A NEW study has revealed the bargain capital of America, a prime destination for shoppers looking to stock their wardrobe without breaking the bank.
The city ranks as one of the best destinations for thrifting in the country, filled with secondhand stores and flea markets brimming with high quality purchases.
A new study has revealed the American cities with the best thrifting experiences[/caption]
Thrifting has become a mainstream trend, rising in popularity in recent years due to factors such as increased awareness of sustainable fashion and social media.
The desire for unique and affordable pieces as well as the thrill of the hunt are also some of the biggest draws of resale shopping.
There are more than 25,000 resale, consignment, and not-for-profit resale shops in the US, per the National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops.
However, there are several locales where thrift shopping is simply better, according to a recent study by Joybird, a modern furniture retailer.
The company analyzed Yelp data for various cities to determine the spots with the best thrifting experiences, taking into account the number of thrift stores, flea markets, clothing donation centers, and home organization services in the area.
Joybird’s study also factored in the star ratings of the thrift stores and flea markets as well as the price levels of the stores.
Thrifting: by the numbers
- 16% to 18% of Americans shop at thrift stores each year
- 12% to 15% of Americans shop at consignment or resale stores each year
- 93% of Americans shop online for secondhand items
- In 2023, the US secondhand market generated an estimated $53 billion in revenue
- Thrift store shoppers save an average of $1,760 per year by purchasing secondhand
- Approximately 33% of clothing and apparel items purchased in the US over the past year were secondhand
Source: Capital One Shopping
“We figured that the best cities for thrifting would require a combination of access to secondhand goods, affordability, and high-quality stores,” said the retailer.
To determine the rankings, Joybird gave each factor a weight, ran the calculations, and ranked the most populated cities accordingly, giving them a score out of 50.
RANKINGS REVEALED
The top five US metropolitan areas for thrift shopping, according to Joybird’s data, are:
- Riverside, California
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Columbus, Ohio
- Orlando, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
Riverside, California – a leading Southern California city located sixty miles east of Los Angeles – ranked as the best city for thrifting in America with an impressive score of 37 out of 50.
“It has a decent number of thrift stores per 100,000 people, strong Yelp ratings, lower prices than many other cities including Los Angeles, and the most home organization services in the country per 100,000 people by a landslide,” said Joybird.
“Safe to say that the closets of Riverside locals are well cleaned out, and the neighborhood thrift stores are stocked with high-quality pre-owned clothes!”
Atlanta ranked as the second best thrifting destination in the country, with the greatest number of thrift stores, clothing donation centers, and flea markets per 100,000 people of the top five cities.
Valuable thrifting finds revealed
Here are some of the best thrift store finds:
- Tiffany & Co. earrings that sold for $0.34 and are valued at $430
- American Girl doll that sold for $5.99 and is valued at $300
- Bionicle toy that sold for $14.95 and is valued at $18.101
- Gold record plaque for DJ Quik’s 1992 album Way 2 Fonky that sold for @20 and is valued at $200
- Rothy’s brand Sugared Berry pointed-toe flats that sold for $155 retail and are valued at $250
Columbus came in third place and has the highest rated flea markets.
Meanwhile, while Orlando did not perform the best in any one category, the city had strong rankings across the board, alluding to a consistent and high-quality thrift shopping experience overall.
Tampa ranked as the fifth best thrifting spot in the country, outperforming dozens of other cities thanks to its high thrift store ratings and affordable prices.
On the other hand, some cities took a hit to their rankings due to their high prices.
San Francisco, Boston, New York City, Providence, and Washington DC, for example, were found to be the priciest cities to thrift.
While thrift stores can be pricey, they often beat out retail prices and are an ideal destination to score affordable treasures.
One shopper bought a crusty old $4.49 box from a secondhand store and found 50 more items hiding inside for free.
Another woman was stunned after finding a “first release” iconic toy from 1962 for just $11 at a thrift store – it goes for $500.
Riverside, California, ranked as the top US city for thrifting with a score of 37 out of 50[/caption]
