When I still lived in Boston I was an avid thrift shop enthusiast. Thrift shops exist in a strange space halfway between antique store and garage sale. And I loved every moment of shopping in them. While it was rare to find a truly valuable treasure in the vast aisles of secondhand merchandise, mid-century modern kitchenware, furniture and other household goods from the 1950s and 1960s were always available in abundance.
There was one specific Salvation Army thrift store located on the outskirts of Boston that I often visited. Due to unique circumstances, it carried the best secondhand items of any thrift store in the area. It was close enough to the wealthy neighborhoods to receive their cast-offs – stately brass candlesticks, vintage Pyrex glassware, retro porcelain dishware and lots of secondhand designer clothing.
The prices are ultimately what made the experience, though. Who can resist funky fresh vintage mid-century modern items at $0.50 to $3 each? It was a thrifting paradise.
Then the Great Financial Crisis of 2008-2009 hit and the thrifting world was turned upside down. In the wake of the recession my preferred thrift shop – a previously reliable source of great vintage pieces – gradually became a barren wasteland. All of the older items disappeared in less than 12 months. Suddenly the store was overrun with low quality pieces from the 1980s and 1990s. This meant there was a lot more plastic and particleboard and a lot less brass, glass and porcelain.
After a few years of going back to the shop every few months vainly hoping for a reversion to normalcy, I finally gave up. The good vintage stuff was gone and it was never coming back. This unfortunate trend was a universal phenomenon too, repeated in every other thrift shop I visited after the Great Financial Crisis.
It took me a long time, but I finally came up with a theory to explain the decline of thrifting. The primary factor was the financial crisis. People who used to donate massive amounts of “old” household “junk” now didn’t have the disposable funds to renovate or redecorate their houses any longer.
In addition, those who continued to make donations to thrift shops now examined everything with an eagle eye to ensure they didn’t accidentally part with anything valuable. They weren’t going to give away anything of even modest value.
I also think demographics played a secondary role in the decline of thrifting. The elderly move to nursing homes and die at statistically predictable ages. Because their estates are also partially or fully liquidated during these events, any vintage or antique items they owned are auctioned, sold or donated at the same time.
These estate items are of a predictable age as well, generally no more than 60 years old. Around 2010, this demographic truth finally started to catch up with thrift shops as the supply of 1950s and early 1960s vintage items from estate sources began thinning out dramatically. For those who are interested, my article entitled “The Demographics of Antiques” delves into this topic in greater depth.
The Great Financial Crisis prompted an entirely new clientele to explore thrift shops, too. Shoppers who before had never before strayed from the staid halls of Banana Republic, J. Crew or the Gap now boldly ventured out in search of a bargain. It’s tough to beat prices of $2 or $3 for a pair of trendy jeans or a nice blouse. This phenomenon goes hand in hand with the rise of Hipsters, who wouldn’t be caught dead shopping anywhere but thrift stores.
It is no coincidence that the song “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (featuring Wanz) was released in 2012. This chart topping, hip-hop anthem features caustic social commentary on the cookie cutter look of ridiculously expensive designer clothing while glorifying the thrifting experience as a great way to acquire clothing that is inexpensive, stylish and unique. The song’s video is a pop cultural phenomenon, as demonstrated by the fact that it is currently approaching one billion views on YouTube.
I think it’s safe to say that thrifting is no longer the little-known, underground activity it used to be. No wonder it’s impossible to find good vintage items in thrift stores today!
