Grafton shop sells used items to benefit school
By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
North GraftonA sweater from Ann Taylor Loft, a string of pearls, a set of crystal wine glasses, a Carter’s baby onesie, a golf jacket, or a dining room table. Shoppers at the aptly-named Treasures thrift shop could have picked up all of these items recently.
Treasures: An Upscale Thrift Shop resells donated merchandise and, in turn, donates the proceeds to the Whitinsville Christian School to offset the cost of tuition for all students.
The shop takes the word “upscale” seriously, offering only brand-name clothing and quality housewares, children’s toys and games, and other products.
“We carry quality items and brand names, such as Coldwater Creek, Talbots and Ann Taylor in women’s clothes,” said Beth Barkley, merchandising manager and a former Kohl’s store executive. “We take a quick look at donations when they come into the receiving area to make sure they are items we can sell.”
“We do try to restrict what we accept,” added Joan Winterbottom, store manager. “If you had a yard sale and nobody bought it, it’s probably not going to sell here.”
Treasures opened in 2008, and the store sells women’s, children’s and some men’s clothing, accessories and jewelry, books and DVDs, children’s toys, housewares and small appliances, and furniture and decorative accessories for the home. The merchandise is well-organized, with clothing sorted by style and size so shopping is simple. The racks of jeans, sweaters, blouses and dresses are just like those in conventional retailers, and there are individual fitting rooms.
Things that have been on the shelf for a while are marked down with colored dots, and the store also holds seasonal sales.
Items that do not sell are recycled or donated to other charitable organizations. A clothing recycling company picks up clothing that has been on the sales racks too long every week.
Donated items are sorted, cleaned, tested and priced by volunteers, who also make up the sales staff. All volunteers have some connection to the Whitinsville Christian School.
The professional approach the store takes is no accident. It was founded by Eva and Herman Baker after they closed the Baker’s Department Store they operated in Whitinsville. The Bakers decided to set up a thrift store after researching the experience other Christian schools had had with the concept.
Treasures is located in the Koopman Plaza on Routes 140 and 122 in North Grafton. Don Koopman, owner of the plaza and the lumber store, is a former president of the school’s board.
Treasures accepts donations during its regular business hours, up until a couple of hours before closing. Barkley urged donors to check the store’s website, www.valleytreasures.org, to make sure potential donations are things the store accepts. Tax receipts are available.
The store does not take sports equipment, electronics or most children’s furniture. “Children’s car seats cannot be resold after they are five years old, and many infant and toddler items have been subject to recall” so the store cannot handle those things, Winterbottom said.
“We love furniture that is in good shape and gently-used household items,” Barkley said. The store offers free pick up for bulky items that meet its criteriaand also delivers furniture purchases to customers for a fee.
Antiques are particularly prized, and are priced by volunteers with some background in antiques and also checked online to be sure Treasures is pricing them fairly. Barkley did note they once sold a mink teddy bear for $7.50, only to find out later it was worth about $350.
Treasures is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and stays open until 8 p.m. on Thursday. It is closed on Sunday. The store is located at 82 Worcester St. in North Grafton. For additional information or to make sure staff is available to accept a donation, call 774-293-1564 or visit the website, www.valleytreasurers.org.