoming tour. First, you've got to have an open mind. (I am going to find exactly what I am looking for at a great price!) Second, you've got to do your exercises. (Practice ripping through your closet one hanger at a time at a timed pace). Last, but not least: Show up in great spirits. (Joy and laughter promotes more joy and laughter).

Dedication:

I would like to dedicate this trip to two of our members that are unable to attend due to illness:

Gail Brick

As many of you know, Gail was diagnosed with cancer in October 2010 and has undergone massive chemotherapy and radiation since then. She has attended every thrift tour since we assembled with the exception of the last one and will be missed. Prayers for speedy recovery and the strength and dedication to take back your life and live as you should, cancer free! We're looking forward to you attending the next one, Gail!

Collene Duhamel

Jimmy COLLENE Duhamel (She'll kill me for saying it, but it is actually her real name) had a stroke in February and has been moved from Cleveland Clinic to Woodlawn Village in hopes of full recovery. She has been a part of our group since May 2010 and was very instrumental in arranging that tour. Prayers for a speedy recovery and full mobility to enjoy your golden years, Collene.

Both of these ladies are wonderful friends and have been there for me in good times and bad. If you are fortunate to know them, you know what I mean. If you don't, you've missed out on our blessings!

Road Rally!

PLEASE PRINT YOUR OWN ITINERARY AS I WILL NOT HAVE EXTRA COPIES THIS TIME.

Begins at 9 am sharp. We are meeting at my favorite local store, SALVATION ARMY on Lesh Rd NE in Canton. Don't forget to pack your lunch with drinks and snacks!

1. Salvation Army: 3533 Lesh St NE, Canton (in at 9, out by 9:30)

When leaving: (9 minutes to next destination, 4.74 miles)

-Go West on Lesh to Harmont Ave and Turn RIGHT.

-Turn LEFT on Atlantic Blvd / US 62 W. Go to 30th St NW Exit.

-Exit on 30th St NW and turn LEFT toward Cleveland Ave NW.

-Turn RIGHT onto Cleveland Ave NW and follow it past Fisher's Foods. RESTORE is on your LEFT hand side.

2. RESTORE: 4525 Cleveland Ave NW, Canton (In by 9:40, out by 10:15)

When leaving: (3 minutes to next destination, 1.49 miles)

-Go LEFT/NORTH on Cleveland Ave until it becomes Main St.

-Goodwill is on your RIGHT.

3. Goodwill: 950 S Main St, North Canton (In by 10:20, out by 10:45)

When leaving: (7 minutes to next destination, 1.49 miles)

-Go RIGHT/NORTH on Cleveland Ave toward GLENWOOD ST SW.

-Turn LEFT onto CHARLOTTE St NW.

-Turn RIGHT onto Portage St NW

-Turn RIGHT onto STRIP AVE NW

-Turn RIGHT onto Eagle Cir NW

-It is on your LEFT

4. 2nd Hand Treasures: 4701 Eagle Dr NW, North Canton (In by 10:55, out by 11:45) **$5 off your order of $25 or more here**

When leaving: (13 minutes to next destination, 7.34 miles)

-Go WEST on Eagle Cir NW toward Strip Ave NW. Turn LEFT onto Strip Ave NW.

-Turn RIGHT on Portage St NW. Portage St becomes LOCUST St. Goodwill is on the RIGHT side.

5. Goodwill: 2254 Locust St S, Canal Fulton (In by 12:00, out by 12:30)

When leaving: (8 minutes to next destination, 3.36 miles)

-Go RIGHT onto Locust St toward Cherry St E/OH 93.

-Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto MILAN ST S/OH93. Continue to follow OH 93.

-LAWRENCE TWP HALL - 5828 MANCHESTER is on the left.

LUNCH! (In by 12:40, out by 1:20) In the interest of time but the desire to dine all as one, we have opted to pack our own lunches and gather in one spot. (While I like the freedom of the road rally, I missed getting together with all of you. Sappy, I know, but I'm just sayin'...) Sgt Paul Stanley of the Lawrence Twp Police Department (and a new member of our group) has arranged it so that we may use his township facility, the Lawrence Twp Hall located at 5828 Manchester Ave NW in North Lawrence. THANKS A BUNCH, PAUL!

When leaving: (27 minutes to next destination, 15.29 miles. Take some time to digest your food and take in the scenery!)

-Go NORTH on Manchester Ave NW/OH93 and continue to follow 93

-Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CHERRY ST W/OH 93.

-Turn RIGHT onto W TURKEYFOOT LAKE RD/OH-619.

-Turn LEFT onto S MAIN ST/CR 50. Continue to follow S Main St

-Turn Right onto E WATERLOO Rd

-VILLAGE DISCOUNT OUTLET (VDO) is on your left.

6. VILLAGE DISCOUNT OUTLET: 193 E Waterloo Rd, Akron (In by 1:47, out by 2:20)

When leaving: (12 minutes to next destination, 6.98 miles)

-Go EAST (LEFT) onto E Waterloo Rd toward Thornapple Ave.

-Merge onto I-77 N via the ramp on the LEFT.

-Keep LEFT to tak OH-8 N via Exit 125A toward Cuyahoga Falls.

-Take Exit 3B toward OH-261 / Tallmadge Ave / OH 8 Alt N.

-Stay STRAIGHT to go onto GORGE BLVD.

-Turn LEFT onto E TALMADGE AVE / OH-261

-Turn RIGHT onto N MAIN ST

-Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto E Cuyahoga Falls Ave.

-Abbey Ann's is on the RIGHT.

7. Abbey Ann's: 198 E Cuyahoga Falls Ave, Akron (In by 2:32, out by 3:05)

When leaving: (8 minutes to next destination, 3.34 miles)

-Start out going NORTHEAST on E CUYAHOGA FALLS AVE toward OAKLAND AVE.

-E Cuyahoga Falls Ave becomes HOWE AVE.

-Turn RIGHT on BRITTAIN RD

-Salvation Army is on the Right

8. SALVATION ARMY: 1634 Brittain Rd, Akron (In by 3:13, out by 3:45) **This is a new store to the group and I have it on good authority (who better than an avid thrifter?) that it is a huge store with lots of goodies.**

When leaving: (27 minutes to next destination, 15.16 miles)

-Start out going SOUTH on BRITTAIN RD toward BRITTAIN CIRCLE.

-Turn LEFT onto E TALLMADE AVE/OH-261. Continue to follow OH-261N.

-Enter next ROUNDABOUT and take the 3rd Exit onto SOUTHEAST AVE

-SOUTHEAST AVE becomes OH-532

-Turn LEFT onto US-224E

-Turn RIGHT onto OH-43

-Turn RIGHT onto W MAPLE ST/OH-619.

-TWICE IS NICE is on the LEFT side, right across from PUMP IT UP.

8. TWICE IS NICE: 1120 W Maple St, Hartville (In by 4:15, out by 5:00)

PRINT YOUR OWN COUPONS FOR THIS STORE:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=e

docs.google.com

When leaving: (less than a minute to next destination, .20 miles)

-Turn RIGHT onto OH-619.

-GOODWILL is on your RIGHT inside the plaza by MCDONALD's and BURGER KING.

9. GOODWILL: 864 W Maple St, Hartville (In by 5:05, out by whenever!)

Have a safe trip home and remember that this is only a small handful of shops located within our community and there aren't enough hours in the day to hit them all. On the path to the stores that I have selected for today's excursion we have passed several thrift and consignment stores that were worthy of visits.

If you plan on attending and have not yet notified me, please do. (megathrifttours@gmail.com)

Thanks for making these tours a huge success.

If you can't make this tour, please print the itinerary anyway and visit these shops with your own group. Be sure to let the store owners / managers know that you found out about them here and are part of the group. This may mean extra discounts for you and your group if you plan ahead.

ABOUT MY BLOG:

While I TOTALLY love FACEBOOK, it does not give me the freedom (or characters) to get the SAVINGS word out like this BLOG does. Most of my postings will be done here with a link to them posted on FB. Stay tuned for past itineraries and a master list of thrift and consignment shops near you. Please feel free to email me with any information you may have regarding new shops, closed shops, etc and any other money saving ideas you may have for this blog.

Best Bib and Tucker CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE Hartville, OH

2011-02-24T23:31:00.004-05:00

We've all seen this sign, but did you ever read the fine print??

311 S Prospect Ave (SR 43)

Hartville, OH 44632

330-877-3308

**11-19-2011: Closed until a new location is established in Spring 2012. Check their website for updated information. Looking forward to the Grand Re-opening!**

I was delighted to find out about this Consignment Shop (can't believe I'd missed it) about a year ago and have been a regular customer ever since.

It is housed in a home that is over 75 years old and once belonged to the Schumacher Lumber family. It has many hardwood floors and fireplaces, is structurally sound and adds to the quaint charm of Hartville. It's one of those houses we all drive by and want to see what's inside. Guess what? YOU CAN!

Barb Wise, the owner, has been at this location since December 1, 1999 and offers a host of wonderful items.

------

Women's clothing and accessories, size extra small to 3x

Maternity clothing and accessories

children's clothing and accessories, size newborn to juniors

children's games and toys

adult and children's books

locally handmade accessories such as purses made from repurposed clothing

trims and fabric remnants, crocheted necklaces and hair accessories from Curly Q's Boutique

Be sure to check out her new line of accessories from Chicago to include jewelry, hats, ear mufflers and scarves, too.

Don't let it's size fool you! This place is packed full of goodies. Look up, look down, look all around, whatever you're looking for can certainly be found.

Casual, Formal, Career...they've got you covered.

Kids stuff too!

Hours of operation are:

Consignments can be brought in during any hours of operation, no appointment necessary. Consignors receive 45-50% of the selling price of regular items and 60% on long formals and designer purses.

Spring and Summer items are taken February - May

Fall and Winter items are taken August - November

All year long - seasonal clothing and accessories, swimwear and formals.

-------

A little about Barb:

Barb Wise is an Ohio native and grew up in Springfield Township and Atwater. She is married and has spent the past 30 years in Suffield with her family.

She gives credit to her family for making her business a success. Her husband is an excellent cook and prepares meals for her even when she works late. She says that her daughter, Megan, often serves as the other half of her brain. She brings another generation's perspective to the shop and is super creative, a great writer, and is a lifeline when it comes to keeping up with technology.

She and her husband are guardians to her cousin Charles who resides in a community in Chicago for those with Downs Syndrome and other special needs. They make many trips to Chicago and volunteer at Charles' home. Charles returns the favor when he's in Ohio by dusting at Best Bib and Tucker.

Barb started her business because she felt she had an entrepreneurial spirit, not to mention the fact that her daughter assured her of pending success as she has the gift of gab!

She started out carrying women's clothing and accessories in two rooms with one fitting room. She has now expanded and added larger formal and maternity sections, two rooms for children's and junior's items, three additional fitting rooms and a children's playroom.

Her biggest obstacle has been the fact that her business is located in a house just outside of Historic Downtown Hartville. People drive by without realizing there is a business there. Steps have been taken to make her shop more accessible. Originally, the driveway entrance to the parking lot was only accessible from an alley behind the building. She has added a driveway entrance on SR 43 and also hope to add better signage to bring more attention to her shop.

Networking:

Barb serves on the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce as a small business/retail advocate. She enjoys serving on many committees and participating in their events.

She is particularly grateful to have the resources of the Canton Stark County Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the Lake Township Chamber of Commerce available to her.

Changes have also been made on how she communicates with her customers.

She now has a facebook page for the business:

www.facebook.com/bestbibandtucker

a twitter following:

www.twitter.com/bestbib

a website:

www.shopbestbibandtucker.com

a blog:

www.shopbestbibandtucker.com/bbt-tips

and most recently started writing an "Ask the Expert" question and answer series for the SUBURBANITE that runs the fourth Sunday of each month.

WHEW! All that and she runs her business. With the help of her dedicated employees, the shop is decorated continuously as items are sold. She has also been assisted by customers who have an eye for style and take a crack at it as well. Cudos to all involved, it looks fabulous!

If you have never been to Best Bib and Tucker, please put it on your list of "things to do", you won't regret it. If you are a card carrying member of a recognized charitable organization, be sure to mention it. They offer a percentage of your total sale to that organization. If they are not familiar with it, they will give you paperwork to set up the account for future purchases.

Music to your ears! An alternative look at entertainment

2011-02-23T19:29:00.000-05:00

Looking for the ultimate gift for yourself? Had your eye on that overpriced 6 cd changer system or Ipod to use in your car?

Why pay $129 or more for these items that make your car an easy target for thieves? The solution, you ask?

The Wireless MP3 in car player with remote

This little beauty packs more of a punch than most 6 cd changers and IPODs and can be found for a fraction of the cost. I recently purchased all I have pictured here for less than $15 on Amazon.

HOW DOES IT WORK??

It is merely an FM transmitter and works by plugging it into the cigarette lighter / outlet in your car. Tune both the transmitter and the radio to the same station and VIOLA! You've almost got music.

You purchase a memory card or use one that you already have and download music on it. Put your favorite music on it (really easy, a simple copy and paste from your computer) and stick it in the slot on the transmitter.

The best part, you ask?

How about SEVERAL genres of music available at your fingertips? How about being able to control it with your remote control? Yeah, thought so. WAY COOL!

As the owner of a 4 gb sd card, I've managed to download over 650 of my favorite songs to this card with PLENTY of room to spare. When I get sick of those songs, I'll just download some more.

Can you imagine having your entire music collection on one card and available at your fingertips? WAY, WAY Cool!

Great for everyday use. When you turn off your car, simply unplug it and throw it in your glove box. Are thieves really going to be after your factory installed radio? Nope!

It's excellent for road trips. Why pay expensive monthly fees for commercial free radio when you can have what you want, when you want?

The only downfall??

It only works in your car. It is a transmitter only and has no speakers. You'll still have to buy that expensive IPOD if you want to listen to it elsewhere, but if you're frugal like me, you don't need the extra expense and will rough it too!

EMPTY BOWL EXTRAVAGANZA III

2011-02-13T12:29:00.000-05:00

The Studios & Gallery at

MT PLEASANT POTTERY

One of Tuscarawas County's Best-kept Secrets!

Off the beaten path in Dover, Ohio is a recently rehabbed one room schoolhouse that is truly a vault of hidden treasure. Here you can see local talent at its finest.

Its owners, Joseph & JoAnn Bower are artists that offer handmade pottery and stained glass as well as other items made by local artists.

After hearing of an upcoming special event here, the Empty Bowl Extravaganza III, I must admit I was intrigued. For a mere $22 bucks I could expand my cultural arts experience, enjoy the work of local artists, purchase items of my liking, and..of course..enjoy a very fine lunch consisting of four different soups, breads, beverage and sweets AND KEEP THE POTTERY IT WAS SERVED IN! Of course it was a no-brainer, I'M IN!

On Saturday, February 12, 2011, with a two car caravan arriving at seperate times and trusting the cell towers of southern ohio to allow me to get through to my navigation specialist, it was on! I had made it to Strasburg without my navigator and thought it would be easy to find a one room schoolhouse. Umm...NOT! After two dropped calls and some choppy conversation, I HAD IT! All I needed to do was follow 250 and go under the I-77 overpass. Follow that to the PEPSI SIGN FOR THE ROLLER RINK and turn right. Follow the road (it forks, but I made the right choice..I can smell a bargain!) about a mile until you pass a NOTARY PUBLIC sign and some trailers and it is a one room schoolhouse on the left. Whew! I made it.

What a pleasant surprise and well worth the trip!

What I saw was an awesome dated building that had once been an institution of learning to local school children. Imagining "Little House on the Prairie", I wondered what type of people attended here, where they are now, how this school had impacted their lives, and how long ago it had been used for this? I was also thankful to those who cherished the memories of this building and chose to restore it to its natural state.

After my historical daydream was over I began to take in my surroundings. Outside the building were several pieces of pottery displayed in various ways. There were stone seating arrangements and recycled sculptures made by local artists. I could see various stained glass pieces displayed in the windows. Oh, yeah, I'm gonna love it!

All this pleasure from outside could not possibly prepare me for what was going on inside. Greeted by the hostess I was immediately mezmerized by the contents of this ONE room! The artwork displays were tastefully arranged to showcase the most beautiful pieces of pottery, stained glass, jewelry, sculptures, etc. The atmosphere was very quaint, offering tables and seating arrangements for patrons to enjoy the special event. While panorama would have been better suited to show you just how cool it really is, you'll have to settle for T-Mobile and take my word for it:

Too totally cool!

My regrets, you ask?

That I didn't tell all my friends and make this is special outing for them all. My apologies, but I'm now on the mailing list and PROMISE you will ALL be invited to the next one!

The soup was delicious and I will cherish the memories of this visit every time I use my bowl! Here's what I chose:

And here's what I filled it with:

as an added bonus, we also received an accoustical serenade!

Thanks for the suggestion, Britt. It was a great experience!

THE REAL DIRECTIONS:

4040 Mt. Pleasant Rd NW

Dover, OH 44622

330-878-0012

I-77 South to the Strasburg / 250 exit and turn right. Go approximately one mile to Mt Pleasant Rd (this will be right past the PEPSI SIGN for the roller rink) and turn right. Go approximately 1 mile (this is right past the NOTARY PUBLIC sign) and the schoolhouse will be on your left.

HOURS OF OPERATION:

Wednesday - Saturday 10-5

TO SEE MORE PHOTOS:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mt-Pleasant-Pottery/131883650207414?v=wall

Day old? Why not?

2011-02-12T08:47:00.002-05:00

In our quest to stretch our dollar, let's not forget the most essential part of our survival...FOOD. Most of us are not much for coupon clipping, we just don't have the time. Here's an alternative:

BAKERY THRIFT STORES

From bread to sweets to snacks to drinks, they've got you covered. Need dry gravy or muffin mix? They've got it.

FOR LESS!

In lieu of wasting products that would otherwise be considered "out of code", many stores have opened bakery thrift stores and sell these items at a much lower cost than retail. These items are still fresh and are excellent consumables for a fraction of the cost.

Having a party? Stock up.

Do you have a freezer? Stock up.

Tired of paying high prices for tasty snacks? Stock up.

Many of these stores offer punch cards (I know..you don't do the coupon thing) that will give you a discount after a certain amount has been spent in their store. (Keep the punch card in your wallet with your grocery store cards). This makes shopping all the better!

LOCATIONS:

We are very fortunate to have the "BIG THREE" right here in Stark County. You've got:

Schwebel's Bakery Outlet

3730 13th Street S.W.
Canton, OH 44710
(330) 477-7090

MON.-FRI: 9:00-7:00
SATURDAY: 9:00-6:00
SUNDAY: 10:45-4:00

Wonder / Hostess Bakery Outlet
2700 ATLANTIC BOULEVARD
Canton, OH 44705
(330) 456-4955

Nickles Bakery Thrift Store
3939 Erie Ave. SW
Massillon, OH 44646
330-879-2434

Business Spotlight: Gerri's Closet / Green, OH

2011-02-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

Gerri's Closet is located at 4195 Massillon Rd in Uniontown, Ohio and is an excellent source of shopping for trendy gently worn name brand designer clothing and accessories.

It's owner is an Ohio Native, Gerri Talevich, who opened this business 14 years ago and attributes its success to her strong retail background and her love of people. Her first location consisted of 800 square feet of space which has more than quadrupled into 3500 square feet of devaliciousness at her newest location. Gerri is married to Chris and describes him as an "awesome" husband. They live in Green.

In addition to the owner, Gerri's employs three part time associates to help you in your quest for looking fabulous. They offer gently worn name brand designer clothing, shoes, new jewelry, handbags, scarves and small home decor.

If you have not yet been to Gerri's you should make it a point to get there. You won't be disappointed. Casual to career clothing sizes range from teen to plus size clothing. A very helpful staff will greet you and assist you in every way.

Hours of operation are:

Sunday: Closed

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: 10-7

Wednesday: 10-6

Thursday: 10-6

Friday: 10-6

Saturday: 10-4

Business Activities:

Gerri is involved in the Chamber of Commerce, Resale Associations, Women's Groups as well as National Groups for Resale. She has met store owners from all over the United States and has also hosted workshops for consignment shop owners. She buys unique decor and does her own decorating in her shop. Her goal is to create a fun boutique atmosphere.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, Gerri!

Obtacles and Successes:

In the beginning, getting quality clothing consigments was a problem for Gerri, but that is no longer a problem.

Technology plays an important role in the life of a resaler. What used to be word of mouth (still as successful and a useful tool, but not nearly as much as the power of technology) has evolved into many fast-track networking tools such as facebook (they're on there), websites (they have one), blogs (they're on here), etc. Accessibility is a must and why not use every free or low cost item you can, right?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gerris-Closet/76878362729

http://www.cleveland.com/style/index.ssf/2009/06/gerris_closet_resale_shop_in_u.html

http://www.gerricloset.com/Home_Page.html

Consigning:

Gerri's offers a 50/50 split on your gently used designer items.

Contact information:

1-330-896-8141

gerricloset@gerricloset.com

My experience as a Thrift and Consignment Tour Navigation Specialist:

In May 2010 a tour bus of 38 people with at least 20 more following in cars set out for a day of thrift and consignment shopping in the Stark and Summit Counties of Ohio. This trip consisted of stopping at shops in Canton, Canal Fulton, Akron, Uniontown and Hartville and a very successful shopping day for all.

In addition to our already large entourage of thrifters and pickers, strangers (who are now friends) participated as well.

Gerri's closet was one of the favorites from that tour. So many people on the tour did not know that many of these stores on the itinerary existed.

In small or large groups, Gerri's Closet is a must to put on your next itinerary. Whether it is just "girls" day or a full-blown thrift trip, put it on your agenda.

Celebrating St Valentine's Day with style!

2011-02-06T21:22:00.001-05:00

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Having four girls in the family that are all within a four year age range makes celebrating fun and gives us just one more reason to have a party.

Two years ago we threw a party that these girls will talk about for years to come. It started out innocently enough as a spa party for them that exceeded even my expectations and ranks high on my list of successful parties.

They each had a box filled with goodies to enjoy on their special day along with handmade wraps, matching relaxation attire and fuzzy slippers. Each of them enjoyed a bubble bath and wore their spa outfits for their day of pampering.

A hair and nail station were set up to tend to their every need. Many of these items were purchased at local thrift stores and consignment shops for a reduced rate and contributed a great deal to the success of this party. Retail items that were purchased were bought at a clearance price and also reduced the costs.

Each child received a relaxing massage

Manicures and Pedicures

Got their hair done

Relaxed with a quiet book while waiting for their nails to dry and sipping on sparkling grape juice.

They added their own final touches

and then got dressed up for dinner on the town! They were delighted to draw attention to themselves on that very special day. Everyone was especially curious about the crowns. They still talk about this party and that makes the effort well worth having had it!

So let's not forget the little ones this year. They are a reason to celebrate and love you unconditionally!

No party is complete without visiting a thrift store first for ideas!

2011-02-06T19:58:00.000-05:00

Everyone knows how costly a party can be, so here are some thoughts and ideas before you plan your next gathering. Be sure to make it a "covered dish" so that you do not absorb the entire cost of the party.

This was a luau party that materialized when I realized just how much Hawaiian items were available in the thrift store at the moment. Being semi-crafty, I want to make a Tiki Bar to complete the ensemble. With an old stereo stand and shipping crate table I purchased for less than five dollars an idea was born. The stools were a mere $8 each. The yard was newly landscaped and ready to enjoy.

The bar was stocked with fresh spirits of the tropical kind and the glasses and barware were also compliments of local thrift stores with minimal pricing. The party was a huge success and met my budget needs. It looked like I spent way more money than I did!

If you have never seen them, SCENE SETTERS are an excellent addition to any party. For a reasonable price you can transform just about any space into just about any decor you can imagine. It's cheaper than buying wallees (pin ups, etc) and most of them are 4 ft long by 50 ft wide. Don't be afraid to use just one portion of them, they can become pretty costly if you use the recommended pieces.

This is just one roll of a Scene Setter that I purchased for $14.95. I was able to use it in several places and really saved money on decorations. The "balloon drop" consisted of toulle that I purchased at Goodwill and filled with balloons. Very cool disco party. I had everyone dress up for the party.

It was a great time! Countless items were found at the thrift stores to pull off this party, including many of the outfits worn there!

Cable, just to be socially acceptable?

2011-02-06T09:03:00.000-05:00

My name is Kerry and I want to be socially accepted. There...I said it! Through years of THRIFTINESS I have often opted to save money one would normally spend for the entertainment of cable and divert it to better things such as...oh, I don't know...GROCERIES, Internet services, etc.

After not having cable for over a year I find myself in a better financial position and by all social account I've been missing a great deal since I have not had cable, so I went "bundle shopping". The best deal I could fathom was AT & T Uverse with your home phone, high speed internet and 100 channels (which turns out to be 120) of the greatest cable you could imagine, having all of my favorite channels.

I took a vacation day from work and waited for the TECHNILOGICAL ANGEL to appear and make all of my social networking dreams come true. After 6 hours of grueling wiring and a very nice technician I was left holding the key to my happiness in the form of remote control and a DIGITAL TRIFECTA.

It's been two days now and I'm reminded of exactly why I didn't have cable. Just how many shopping channels should there be in one package?? And why would you call them a channel? They should pay you to even "let" them be on your package. On a good note, I've watched the SAME Law and Order Show three times now on TNT, just in case I've missed something. (By the way, that's only cool when they play 24 hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY!) Miraculously, the DVR was not available in my choice, so I'm now forced to watch ridiculous commercials. I could have it if I "biggie sized", I could have it if I "downsized", but not with what I ordered. Who says bigger is better, anyway? Once again, the middle class get shafted!

The upside, you ask? I can check the Yellow Pages, look at all of my pictures, see who's calling me and return their call, play Yahoo games, etc, all WITHOUT LEAVING MY CHAIR! (I can feel my butt getting bigger as we speak!) Regardless, I am now SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE because now I can discuss commercials and shows I may have seen on cable. Yippee! No longer a misfit and totally socially acceptable. No longer will I hear the GASPS when I say I do not have cable. It's okay, friends, I'm one of you now!

The down side? If my electric goes out, so does everything else, including the phone. There is still a need for a cell phone in case your home phone isn't working, so there's another $50 per month.

My priorities have always been having the internet which has exceeded my expectations in every way. From surfing, socializing to watching TV, it's been there for me. I've been very happy with my DVD collection and watching them over and over, however, not in the same 5 hours span!

My summation: I've become a DIGITAL HOSTAGE because I believed the hype that I may be missing something by not having it. In a mere two days I have realized that I am missing nothing and in my newfound financial condition my money would have been better spent elsewhere.

My question: Now that I have the Uverse TRIFECTA, what happens when I want to ditch cable again???

The moral of the story: Peer pressure sucks and only makes you miserable when you give in to it.

This is when you know winter is almost over!!

2011-02-05T23:52:00.000-05:00

Another Look Consignment Shop Hours: Mon-Tues 10-6
5410 Fulton Drive, Canton, OH 44718 Wed-Thurs 10-7
330-497-5887 Fri-Sat 10-5

75% off all winter (excludes formals and jewelry)

What's up with Goodwill?

2011-02-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

According to 2009 Reports, we all helped support Goodwill by contributing to their success in one or many ways:

Revenue Sources

Retail sales: $2.42 billion
Industrial and service contract work: $596 million
Individual/corporate/foundation support for mission services: $71.6 million
Government support for mission services: $444 million
Other revenue: $37 million

While I am thankful for the chance to help a multi-million dollar corporation that is geared toward helping those less fortunate, I can't help but feel that I am being taken advantage of as well.

I am a huge recycler and buy items for temporary use and donate them again after they have served their purpose. Nothing infuriates me more than to see some of the prices on the items that I have donated, along with items that are "CLEARLY" marked "Dollar Store" that have much higher prices on them than the original "retail" price.

To be honest, I am appalled by the recent pricing in most of these stores and have been very vocal about it. I understand that they have a "mission", but I believe it is being fueled by greed as of late. I have heard many different reasons for the higher pricing, but I'm not buying it. (Pun intended..I walk out of the store more often than not without buying much due to their high prices).

I am both a consumer and contributor to Goodwill Industries and will continue to do so, however, I believe that my donations will far exceed my purchases.

I do not like to alienate them from future thrift tours, but do not feel that they are worthy of being called "thrift stores" any longer. They all argue that they provide "new goods" which is fabulous, but we all know that they are really unsold clearance items that retail establishments donate to them at the end of their cycle.

Understand that I am not suggesting we boycott Goodwill Stores, but perhaps if enough of us complain and let them know why we are walking out empty handed they will get it??

Salvation Army - Lesh Rd NE in Canton

2011-02-05T08:11:00.000-05:00

Salvation Army Stores are few and far between compared to their competitors (The one with the half face) but you should support them to the fullest. While the "half faced logoed stores" are plentiful, their prices leave a great deal to be desired. Don't get me wrong, I still shop them, however, I am more choosy about what I spend in them. If I wanted to shop retail, I would.

Salvation Army / Lesh Rd NE, on the other hand, is FULL OF BARGAINS. As they struggle to stay alive, the prices are completely reasonable, sometimes INSANE. The manager, JOY, will pretty much entertain any offer you have for items and sometimes offer them to you without asking. Either way, it is a great store and I visit at least twice per week.

Welcome to my blog!

2011-02-05T07:39:00.001-05:00

Stimulating local economy and reaping the benefits of recycling.

A Canton, Ohio based tribute to the great thrift stores and consignment shops in our area. A place to list great finds, stores, shops and any other money saving ideas you may have.