Tag: stores

If you’re a business owner, you already know that customers are the lifeblood of your business. You could have the best product in the world, but if no one wants to buy, you’re still sunk. Because customers are so integral to a business’s success, it makes sense to show those customers how much they mean to you on a regular basis. Giving back to your community is a great way to do this. In this article we’ll go over why small businesses should give back to the community.

It Promotes Your Business

The most obvious answer as to why your business should donate to the community is because it’s good publicity. Marketing strategies are all about getting your business into the eyes of your customers whenever possible. Giving back to the community is the perfect way to not only get seen but get seen in a very positive light.

It Establishes Trust

Giving back to the community as a business shows that your company understands the importance of its customers. A business that donates or gives to charity is one that a customer can rely on to do the right thing in their day-to-day operations as well. The more trustworthy you prove to be, the more people will choose you over competitors because they know you care.

It Allows You To Enact Real Change

If there’s a cause that you feel particularly strong about, your business can often do much more for that cause than any one person could. Successful businesses have much more influence and money to donate to the causes they want compared to your average person. Whether you wish to help the sick through a Red Cross donation center or you want to clothe the homeless, your business has the power to make it happen on a larger scale.

It Boosts Morale and Talent Acquisition

You can never have too many reminders that your employees are people too. They want to help and enact change as much as you do. When your business gives back to the community, you show your employees that you take the issues they care about just as seriously as they do. This can also attract new talent to your business from those who see and agree with the causes you’re supporting.

There are plenty of ways your business can show support through item donations or monetary donations at the thrift shops in Destin FL .

Moving is a time for new beginnings-out with the old and in with the new. Unfortunately, if you are someone who has a difficult time getting rid of things you don’t really need, it can also be a time of stress as you try to sort through everything you own. We are all guilty of having more than we really need, but that becomes more of a problem when the time comes to pack up and move somewhere new.

How much space will you have at your new place? How will you know where everything is once you get there? Lots of questions like these may trouble your mind. We want you to know how to sort through your stuff before moving so that unpacking and starting fresh is that much easier.

Start as Early as You Can

Once you have the date that you will actually be moving, you’re going to want to get started as soon as possible. The last thing you want is for the day to arrive and you still have nothing sorted or packed in the right place. Depending on how much stuff you must sort through, you’re going to want to plan for enough time to get through it all.

Do not plan to rush during this time, because will you rarely be able to stay focused for that long. There will be things that distract you, and you need to factor such things into your time frame of sorting and packing.

Find What You Absolutely Need

Looking at everything you own and trying to figure out where to start can be daunting. A great way to begin is to look for the things you absolutely cannot live without. Do not pack them away just yet-you’ll still need them in the days leading up to your move. However, put them aside somewhere that is very accessible to you, so you always know where they are.

Once you have found the things you can’t live without, a lot of the pressure of possibly forgetting something important will be lifted. If everything you need is off by itself, that means everything else can be sorted without the same weight on your shoulders.

Purge Whatever You Can Manage

Just because you are moving doesn’t mean that you have to give up all of your favorite stuff to start anew. On the other hand, it is the perfect time to really inspect everything that you own and decide whether or not it’s necessary to keep. Ask yourself the hard questions. Did you use a particular item in the past month? Can you honestly see a use for it in the next month?

If the answers to these questions are no, there’s really no good reason to keep that item, unless it’s valuable in a sentimental way. Remember-you’re not throwing everything away; you’re simply trying to cut down on the number of things you need to move on moving day.

Note the Areas That Will Be the Most Difficult

There are some areas of your current home that may fill you with dread when you think about having to go through them. Maybe it’s your basement, your attic, or even your bedroom. It’s probably a good idea to tackle these problems first and foremost.

If you only focus on the easier areas of your house, moving day will inch ever closer and you will still have the big project of sorting through everything in your garage, your hall closet, or wherever the biggest accumulation of stuff is. You will feel a lot better after having gone through the busier areas of your house early, as this means you can take your time as the day of your move becomes clearer.

Always Have a Donations Box Ready

It’s inevitable that you’ll find a lot of things that you don’t really use or need anymore. Rather than add to the growing waste problem of our world, it’s better to have a box full of everything that can be donated to someone else. It might even be a good idea to have more than one of these.

One for clothes and linens, one for small furniture items, and one for household goods that are still packaged but that don’t make sense to take with you. Having these boxes on hand will make the decision process of whether to keep something or not much easier. If you are pretty sure that you won’t wear or use something in your new place, simply throw it in the donations box and forget about it.

Designate “Keep,” “Don’t Keep,” and “Maybe” Piles

If you want to know how to sort through your stuff before moving, the most important thing to do is not linger on any one thing for too long. The first step to not falling for this trap is to designate areas of your house for things that you will keep and another area of things that definitely need to go. In between these piles, you can put everything that you are still unsure about.

This way, you never have to think about one item for too long. If you are unsure, just throw it into the maybe pile. Eventually, once you get through everything, you can come back to this maybe pile and do more sorting. The point is to allow yourself to keep going even when you hit something that may be a bit of a roadblock.

Clearly Label Everything

It’s all well and good to label boxes by which room they go in, but there might be a better way to sort and organize your things. If you keep similar things together in the same boxes-for example, lighting fixtures or electronics-you will actually have an easier time finding things once you get everything to your new home. Labeling these boxes with exactly what is in them will also help you find what you are looking for much faster at your next place.

If you want a smooth moving process, sorting through everything you can before the day comes is going to help you out a lot. Making a clothes donation at a thrift store in Destin, FL  can remove a lot of excess stuff that you don’t need to carry around with you.

At one time or another, we’ve all stood in front of a mess and thought, “I’ll just get to it later.” But what happens when later never comes? When is the right time to start cleaning up everything you’ve been putting off? And how do you stop your messes from accumulating again in the future? All these questions have simple answers, but they may not always be obvious when you’re in the middle of everything. Here, we’ve put together a guide on decluttering: when it’s time and how to prevent it going forward.

How To Know It’s Time

There are a few ways to know it’s time to declutter your home. The critical point to remember here is not to let these things get you down but to use them as motivation to get your home back on the right track. Here are some signs:

• You are always organizing your possessions.
• You keep feeling anxious while at home.
• You keep losing things.
• You feel embarrassed by the state of your home.
• Organizing is not the same thing as cleaning, unfortunately. If you find that you’re always rearranging your belongings, it’s probably time to get rid of a few things.
• Your home should be a place of respite, not stress. Clutter can turn an otherwise relaxing space into a nightmare.
• Clutter tends to make it much harder to find what you need when you need it. If you feel like you are always losing things, it could be clutter causing it.
• Many pack rats aren’t happy with the fact that they have so much clutter. If your home causes you embarrassment, it’s time for a change.

How To Prevent Clutter

Prevention is the real name of the game, and there are a few ways to make it easier on yourself. Decluttering can be a long and stressful process, so it’s best to prevent the need for it in the future. Here are a few things to keep in mind to avoid another cluttered mess:

• Stop the clutter from becoming a problem by refraining from bringing in more stuff than you absolutely need.
• Be wary of free stuff and giveaways—they are mostly just there to give you more clutter to deal with.
• Keep a donation box handy for items that are useful but you no longer need.
• Catch yourself when you say you’ll “get to it later.” If you can get to it later, you can get to it right then.
• Designate one area as your zone of cleanliness. Keep this zone completely clean so that, when you need to use it to store stuff, you know that you’re getting to the point of too much clutter again.

If you have items that are no longer serving you then the thrift stores in Destin, FL are ready and waiting for anything you want to donate.

If you enjoy stopping into a thrift or consignment store to browse or buy every now and again, you’re not alone. More than 25,000 resale stores currently operate in the US, according to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, and the number of open stores has increased by seven percent a year over the past two years.Shopping at a thrift shop in Lebanon, TN can be a great way to save money on the things you need to buy, such as clothing for yourself and your family.

It’s easy to get excited by the low prices and spend more than you planned, however. Don’t let the low prices convince you to bust your budget. Set a spending limit and learn to make the most out of thrift store shopping so that you get the most bang for your buck.

1. Make a List of What You Need

One way to make the most of your local thrift store or consignment store is to always go in armed with a list. For example, when back-to-school time rolls around, you may need to purchase khakis and button-down shirts for your kids. Just as bringing a list to the grocery store helps cut down on impulse buys, sticking to your list when thrift store shopping will help you avoid purchasing an item just because it was super cheap.

2. Be a Bit Flexible

You can’t always get what you want when you want it at thrift stores or consignment stores. Thrifting takes planning. If you need a specific item, such as a pair of dress pants in size 32/30, you may have to make a few trips to your local thrift store or visit a few stores to find them. You may need to start the hunt for a particular garment weeks, not days, in advance.

3. Find Out the Store’s Sale Days

Save the most by shopping the sales at your local thrift store. Some stores use a color-coded tagging system and will mark items labeled with a particular color 50 percent off one day, in an attempt to clear those items from the floor. Other stores may offer special discounts on slower days of the week or offer discounts to certain groups, such as seniors or students.

4. Try Before You Buy

Unless your favorite resale store offers a generous return policy, you’ll want to try on any garments before you buy them. Make sure the item really fits. If it doesn’t, be sure it’s something you can easily alter before you commit to buying it. Also check out the quality of item. Look it over for stains or tears. Also look to see if the item is dry clean only or washable. If it’s dry clean only, any savings you get will be eaten up by your cleaning bill.

5. Compare and Contrast

Make sure you’re actually saving money at the thrift store by having a general idea of what an item would cost new. For example, some designer garments cost hundreds of dollars, but a dress from a discount store can cost $20 new. Twenty dollars is a great deal on a dress that originally cost $200, but not so much on a dress that originally cost $30.

It’s also important to remember that just because something is super cheap compared to its original price, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can afford it. Along with a list of items you need, set a maximum price you can pay for each item, so that you stay within the limits of your budget.

Every entrepreneur knows the value of research, just as every entrepreneur appreciates the value of a strong gut instinct. If you want to launch a new small business, it’s no wonder that both forces are pulling at you to open a consignment store.

As you discuss the idea with people – and especially bankers or investors – it’s important that you be specific about your intentions and careful with your word choices. Other people may use “consignment store” and its word cousins interchangeably, but you may wish to set people straight – and set the best example.

See Through ‘The Heap’

Encourage your audience to be patient because the following delineation remains thorny for only a short time: If you were viewing the nomenclature of this retail segment as a tall heap of clothing, “secondhand” would be at the top. As the Leo Hamel Boutique says, “all second-hand stores have something in common: they make it possible for buyers to save money.” Next in the heap would be “resale shops,” followed by “consignment shops” and “thrift stores.”

You still may see a random sign in front of a “secondhand” or “resale” store, but the terms have largely fallen out of favor. This leaves two distinguishable categories: consignment and thrift shops.

Old habits die hard, so expect to hear some people invoke all four terms as if they mean the same thing. But you won’t, especially after you’re clear on the differences in how these two entities operate and what they sell.

The Meaning of ‘Thrift Shop’

Thrift shops in Lebanon, TN are usually operated by non profit organizations for charity purposes. 

Thrift stores depend on donations to raise money and are most likely to accept clothing, furniture, home décor items, small kitchen appliances, plates, glasses and dishes, electronics, books, movies, baby products and toys to stock their shelves. Thrift stores aren’t known for being choosy and usually accept every donation offered to them since ultimately, the tagged price is meant to reflect the condition of the merchandise.

Thrift stores aim to turn over their stock quickly and so are known to offer bargains: Men’s dress shirts for, say, $3.99 each and four hardcover books or two DVDs for $1, Pocket Sense says.

For shoppers, the thrift store dynamic can be a literal mixed bag and almost entirely a matter of luck and good timing: You can leave with a shopping cart filled with dazzling products boasting designer labels – or nothing but the water bottle you came with.

Consignment Shops Are No Thrift Shop Synonym

In truth, the same scenario could unfold at a consignment shop. But if you’re leaning toward opening a business, a consignment shop is probably what you have in mind. Unlike thrift stores, consignment shops usually have high selection standards, meaning that an item must be in nearly perfect condition and manufactured by a top company.

Or as Leo Hamel puts it, the shops will accept only “pre-owned luxury goods that are in mint condition.” If they’re not, the items are politely declined. If they’re accepted, and they sell, the person who brought the item to the shop shares in a percentage of the sale.

Consignment shops tend to emphasize women’s clothing, shoes and jewelry – a niche that is growing and may look particularly appealing against the sad backdrop of the many retail giants that are filing for bankruptcy or closing.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the thought of thrift shopping? Does the idea of vast amount of clothes to search through feel like finding a needle in a haystack? Well this guide will help you explore the world of thrifting in the most efficient way possible.

If you love shopping, this alternative is a great way to spend the day and experiment with fashion you normally wouldn’t want to spend a full price tag on. Not only are thrift stores in Lebanon, TN cheap (especially for that student budget! Be sure to keep your student ID on you, most thrift stores will give you an additional 10% off) but you never know what you’re going to find!

1. Do your homework

Find stores in an area of town that you know to be trendy or is known to have wealth. The more thrift stores you go to the more likely you are going to stumble across a great piece!

2. Know the deals

Some stores also have deals on certain days of the week so keep an eye out for the different colored tags.

This may require you to do a bit of research before hand, but it’s totally worth it. Big sales usually means they are about to get new inventory the day or two after the sale, so you can make a mental note to come back to see what new items are in stock.  

3. Get a clue

Once you find a store that looks interesting to you, have set idea of what kind of clothes your looking to buy. This will help you narrow down your search so you don’t seem so submerged in a sea of clothing. For example, if you’re looking for that cute band t-shirt, start by looking in the shirt section and then look accordingly the color your after.

(Pro tip: If you aren’t finding anything in the women’ section, try looking in the mens section, don’t be afraid to venture off from women’s clothing!)

4. Be Creative

If you’re looking for the right pair of high waisted jean shorts, don’t be afraid to look in the jeans section and be creative with your sewing skills!

Thrifting allows you to get crafty with your clothes and venture outside of your comfort zone in fashion without crying every time you swipe your card.

5. Try on Haul

Once you have a handful of clothes I highly recommend trying them on while you’re there. Just because it looks good on the hanger, doesn’t mean it will look as good as you thought it would on….The worst feeling ever is getting home after being excited on finding a really good piece to find out it doesn’t fit and there’s no way to return it. Always remember to look if it has any holes or stains before you buy it. Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

These steps can help you find unique pieces to add to your wardrobe and expand your fashion.

The rewarding feeling you get from finding an awesome piece will definitely outrank the feeling you get from buying a fast fashion top from Forever 21. Not only by shopping at a thrift store are you helping support a cause but, you’re also helping out the community!

What to love about second hand? It might not be as convenient as walking into a high street store and picking something off the shelf, but thrift shops in Lebanon, TN possess plenty benefits.

1. Saving resources and reducing waste.

There is already enough stuff in the world without needing to make more. Using what already exists makes far more sense: it’s better for the environment, it saves resources, it reduces emissions, and it reduces waste. Oh, and it saves on all that new packaging, too!

2. There’s less “guilty” attachment.

I didn’t always buy second-hand. When I lived in the UK I bought lovely things that weren’t cheap. When I moved to Australia, I sold many of those things for far less than I paid for them. Some were only a year old. I knew I was moving to better things, but it was definitely a lesson that buying new can be a waste of money, and there are better things to spend money on than stuff.

I can see how it is tempting to keep things we don’t really like, need or use, simply because we paid more than we should have in the first place, and won’t be able to recoup that. When you buy things second-hand, you’re much more likely to pay a fair price – and if you change your mind, be able to sell it on at a similar price.

3. It means stepping off the consumer treadmill.

For me, going to furniture stores meant seeing beautifully styled and laid out settings that I couldn’t afford, and didn’t even know that I “needed” until I stepped foot into the store. It meant trying to keep “up-to-date” and “accessorizing” – which I now think meant spending money I didn’t have on stuff I didn’t need.

Now I don’t step into those stores, I have no idea what is “on trend” and I don’t feel the pull to spend my money on “stuff”. I find it safer not to browse. Instead, if I need something (and only then), I look in the second-hand stores or online. If I find something I like, at a price I’m happy to pay, then I buy it. There’s no clever marketing or external factors influencing my decisions.

4. It’s more community-friendly.

High street stores and national or international chains are where most people buy their new furniture. These businesses rely on global supply chains and overseas manufacturing; they order huge quantities and often externalize costs to keep prices low. They also encourage us to consume more and more.

Second-hand stores are mostly independent and local. Many sellers on Gumtree or eBay (or other classifieds sites) are regular people, trying to make a few extra dollars (or pounds, or whatever currency it is) getting rid of excess stuff.

I have the choice to line the coffers of big businesses, or choose to support smaller ones and keep the money within my local community economy.

5. Second-hand pieces have stories.

There’s something much more rewarding about choosing a one-of-a-kind second hand piece. than a generic 600-more-in-stock identikit piece from the furniture store. Whether it’s the thrill of the find, the history you uncover about the item, the conversations you have along the way, the trouble you go to to get it… second-hand pieces just have stories oozing from them. That is what gives them character.

Our furnishings won’t be gracing a design magazine any time soon. But they suit us and our lifestyle, and they saved huge amounts of new resources being used. And every item has a story 🙂

As winter begins to recede back and we try to come out from hibernation, we start to notice a few things that were overlooked in favor of staying warm. Cleaning is one of the last things you feel like doing if you’re cold and uncomfortable, but spring changes all that. If you’re not one for spring cleaning, we hope to show you why spring cleaning is so important for your home.

Improved Air Quality

Unless you’ve been cleaning all throughout winter, your home most likely has some buildup, both of things in general as well as dust. A thorough spring cleaning is crucial to making sure your home’s air is healthy to breathe. Dust and allergens that build up over the long winter need to be removed, especially with the onset of the allergy season that is spring. You don’t want to deal with bad air in your house as well.

Reduced Stress

There’s nothing like a cluttered and messy home to put a spike in your stress levels. Doing some real spring cleaning can help this in two ways:

• Not having to see and deal with a large mess all the time will reduce the amount of stress your home causes you.
• The act of cleaning itself is empowering and relaxing at the same time, easing the stress on your shoulders.

Cleaning doesn’t have to be stressful; it can also be therapeutic. Be methodical as you go from room to room and you’ll have an easier time.

Increased Productivity

We all wish we could be more productive at home, which is another reason why spring cleaning is so important. By decluttering, you’re allowing yourself easier access to the things you need when you need them. It’s important to note that this doesn’t just include cleaning; it also involves reorganizing for a more efficient system of where everything goes.

Better Focus

If you’ve never heard the term “visual noise” before, you might not realize the effect that excess clutter has on your brain. The more stimulation there is to focus on with your eyes, the harder your brain has to work to process all of it. By removing clutter and getting rid of messes, you provide your brain with some relief and it will be easier to focus on the current task at hand.

When you’re looking for a place to drop off and donate your clothes and household items reach out to the thrift shops in Destin FL.