National Thrift Shop Day
National Thrift Shop Day is an annual event celebrated in the United States on August 17 to promote thrift shopping. It was founded in 2003 by the National Association of Resale Professionals (NARTS). The day is also known as Thrift Shop Appreciation Day.
The date of August 17 was chosen because it is the birthday of the late Mary Ellen Sprenkel, who was a pioneer in the thrift store industry. Sprenkel founded the Goodwill Industries of Southern California in 1935, and she is credited with helping to make thrift shopping a mainstream activity.
See also: Stop Fast Fashion in Its Tracks: Change Fashion for Good.
National Thrift Shop Day is an opportunity to celebrate the value of thrift shopping and to learn about the benefits of shopping secondhand. Thrift shopping is a great way to save money, find unique items, and support local charities.
How to celebrate:
- Donate to a local thrift shop.
- Visit a local thrift shop and look for cool finds.
- Volunteer at a thrift shop.
- Host a thrift shop party and swap finds with guests.
Fun Facts:
- Thrift shops are also known as consignment stores, second-hand stores, resale shops and hospice shops.
- The word “thrift” comes from the old Norse word “prift,” which means “prosperity.”
- Thrifting reduces pollution and waste and allows for items to be put back into circulation.
- Shopping at thrift shops became popular in the 2010s when people began to choose secondhand shopping to reduce their carbon footprint and as an alternative to supporting unethical clothing brands.
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