Thrift Stores Report Steady Traffic Amid Rising Textile Costs

The Yale Budget Lab said in a report that 2025 tariffs will “disproportionately affect clothing and textiles.” It says apparel prices will go up by 14 percent in the short run.

That will affect anyone who shops retail, but local shops offer a reminder: shopping secondhand locally could be one way to avoid that price jump.

Arc’s Value Village Sees Steady Traffic

Thrift stores are filled with a sound that, to some, could be grating. Others, satisfying. That sound, of course, is the creak of a shopper shuffling hangers through the coat racks.

“I think people get dopamine from finding fun pieces,” said Sarah Colvin, a personal stylist program coordinator for Arc’s Value Village.

Colvin is very familiar with that search. She helps people pick out pieces that fit their style, free of charge. But she said there are many people who come through.

“Honestly, I’ll come in here on a Monday, and by the time I’m back here on a Saturday, I feel like the whole store is turned over,” Colvin said.

The shop takes in donations nearly every day. The store’s proceeds go to Arc, a nonprofit that supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a thrift store, it also specializes in deals.

“I think we are all feeling the pinch of the economy, so being able to find great pieces for less,” Colvin said.

She said people might shop at a thrift store for budget reasons, environmental reasons, or even those who resell clothes for a profit.

Colvin said Arc’s Value Village is consistently busy as tariffs start to hit the textile industry.

Shoppers search through the racks at Shop for Change in Golden Valley.

More Customers Visit PRISM’s Shop for Change

Over at PRISM’s Shop for Change in Golden Valley, staff are seeing an upward trend in foot traffic.

“We’re seeing more shoppers, we are seeing higher carts coming through,” said Alisha Weis, PRISM’s advancement director.

Weis said they are anticipating that prices will go up outside, so consequently, more shoppers might stop by their store.

“Every dollar that we earn goes directly back into our programs,” Weis said.

Every dollar adds up to a lot: Weis said the shop annually brings in $300,000 for PRISM’s programs, like its food shelves and housing assistance programs.

“Times are hard, and families are living from paycheck to paycheck. We know that Shop for Change is a great resource for the community, and a way for them to get the items that they need most,” Weis said.

In both cases, more shoppers means more help for the people the nonprofits serve. And more support makes for more finds on the racks.

Arc’s Value Village accepts donations between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. every day. Shop for Change accepts donations at varying times throughout the week. More details are on its website.