YouTube and TikTok Thrifters have shoppers wanting to get in on the hunt for antique and vintage treasures. And why not? As we’ve shown in the last three articles in this series, there are plenty of great places in North Georgia loaded with loot and ripe for the pickin’. Today, The Savvy Picker will walk us through CommUnity Thrift Store in Clarkesville, a neatly organized shop supporting another good cause.
CommUnity Thrift offers carefully cleaned merchandise in an easy-to-assess shop. The first thing I saw when I walked in the door was this awesome ceramic rooster for $8. Large enough to make a bold statement, I know this guy will sell in my shop back home because I recently sold one exactly like him for $48. His size and bright colors make him stand out, and he’ll look handsome on top of a bookcase. Profit is not the only reason to purchase a piece like this. When I find larger beautiful pieces for reasonable prices, I tend to pick them up to anchor displays with a high-interest focal point.
Nice, clean, unchipped mugs were another great find at this shop. Mugs, like books, make great staples in antique booths. If you are looking to re-sell mugs, make sure you have an attractive way to showcase them. I use a 1980s Nappa Valley wooden revolving CD rack for mine. It works perfectly for mugs! Mug-sized cubbies also work well.
This store is uncluttered and spacious, so it is easy to walk in and check out the housewares quickly. If you go, don’t miss the holiday section upstairs! Here I picked up a vintage candle holder laden with cute Santas. While upstairs, I remembered this thrift store only accepts cash, so I pulled out my wallet and made sure I had enough money to cover everything. I didn’t!
After re-shelving one item, I headed downstairs with $8.50 in one hand and several items totaling $8.50 in value in the other. A very nice lady was checking out at the register when I got there, so it gave me a chance to look around a little more. That was when I discovered Thrifty!
So here’s a super-fun insider tip: get there early and look for Thrifty. The first to find him each day gets 20% off their total purchase!
A few minutes later, the cashier was ready to ring me up. I plopped the handful of bills and coins on the counter and said, “I counted my money, and I think this covers everything.”
The very nice lady who had just checked out was heading to the door. She stopped, turned around, and handed me a ten-dollar bill. “I’ve got it for you,” she said, which was SO NICE! But I felt bad taking money from someone when I had enough to pay, so I gave her ten back to her, which wasn’t too easy because she genuinely wanted me to have it.
After she left, the cashier finished adding up my purchases and announced my total: $9.18. I looked longingly at the door the generous lady had just exited. “Oops. I forgot about taxes,” I said. “I’ll put something back.”
Then the cashier pulled out his wallet and gave me a dollar. He would not hear of me leaving without everything I wanted. The people of Clarkesville have hearts of gold. This holiday season, I hope all of you will embrace and be embraced by the spirit of generosity I experienced at Community Thrift!
Who should shop here: Folks who want to gamble just a few minutes on finding a good deal. I found my rooster in about 10 seconds!
Score of the day: Ceramic Rooster
Expected profit on Rooster: $40.00
Reseller takeaway: Always be on the lookout for those eye-catching pieces that can make your displays pop!
CommUnity Thrift Store is located at 135 West Green Street on the square in Clarkesville, Georgia. The store is a ministry of Clarkesville First United Methodist Church. Proceeds benefit local nonprofit ministries. Since opening in 2010, CommUnity Thrift Store has given away over a quarter million dollars.
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. The website now offers a new feature: Tip of the Week, and will be adding more features soon.
