Finding a specific product or item at a thrift store may have just gotten easier. Thrift stores are lined with shelves of mismatched items, which make it difficult for people who wish to find one specific type of item.
(prHWY.com) June 19, 2012 - Seattle, WA -- Finding a specific product or item at a thrift store may have just gotten easier. Thrift stores are lined with shelves of mismatched items, which make it difficult for people who wish to find one specific type of item. A couple in eastern New York who own the Gift for All Thrift Store may have found a solution for this problem.
"We noticed that when people drop off their unwanted items there seems to be an eclectic range of items", said Tammy Hollows co-owner of Gift for All Thrift Store. "We used to just take all donated items, shove it in a group and sort it later, but with our new system organizing just got easier."
Tammy Hollows and her husband Bob, who have owned Gift for All Thrift Store for over 20 years, have developed a system that will efficiently organize all items. This system which is tentatively named SCOFB allows all thrift store owners to organize items in a way that will optimize store shopping for customers and allow store owners to get a better grasp of what is in their inventory.
"Many thrift store owners don't know what they have in their inventory", said Bob Hollows. "This system will allow you to keep track of what you have on store shelves while organizing things in a way that is shopper-friendly."
The SCOFB system stands for Shoes, Clothing, Other Items, Furniture and Books. All items upon donation are sorted into one of these categories. This makes it easier to catalog and organize all items for display on the shelves.
"Ultimately we encourage our thrift stores to organize their stores into these categories also", said Tammy Hollows. "It makes it easier to sort the items and easier for people to shop for items. However, it' takes a lot of work to completely remodel a store so many stores don't do it."
The Hollows' have seen almost a 40% increase in sales and revenue thanks to the new system. They plan on taking the system on the road and presenting it at national
thrift store and organizational conventions.
"I really think this a wonderful idea", said Steven Noobs, owner of a Seattle based thrift store. "I heard what Hollows' said and I think if I apply it to my store I can increase sales revenue by 50%. Thrift store shoppers are often frustrated by the confusing setup, and following the SCOFB system I can make it easier for them to shop."
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