Holiday thrifting. This research subject began in early July, when the HUB thrift store offered a temporary Christmas special, bringing out a long clothes rack with lower display shelving. It was loaded for all to explore and purchase the small holiday items.
Cousin Susan tried on a hooded sweater with reindeer antlers. I ended up buying it, along with holiday mugs and saucers.
Several of us began a thrifting Christmas discussion about changing trends, sought-after decorations, party needs and so on. Over the next few months, I asked dozens of friends and strangers for their thrifting holiday opinions. There were four most mentioned issues.
First, finances, with most saying, “Everything costing so much these days,” thus the thrill with the necessity of low-cost, secondhand merchandise.
The second issue was acceptance. Thirty years ago, getting a gift from a secondhand store would have been a slap in the face. Today, buying and gifting used items is perfectly OK. Several told me that winter scarfs and caps from thrift shops were perfect Christmas gifts.
Thirdly, and most obviously, contemporary electronics. No one wants those old strings of outside holiday lights that make bulb replacement a constant task. A thrift store manager explained that many people buy LED and programmed devices. Then after Christmas, with little storage room, the items get donated to community thrift stores and then immediately bought up.
Lastly, a thrift store worker said that in the past few years, single plates and dishes were being purchased in December more than usual. That makes sense — gifting sweets and cookies on fancy plates.
The holiday thrifting subject was extremely difficult. Everyone had something to say, but nothing earthshaking. A few weeks after the HUB July Christmas display, I went back and asked why. Overabundance was the answer.
One more thing. Great grandmother’s set of dishes that no one wants — divide up, add candy or cookies, wrap with fancy foil and ribbon and gift to all. Great grandma’s cup and saucer filled with candy gifted to a small child — I guarantee that grown child still has that cup and saucer.
