The second-hand sector, usually worth at least $18bn a year, is losing jobs and drowning under a sea of unusable ‘donations’, writes Adam Minter
The second-hand sector, usually worth at least $18bn a year, is losing jobs and drowning under a sea of unusable ‘donations’If one thing has seemed to unite Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, it’s spring cleaning. With stay-at-home orders in effect, a long-delayed clearing-out of basements, closets, back bedrooms and desk drawers has become a popular way to pass the time. One result is that America’s thrift stores are informally reporting unprecedented volumes of donations.
The thrift industry emerged in the late 19th century as a means of employing the poor and underemployed. The Methodist organisation that evolved into Goodwill Industries International began with a programme to collect and mend clothes in poor Boston neighbourhoods. Today, Goodwill, a non-profit, operates more than 3,300 retail outlets across North America.
What doesn’t sell on the floor — as much as 75% of the merchandise, depending on location — is then sent to discount outlets and ultimately onto global markets, where used goods are usually in high demand. Steven Bethell, president of Bank & Vogue, a Canada-based used-clothing broker, told me that prices for clothing bound for Africa have fallen by more than half in recent weeks.
The consequences should be a concern for all Americans, whether they shop in thrift stores or not. In 2018, Goodwill alone funded $5.3bn in charitable services, including education assistance, job training and work placements. Smaller donation-based charities, such as the Arc Thrift Stores in Colorado, spend millions each year employing people with disabilities.
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