OUR SORTING ROOM
When you visit the Thrift Shop, the outcome of a buzz of activity that goes on in the background…rather, in the back room…is all around you!
The Thrift Shop is grateful for the generous donations of clothing items that are received from our community. They often arrive in mysterious black bags, contents unknown, awaiting discovery. ‘Soft’ items are sorted by a team of volunteers in our back room – as the bags are opened, and the contents become known, they are sorted into categories, such as linens and towels, belts and hats, underwear and bathing suits, toiletries and clothing, children and adult.
INTRODUCING VOLUNTEER GAY JACOBI
Gay Jacobi, one of our sorting volunteers, is at the Shop on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You may see her peeking at you from the back room during your visit. When Gay and her husband Allen made Seba Beach their permanent home six years ago (after being RV weekenders for a number of years) she offered her services to the Shop…she previously sorted donations at a shop in Cranbrook when she and her husband Allen lived there.
She quickly endeared herself to all that encountered her; she is quick with a smile, sorts with great efficiency, and is a wonderful storyteller (as her sorting colleagues know!). She knows that each bag she opens is like the candy surprise bag that we all loved as children, Gay digs in with vigor! It is nice to have Gay and Al as part of our team, – Al is a Thrift Store volunteer, too! It was a bit of a homecoming for Al when he and Gay settled here – he has returned to his roots in Seba, where he grew up.
SORTING ALL OF OUR DONATIONS
After the bag contents are revealed, clothing Items that are in ill repair may become rags that are sold to support the Thrift Shop, other items that are worn, less stylish, or not suitable for resale, are donated to the Bissell Center in Edmonton, or other community organizations, such as our local Dog Ranch, where blankets are shared for their furry guests.
Our volunteers look for items that are clean, current, and in good condition – suitable for resale, and desired by our customers. All items are very appreciated, and freshly laundered clothing is desired; however, it’s not uncommon to hear the laundry going in our back room, to ensure that the clothing on the racks is ready for you.
New-to-us clothing may be out of season – these items are tagged and stored until the next season. At times, our racks are full, and new arrivals may be “parked” until a space becomes open. Pricing items is a bit of a challenge – all items are priced to sell, prices are kept intentionally low and a pricing guideline is used to ensure consistency. If items are ‘higher end’, or new, with tags, they may be priced a bit higher.
CHANGING WITH THE SEASONS
At each season-end switch (twice a year) dots on the tags are made – each dot represents one seasonal rotation in the shop; after three dots, the item is donated to the Bissel Center to ensure that our stock remains current. There are some exceptions, like desirable vintage, or high-end items, which may be kept a bit longer, if they have not sold.
The backroom at the Thrift Shop is a busy place; while it is off limits for our customers, if you are a volunteer, you can enter at your own risk but once you enter, you may not want to leave! If you do stay awhile, be sure to ask Gay how she met Al. It is a GREAT story!
