Shows like American Pickers, Antiques Roadshow, Pawn Stars, and more have shoppers wanting to get in on the hunt for antique and vintage treasures. And why not? There are plenty of great places in North Georgia loaded with loot and ripe for the pickin’. The Savvy Picker is going to walk us through another one while offering tricks of the trade along the way.
When you walk into Circle of Hope Cornelia, at first, you think it is a nice little shop. And it IS a nice shop! But it’s not as little as it looks. The front room houses the register, clothing, and some housewares. Keep on walking, and you’ll end up in a closet-like back room with many shelves stocked with holiday décor and more. There I found a small bag of Shiny Brite ornaments! Resellers need to know (and most do) that not all vintage ornaments are the same. Those that are stamped either USA or (even better) Shiny Brite on the aluminum tops are some of the most desirable.
I collect vintage glass ornaments all year long and set them aside until it is time to stock the shop for Christmas. Once I’ve accumulated 12 ornaments this size, I package them in clear egg cartons and sell them for about $25 – $30 a dozen. So I was thrilled to find this third of a dozen in the closet-like room.
But wait – there’s more! While in this small back room, I spotted a sign that said, “More This Way.” It directed me through a crooked little hallway that spilled out into another large room! This room held a lot of clothes, but also a fair amount of housewares. I was delighted to discover a blue and white ginger jar in perfect condition. It still retained part of the blue “Made in Japan” label. This means the piece is probably a few decades old. Blue and white ginger jars always sell for me, so I snapped it up at $4 and will probably sell it for $18.
I also found a stack of very cheery vintage yellow wicker paper plate holders. These were a great buy because they will be great for staging next summer, even if I decide not to sell them. This set is sturdy, still has the original tags, and is in mint condition, so I’ll price them around $30, the upper end of what they sell for online if I do put them in the shop.
I love the twists and turns of this thrift store. It is worth a stop because it won’t take you long to look around, the staff is friendly, and the proceeds go to a great cause!
Who should visit: Folks who have a few minutes to check out a friendly store, and those who’ve always dreamed of finding a hidden room!
Scores of the day: Ginger Jar and Wicker Plate Holders
Predicted profit on jar and holders: $44
Re-seller takeaway: Collect those vintage glass ornaments throughout the year.
The Circle of Hope Cornelia Thrift Store is one of two thrift stores in Habersham County, Georgia, run by Circle of Hope, a nonprofit agency that supports women and children escaping domestic violence. Proceeds from the sale of donated items benefit the emergency shelter and support services provided to victims.
The thrift store is located at 142 Lee Street. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
The Savvy Picker publishes bi-monthly on Now Habersham. For more great reads and finds, click here. Also, visit The Savvy Picker website for additional tips on tracking vintage treasure.
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