This fall, NOVA Thrift Shop on Route 313 in Fountainville is celebrating 12 years of turning gently used, no-longer-wanted clothing and household items into $1.4 million in funds to support Bucks County victim services and prevention education programs of Network of Victim Assistance – as well as into great buys for the bargain-savvy.
To share its birthday celebration with all its customers, NOVA Thrift Shop is offering a special 12 percent off every item purchased during the store’s Birthday Sale Days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 18 through October 20. Refreshments will be served as well.
A different kind of resale shop
“We believe that all resale shops, by keeping items out of landfills and giving them new life with new owners, do a great service for the community,” says Karen Corbett, NOVA Thrift Shop (NTS) manager. “But we go further: the majority of the proceeds of our sales operations here are returned to the community in the form of initiatives and services that Bucks County residents have come to rely on.
“Every purchase you make at NOVA Thrift and every item you donate that we can sell to others allows you to contribute to our programs and align yourself with our mission.”
Starting out
NTS started life as “Heirlooms and Wardrobes” in September 2001 in one-third of the commercial space that it now occupies. The original plan to operate as a consignment shop evolved quickly when the generous community spirit arising out of the 9/11 tragedy encouraged organizers to accept both consignment and donated thrift items.
“After a year of struggle, we took the advice of an agency friend who, along with other invaluable marketing assistance, suggested we change our name to NOVA Thrift Shop,” says Corbett. “That was a turning point. From then on, our sales have improved annually.”
In fact, in the past two years alone NOVA Thrift has raised nearly half a million dollars for crime victims.
Steady growth
At the moment, NTS has more than 50 active volunteers – “though we can always use more!” Corbett says – accepting donations, processing merchandise and helping customers.
Corbett attributes a big part of NOVA Thrift’s success among the growing number of resale shops in the community to its policy of accepting donations whenever the store is open, every day of the week, and offering receipts for these non-cash contributions. (The shop operates under NOVA’s status as a 501c3 charitable organization.) This accessibility and the friendly volunteers have helped NTS develop many loyal and appreciative donors and customers, she says.
“And rarely does a donor drop off at the back without coming around front afterward to look at what’s new, often making a purchase.”
On Tuesdays, all kids’ clothing is 50 cents apiece, and every Thursday shoppers can fill a bag with items from the back sales room for just $5. Several times a year NTS staff and volunteers have fun inventing focused sales events. Recent specials have included “Pursapalooza,” 2011’s “Coat-a-topia” and last year’s “Shoe-a-tarootie.”
The 3,700-square-foot shop recently put up a new, larger storage shed to the rear of the building. It now has two sheds to hold donations still to be processed, seasonal merchandise and items awaiting sale to a third party. Anything that is not in condition to resell is sold to recyclers, thus NOVA still benefits.
