Thrift Stores A Boon As Economic Woes Continue

Hometownlife.com:

As economic woes continue to strain consumer budgets, metro Detroit shoppers are increasingly finding bargains at thrift stores and resale shops they might once have snubbed during more prosperous times when stretching their dollars seemed less critical.

As bargain-hunting and gently used merchandise have become more popular, area thrift stores are broadening their customer base and luring shoppers from Canton, Plymouth, Livonia, Westland, Garden City, Redford, Farmington and other communities.

And, more shoppers have meant more revenues for charity organizations — The Salvation Army, Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Disabled American Veterans and others — that use their income to provide food, clothing, children’s programs, shelter and jobs for a growing number of recession-weary residents.