Chapter Four: A Century of Thrift Shops (Alison Humes)

Slightly over a hundred years ago, thrift shops began to appear in the United States. Throughout the course of their existence, the public's opinion, their function, and the values they represent have changed drastically. By tracing their existence, one can view the change in the importance and meaning of thrift over the years. Many thrift supporting institutions have faded - savings and loans, the Housekeepers' Alliance, National Thrift Week, etc... - but thrift shops still exist and are going strong today. Thrift shops initially emerged to provide employment opportunities - today they are charitable and nonprofit, but in the beginning they were created for employment purposes. The poor were also capable of purchasing goods from thrift shops. Thrift shops combined the values of diligence and industry with the capability of using that which would normally be wasted or discarded. Today, thrift shops also benefit health institutions, hospitals, and community programs. Edgar James Helms, a Methodist minister, began collecting donations and clothing and household goods in the early 1900s. He was not attempting to gain profit, other than the profit of ending poverty. Around the same time, the Salvation Army and William Booth had the idea to collect and fix old goods to be sold. The first thrift store was set up in Chicago in 1897 - by 2004, the Salvation Army would have over 1,526 shops nationwide. These organizations, among others, were all set up based off the religious ideals of ending poverty and being charitable for others while promoting thrift. Middle-class women seeking fulfillment would volunteer at these places in order to "save souls" and find fulfillment. Initially, second-hand goods and clothing were not part of the original plan for thrift stores; most of the goods were not donated, but rather made at home. The red Cross and the Salvation Army were soon supplied with donations and funds that enabled and encouraged them to making their stores more attractive for people. They began to organize, shelve, and hang their goods in more appealing ways as to attract buyers. Thrift stores were initially thought to be solely for the poor. Before WWII only the poor would shop there because the purpose of the stores was to help alleviate poverty. However, by the end of WWII, the middle class had become buyers at thrift stores as well. Secondhand became popular because thrift had become popular once more. The evolution of thrift stores went from ending poverty and helping the poor, to providing jobs for those in need, to raising money for various missions, activities, and groups. Thrift is not simply forsaking luxury; it is knowing when to splurge and when to save. It is being wise with one's money. In this sense, thrift and luxury are innately intertwined. Thrift shops enable people to practice thrift by buying everyday items at cheaper prices, allowing them to splurge on the occasional luxury item.