Long-distance donations keep shelves stocked

The Salvation Army is taking donated merchandise from other regions to stock its Winnipeg thrift stores as increasing sales outpace local donations.

Retail activity at the charity’s eight Winnipeg locations grew more than 10 per cent year over year during several months, from January through April, and again in June.

Although local donations remain strong, they haven’t kept pace with demand, prompting the organization to supplement inventory with merchandise from elsewhere.

Ted Troughton, managing director of the Salvation Army’s thrift store operations, said rising living costs are bringing in new customers.

“I think people are looking for ways to make their dollar go further,” Troughton said.

The organization encourages Winnipeggers to donate clothing and household goods ahead of winter, when donations slow down, making stocking stores more challenging.

January is the slowest month for Salvation Army sales, although the organization continues to see demand for goods throughout winter.

Winter clothing, including jackets, sweaters, boots, mittens and hats, is needed, along with household items such as cookware, small appliances and home decor.

Troughton said the Salvation Army prefers to keep shelves filled with locally donated goods but can transfer surplus merchandise between regions when needed.

“The ideal situation is a market sustains itself,” he said, adding moving goods between cities adds transportation expenses.

The Salvation Army declined to disclose how much inventory has been transferred into Winnipeg, where it originated from or how much the transfers cost. The organization said the challenge is the volume of donations rather than the quality of items received.

Troughton said demand for domestic items has grown as shoppers look for less expensive alternatives to buying new.

He noted online resale platforms such as Facebook Marketplace affect donations as some people choose to sell rather than give belongings away.

Cheap popular low-quality fast fashion also affects the secondhand market, he said, because some garments may not withstand repeated use and resale.

Other thrift store operators in Winnipeg report mixed experiences with sales and donations.

At Just Like New to You, an independent, volunteer-run thrift store at 685 Portage Ave., sales increased 34 per cent, although customer traffic remains steady.

President Susan Lockhart attributes the increase to the introduction of a debit machine. Her store previously accepted only cash.

She said the shop has regular customers and hasn’t experienced an increase in foot traffic.

Unlike the Salvation Army, Just Like New to You has maintained a strong supply of donations, which Lockhart credits to social media.

The store, which raises money for patient-care initiatives at Health Sciences Centre, tries to keep prices low and find new homes for as many items as possible.

Mennonite Central Committee Manitoba, which supports 16 independently governed affiliated thrift shops across the province, also reported a modest increase in sales per square foot during its recent reporting period.

Josue Figueroa, who oversees the network of MCC thrift shops, said affordability is one reason people shop secondhand, but it isn’t the only factor.

Thrifting is increasingly popular among younger shoppers, he said, with customers also motivated by environmental concerns, the appeal of vintage merchandise and the opportunity to find unique items.

Figueroa said increased sales don’t necessarily mean more people are shopping at thrift stores, since changes in prices or customer spending can also affect revenue.

Donation levels vary between communities, seasons and individual shops, he said.

At Just Like New to You, Lockhart said donated items not suitable for sale can still help people in immediate need. Her store sometimes distributes those clothes to people experiencing homelessness.

kelly.riess@winnipegfreepress.com