By EMMA HERNANDEZ
Thrift stores in the Provo/Orem area are popular among people from all walks of life.
Annette Thompson, a unit secretary for the Provo Deseret Industries, said they get business from a variety of people.
“We get a lot of people from different incomes. It doesn’t matter if they have money or not, people just seem to like to shop here.”
Thompson said many people buy clothing at thrift stores because of the accessible prices.
“We have our items on sale so that everyone is able to buy them, but we need to charge enough to pay our employees and keep the business functioning,” Thompson said.
Deseret Industries keeps prices low by accepting donations and selling distressed items from factory outlets.
According to Thompson, most donations come in during the summer.
“We get a lot of donations when students are packing up to go home and they don’t know what to do with all their things,” Thompson said.
Though some thrift stores obtain their items from donations, others buy their merchandise from charities and factory outlets.
“We sell used items, but we actually purchase the items from charities,” said Wendy Casper, a cashier for Orem Savers.
Savers buys clothing from charities such as MS, Dystrophy and the Big Brother, Big Sister program.
Savers will take whatever they get and select the best from what they have, Casper said.
Casper said many of their student customers come in looking for disco skating outfits and costumes.
“They come in and start giggling and laughing. Then they model for one another,” she said.
Ben Goodrich, a senior at Pleasant Grove High School, said he looks for wear and tear clothes when shopping at thrift stores.
“I usually come in with my friends to buy costumes, and I go all out,” he added.
Natalie Garr, a sales associate at Down East Outfitters, said college kids that come into their store are looking for normal clothing.
“We don’t get a lot of people who come in to buy ‘dress-up’ clothes,” she added.
Garr said Down East buys merchandise from factory outlets or brand name overstock. The merchandise goes through a quality selection process before they put it out in the store.
“We get a whole bunch of different things, we put the better quality items on our floor and the rest of it goes to our tent sales,” she said.
According to Garr, Down East attracts a large number of college and high school students because most of their items are geared toward students.
