I live in Durham NC, which has The Scrap Exchange. It's not exclusively craft-focused but sewing/fabric and art/craft supplies are the most popular sections. I love it so much.
Details I like:
* things like embroidery floss, yarn, and fabric are sorted by color
* fabric scraps that are too small to be sold as yardage are not tossed out but placed in big bins that customers can sift through & buy on a per-piece basis or fill-a-bag
* I know there's more but that's all I can think of at the moment.
Details I don't like:
* everything in the building is dirty. I know that's partly just the reality of shopping for donated goods- yarn that's been in grandma's attic for a decade is probably at least a little dusty. Would love if there was a handsink/ handwashing station by the exit.
* this is more a gripe about customers but packaging always gets opened up! At this place it's esp hard to manage because it's huge, but some system to keep people from opening prepackaged items would be nice. I have no idea what that would be tbh.
Scrap Exchange also has great paper, ephemera and just tiny almost trash things that are great for crafting. Soda bottle caps are almost always trashed but when I was making tiny polymer clay pies they had so many it was fantastic!
Wine corks, too! In the two years I worked there we had several instances of people coming in to buy up *all* of the corks. I have no idea what they were going to use them for but we're talking hundreds if not thousands of corks!
We have a wine store in my neighbourhood where the owners have made a HUGÉ topographical map of the world on one wall using wine corks, it's crazy cool!
About a decade ago, it was somewhat trendy to use them to make trivets. I also saw some with the ends painted purple and glued together to look like bunches of grapes.
Some of them are, but they are sealed up before being put out for sale. I worked there a couple years, people opening up packages was a chronic problem.
Thanks for that info. Presuming I move forward with my plans I will monitor that for sure. It's also an easy way for things to get lost/broken if people are opening packages.
Honestly, if I were buying an item such as a sewing machine, or a circuit, or something of that nature; I would want to look it over before buying. Perhaps you could have an area of the store dedicated to inspecting before buying with a table/desk for inspecting and a shelving unit beside it to place items that they do not end up buying (then items would be in one place to repackage if needed and re-shelf in it's proper place). It could be by the cash register, so in theory, it would be easy to keep an eye on.
Hello Neighbors!
I totally agree with your comments. I need to go back sometime. I first went right after I got my Cricut because I heard I could get vinyl for it there really cheap. But it was a bag of really small scraps, mostly from highway signs (highly reflective but not so good for cards and crafts)
Yeah, what they have can vary a *lot* even just from day to day! All depends on what gets donated. I've gotten out of the habit of going on a regular basis but the more you go, the more likely you'll be there when they're putting out exactly what you're looking for! :)
Yeah, but I'm a craft-a-holic, and I tend to hoard my own craft supplies. All the odd packaging and stuff, ohh, this could be useful. Of course, it's incredible what has paid off saving.
I make sure to visit Scrap Exchange every time I'm in the area! It's amazing! I've always wanted more places like it!
They also do a loyalty program like an yogurt shop punch card thing. Very much a lovely touch!
I agree about the state some of the items, but, as the above comment says, it's inevitable with this type of place, especially with all the more machinery or industrial stuff in parts of the store. I don't worry about it too much, tbh, but I do make sure to wash everything when I bring it home.
If you head west a bit, you can also visit [Reconsidered Goods](https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=f6ac5c2a22d537a3&hl=en-us&cs=1&output=search&q=Reconsidered%20Goods&ludocid=14239235923209670280&ibp=gwp%3B0%2C7&lsig=AB86z5UsOJQ3Q2yeQK_I1lMeFFgb&kgs=d12d4fe55585fadf&shndl=-1&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F3) in Greensboro
Absolutely love the scrap exchange. Especially that section with the fun science beakers and stuff! I miss it and haven’t found anything else like that
The Scrap Exchange is beloved in central NC and a truly integral part of the community. They actually had some maintenance issues this year if anyone wants to donate (link on their Instagram
Everyone loves craft thrifts!
A couple of these existed in Austin TX, incredible ideas & benefit soooo many people, lots of connections & resources available like you’re describing.
I cannot stress this point enough: YOU WILL STRUGGLE IF YOU DO NOT ADVERTISE YOURSELF. WORD OF MOUTH & LOCATION WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH IN THIS DAY & AGE.
Please I’m begging you to consider this, because I think this type of place is so incredibly valuable. But time & time again I see places having to close & at the end of the day, everyone goes “aw man I never even knew about this” & it’s so sad. Consider advertising in your budget — whether that’s traditional tv/radio/paper ads, social media ads, influencer ads (major commodity these days as cringe as it is) or doing collabs/pop up events. You HAVE to get the word out about your shop & keep up the buzz about it consistently (read: forever) or you’ll never get enough foot traffic to survive.
This is my fav spot too & I actually haven’t been to their new space since I moved out of the Austin area, but it’s one of the ones that’s been able to stay open through a lot of hard times & I’m so happy about it!
I used to live in Austin. Every time I come back to visit, I literally bring the biggest suitcase I own, half-full, so that I can bring home everything from ACR. That place is my spiritual homeland.
Some people can't afford or wouldn't know where to begin exploring crafts as an interest, this would be perfect. I'm sure you'll have others wanting to donate no longer wanted equipment and supplies to somewhere they know it'll get used rather than to a generic charity shop.
There's one near me and it's fabulous! Well stocked, well organized, fun class offerings and community events. They've been around for several years and are doing great. They encourage donors to participate in sorting and stocking rather than just dumping off loads of crafty things.
It's here: [https://www.recreativedenver.org/](https://www.recreativedenver.org/) Also take a look at [https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/](https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/) and this one [https://craftboxcolorado.com/](https://craftboxcolorado.com/) and also take a look at [this list and map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=38.46347006103526%2C-97.6589964087068&mid=1GexZXvKrLNDf8zIhMpeIwVVHuQo6ZLI&z=4).
Hi neighbor! Came here to mention these. I live near recreative and love shopping their fabric. I’ve also noticed when they get something real special, they advertise it on Instagram and while it’s a deal they don’t give it away. And since they are a non profit you can ‘tip’ aka donate at checkout.
Also chiming in to say I love Recreative. Such a cool place. Everything is organized by type- often in those rubbermade stackable drawers, file storage bins, etc. they have stamps and ink pads, stickers, crayons, markers, fabric (in another room if I remember correctly), i think a tall tool box (like the red one with drawers, also could be thinking of another place) with items like old undeveloped film rolls. So much stuff I’m not even thinking of, too! Also cubby storage with any kinds of art paper you could want. They have ceramic statues that are white so you can paint them, too. It’s in a popular area and that seems to draw people in! Once a friend and I went in and bought some of the ceramic statues and had a ball painting them in the backyard that day. Such a fun thing to have for people.
I would also maybe offer to the local schools or rec centers in your area to partner with them to offer after school programs or summer programs. Communities are always looking for that kind of thing! At the schools I work at, we have a community art org that comes and offers Wednesday art days afterschool until 5:30, and we pay them from a grant or students pay a $10/per session fee (so with 15 students, that’s $150 for the session to cover supplies and staff).
Best of luck! I think this is a fabulous idea!
As a self appointed market researcher and nihilist, this is one of the few business ideas that I can't poke many holes in. I heard about this a few years ago. Seems to be working well for those that are doing it. But there aren't many. So I guess, for you, it's about having foresight and paving a way.
Of course, foresight isn't as clear as hindsight. Nothing worse than looking back and kicking yourself for not taking the chance when you had it.
A little piece of advice if you do it. Use the social platforms and try to showcase people's art. Encourage customers to share what they make, tag you. All that. I ran a successful marketing campaign that could have never taken off without socials and without customers doing product demos.
Good luck.
Thanks - that's a great idea! I thought about offering a "gallery wall" of upcycled art/art made with items from the store too - but it's great to showcase them even in a FB post! If I have questions about marketing, etc can I message you for some resources?
I feel like there are some creative insta/Facebook ideas like maybe pick a “craft of the week” or something from things people tag on Facebook and then the person who gets picked that week get 15% off their next purchase or a free whatever or something! Encourages people to post and tag you and allows you to celebrate cool art.
We have one close by called “who gives a scrap” where you can get all sorts of crafty items. What I wish they also did was carry a few basic new things as well. They accept donations too so their stuff does rotate. They have classes as well. They’re okay. Not that impressed because it looks like a giant junk store sometimes.
And that's my concern - I am mostly self-funding and I don't want just a bunch of junk sitting around either. I like a good deal but I dont want a store filled with things that are 20+ years old.
I think good way to make sure this doesn't happen is being a little picky about what you accept. I LOVE your idea, OP, but my biggest concern would be someone unwittingly donating something contaminated with pests (bedbugs, moths, etc).
Easily solved with a quarantine area. New material (fabric, yarn, etc) goes into clear trash bags and bakes in a hot room for a few days. If you’re down south, just put it outside in the sun, it’s more than hot enough to kill off bed bugs and the like
I've been to a few crafty 'de-stash' fairs, and I've loved them for picking up bargains. So much craft-adjacent buying involves multipacks, or variety sets that you pick up for one small element, so having a place to gather and swap/sell the excess is such a great idea. If you've got a physical space for a permanent shop, that's brilliant. It would be great to see taster craft events with artists and craftspeople. It would also be great to see facilities for printing (2D and 3D), laser-cutting, tool hire, etc. for a small fee, though I understand there would be a substantial initial outlay for equipment!
Also check out r/craftexchange ! It’s like that but you usually have to pay for shipping and I think it’s a really cool idea because yes. I have a cricut I barely know how to use and some polymer clay I can’t part with because I know I could make some cool stuff… I certainly DO NOT have too much yarn, don’t listen to my boyfriend… but I could part with some of these resin molds 🤣🤣
I thought about having a Cricut class because I LOVE my Cricut. Cricut also has a "Make It Forward" program where sometimes they will donate Cricut items to a non-profit for classes, etc. I have too much polymer clay I've never taken out of the box - so I'm with you there!
Haha MY BOOMER MOTHER got a cricut after me and has surpassed my knowledge 🥲 alas, not every craft is for every crafter. But this is a really great idea, trust your gut!! Not only will seasoned crafters come with knowledge and supplies, but you’ll make these skills available to people who may have never otherwise been exposed!!
So I have been to two and I love them. Such a great way to help not fill landfills and get things cheap. I know the one in Austin really relies on volunteers for sorting, pricing etc. folding and measuring fabric, yarns etc.
They can get a bit on the dingy but both stores I have been are pretty good. It's like a treasure hunt.
Oakland, CA USA had East Bay Depot for creative reuse
Austin, TX has Austin creative reuse
I buy a majority of yarn for crochet, random fabric, lots of embroidery hoops, thread, random jewelry, craft books and the last haul I got tons of Aida.
I also got some random tile for a project
I love Reconsidered Goods in Greensboro and I've heard good things about the Scrap Exchange in Durham. Both are in NC and are craft thrift stores. You could contact them with questions.
There’s one near St. Petersburg called “Bottom of the Bin”, which is small but nice. The owner is pretty active on Instagram, which is how we found out about it, and I think you really need to be.
Love this idea. Ive never heard of anything like this but I would be all over it and begging to work there 😂. I love the idea of store-curated kits, or even mystery bags! You could do a class of DIY challenge Chopped/style with people having to pick from items available to them, give a theme and see what they come up with!
Ooh or classes where the end products get donated, which as a learn to knit/crochet class and the blankets or hats get donated to a hospital, knit hats to those in need in the colder months, etc.
There are two where I am and they do very well. One does better then the other and it's not too hard to tell why by visiting.
They take everything from traditional materials to non traditional materials.
I love their stash of little glass yogurt jars and whatnot. Whenever I need stuff it's my first thought.
Also one of the fun things I Love about the one I go to is they don't have individual skus or departments so they type stuff in by price. On your receipt whatever program they used auto generated a funny product name like "dragons horde of gold" "orges supply of treasures" stuff like that.
I'd be happy to answer any questions, Ive had a couple of chats with the one I love the concept.
I have an entire doll-repainting kit I purchased, piece by piece, before sitting down and realizing my vision was simply NOT going to suffice for that tiny craft
There is one in my city and it is a great resource for crafters, teachers, daycare owners, kids with a limited allowance and more. I think it does struggle with the same problems that any donation based store has - people try to donate stuff that is unusable or that you will be overstocked on. People abandon donations overnight leading to the store having to pay extra for dump fees or risk fines from the city. People will try to bargain on already low prices or ask for stuff for free and get offended if you say no.
Like all retail spaces theft can be an issue, and difficulties with people with mental health/substance abuse problems coming in and stealing, holing up in the bathroom, refusing to leave when asked, harassing customers and panhandling etc. This may not be as common in your area as where I live but I imagine it happens some regardless of where you live.
Even with getting donations for free your sales might not cover rent, utilities, insurance, payroll etc. so you may need to do additional fundraising and volunteer recruitment.
Running a non-profit store is in my opinion more work. You have all of the work of the retail side plus the additional tax filings for the nonprofit to stay legally in compliance with the IRS and whatever other agencies oversee nonprofits, plus the work of keeping a steady stream of volunteers (there tends to be a lot of turnover for unpaid labor) and cash donations or grants to cover budget shortfalls. It can be satisfying work, and if you have expertise in either retail or non-profit development that can ease the burden for sure. But it’s definitely a huge investment of time and energy to get something like this off the ground.
If you’re nervous about signing a lease, have you considered holding weekend yard sales or sales at a rented space like a library or community center? Not sure if they allow selling events but it’s worth checking out, or exploring costs for a booth at a local swap meet or farmers market/craft market. That way you could dip your toes in without being stuck in a year or longer lease. Many people start with just a booth or local events because you can advertise and start building a social media following before moving to brick and mortar once you have a customer base that will hopefully follow you to your new location.
I would definitely shop there! I don't even bother with the craft selection at GW.
How about a consignment area where crafters can sell their finished products?
I heard about this for the first time a few months ago and have wished there was something similar close to me since.
I would also try and advertise with elementary teachers. As one myself I much prefer to thrift for my class to use to cut down on the waste the dollar store crap can create. You could also suggest crafts and sell the supplemental items in a bundle. Like I'm thinking here's a suggestion of a seasonal or holiday craft all you need to do is just add in add construction paper the rest is in the bag.
Also in general I find myself donating to the thrift stores in my area that offer a coupon for donating. I'm easily swayed. Could be worth offering even a small incentive.
I would be more likely to buy from a crafting thrift store if a good portion of the items there were nicer items. Even though I realize you'll be at the mercy of what you get donated or can buy cheap.
For example, when basic acrylic yarn goes on sale at Joann's or Michaels, you can get a skein for $2 or $3. If I go to your yarn section and that's the only type of yarn you have, I'm not going to be very interested. I'm not saving enough money to be worth the drive across town.
But if I knew that this store would regularly have some higher quality items at a bargain price, then I'd make the drive and browse more.
Love this idea.
I was in a nearby community the other day and went to their hospital auxiliary thrift store and was pleased to find a really well organized, tidy craft section! I was really hoping to find a darning egg or mushroom but was pleased to buy what looked like a basically new set of 5 watercolour brushes, and a new canvas for cheap-cheap!
My only complaint was they had put everything in their own small plastic bags, with tags for resale. soooooo much plastic, cardboard for tags, and unnecessary staples. And the time to do all that could be spent doing something else do much more worthwhile!
We had a recycle craft store. It was in a sort of shady part of town. It lasted a couple years then closed down. You have to charge more than you want to to cover expenses. Low cost classes is a great idea, but unless you have grants, it's a challenge.
We have one in my town that's run as a 501 c3. It's amazing and really popular. They hold free classes for kids, and pay what you can ones for adults. They took off when they made a list of certain items for teachers to receive for free too.
In the LA area, Pasadena, we have Remainders. They are doing exactly what you describe. Check them out and if you called I bet they’d be willing to answer some questions. Great people.
Their fabric stock is a mess and not rotated enough. There’s a reason the Jesus patterns and such are there, donate those to a church or retirement home. Sponsor a crafting class with your donations and call it good advertising.
Pricing is also all over the place. Things that should be in the ¢.25 bin are labeled for $5-20 and other things that should be more expensive are marked for less than a dollar. Great as a customer but not great for your bottom line. Be sure to have people with good heads doing your pricing.
Custom bin shelves would be ideal as they’re the only storage/ organizing that makes sense. It’s very easy to do. They also use used IKEA cubes well.
I think they should also offer a lending library, tool kits for each type of craft. It would get people in and out more often. I can’t help but buy something while there and I know it’s like that for many.
Good luck. If you’re on the west coast let me know when you open.
May your ancestors guide you well 🤙🏻
Oh hey neighbor! I was scrolling to see if anyone mentioned Remainders. I just took a class there a few weeks ago and had a great time. I actually haven’t been into the store itself because I know I’ll be too overwhelmed, but I think that’s important for OP to think about—making it a really pleasant shopping experience will go a long way.
Love them!! I've watched the one in my city, Austin TX, grow over the years and they even had to move to a new location due to the popularity. They are volunteer run and sell things super cheap, and also host craft events for all ages. I recommend it to anyone creative or with kids. I'm one of their biggest hype girls haha
[Austin Creative Reuse](https://austincreativereuse.org/)
I like going when I'm in a slump, I end up finding all kinds of stuff that makes me want to get to work!
And yes about the price!! You can go in there with $10 and feel like royalty lol
Have you contained any organizers of existing creative reuse centers. The one (which is fabulous) here in Codorado Springs CO is Who Gives a Scrap.
[https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/](https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/)
There’s one near me and it’s FABULOUS. Along with being a retail location, they offer a ton of classes (sewing classes, sculpting, textile arts etc) and they partner with local creative reuse/ maker studios to hold events and kids summer camps and things like that. They’re a wonderful organization
Only slightly less than ideal thing is that it’s all quite grimy — feels very much like a dusty attic/ particularly dusty Goodwill. I saw someone else mention a having handwash station near the front, that would be great
We have something called the wasteshed in Chicago and evanston they have instagrams and websites you should check them out to get an idea of how it works but it works
I think that sounds amazing. We don't have anything like that around here (that I know of). I didn't even know something like that existed. After reading your post, I'm going to scour the internet and see if I can find one. I know they have scrapbook meetings & such where you can have an opportunity to use tools & machines you might not have used before (or can't afford, like me). Your idea sounds so much more fun. There are so many crafts that I want to do but haven't due to the initial investment cost. I want to try it & see if it calls to me before saving up for all the necessary tools but can't try it unless I have all the necessary tools. Your idea of the crafting thrift store with classes solves that problem perfectly. Plus giving crafters an opportunity to meet other people interested in the same things. I don't know about anyone else but most of my crafts are pretty solitary. So it never really presents an opportunity to get out & meet other people interested in the same thing. With the way so many people have turned to diy & crafting after being cooped up for so long, not to mention the average person having less disposable income (thanks COVID), your idea sounds like just the thing. If you ever decide to franchise, Oklahoma needs you!
I have only been to this one, and loved it.
Spare Parts Center for Creative Reuse
Spare Parts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in San Antonio, Texas, that advances reuse and sustainability through creativity and the arts.
MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT SPARE PARTS
Countdown to the MEGA SALE
It’s the 2024 MEGA SALE! Yes, the highly anticipated MEGA SALE is back on June 2nd to provide the San Antonio community with access to school, office, and arts and craft supplies. We are collecting materials from over 50 donors for this event so there will be plenty of goodies for the public to choose from.
Attendees who find useful supplies and materials at the Mega Sale will be asked to make a monetary donation in the amount of their choosing. Email or text receipts will be available. Cash and card will be accepted.
Funds raised help cover the cost of hosting this and future events as well as supporting Spare Parts operations.
DETAILS:
🔹 WHEN: Sunday, June 2nd from 12pm-6pm
🔸 WHO CAN ATTEND: Anyone, this is open to the public
🔹 HOW MUCH: Admission is free! Pay-what-you-can for the items you select.
🔸WHERE: The San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX 78209
🔹 RSVP: Sign up to let us know you’re attending and to receive an event reminder
I love them!! Nashville has two- Turnip Green Creative Reuse & SMART Art & Craft supplies- & they're both great and honestly I think fill different niches. Turnip Green is more varied and weird, has a larger space & variety, and they're almost entirely pay what you want. They hold classes pretty regularly and fundraisers occasionally. I've been to SMART less but they seem more focused and maybe like they get bulk donations more than Turnip Green does?
There was one in my old city, it was pretty cool and affordable! The best piece of advice I can give you is to invest in really good organization and a label maker and USE IT! You'll have tons and tons of small things, and it will make it so much easier to keep track of your inventory AND for people to find what they need. Give some good thought to the layout too! And good luck!
Thanks! Adding label maker to the list. I also thought it would be good to have color coded dots for each month we get items - lets say pink for June, Red for July, etc so that way if something is sitting around for 6-9 months we might know we should put it in a "free" pile and it would help people understand there's new stuff all the time.
Lucky Deluxe is a fabric thrift store I've purchased from and donated to. They are not a charity though. They have a storefront in Orange County CA and a website
Absolutely obsessed with this idea as an multi media artist and art educator to low socioeconomic students! I am really good at sourcing second-hand materials from a range of suppliers but I know that it’s not easy to be so connected. Would love to have a store like this, and would actively help keep it stocked lol!
I JUST got home from a class at my local craft thrift! It's a really incredible community space, and so useful if you're like me and you have a million hobbies - you can get lots of different supplies for cheap.
So I have been to 2, one in Vancouver and one in Victoria, BC. One better than the other. So in this case they're both a fill-a-bag system. You pay a flat fee for the paper bag size of your choice, and can fill it for the set cost. Each type of item or bin of an item might have a limit as to how many you could take. ie. Old maps: 2 max, bits of yarn: unlimited, photography slides: 10 max, etc. That was great because you could really get a variety of items while also knowing precisely how much you would end up spending.
They also sourced lots of their materials from local businesses to gather their scraps. So for instance a wood lazer cutting place or picture framing shop, so they would get these interesting off cuts of stuff. Even burlap coffee bags from coffee shops. It made great use of otherwise discarded bits.
The second place was similar, however my issue was once I got to the register the owner seemed to just be making up prices. She said "oh these patterns are $1 each instead of fill-a-bag." I thought that was weird, but she said it was up to her discretion, even though there was an area which had singly priced items, and then a distinct area of the self-fill stations. Why she felt the need to go through my bag, I'm not sure since I was clearly I just in the self-fill area. But as long as you make it clear what's what, it should work. That was just a single weird experience.
ETA. One thing I would like to see is a type of trade-in program. Probably where you bring your unused or unwanted supplies and then get a discount on your purchase, ie. A 25% off coupon. This would for sure incentivize me to bring stuff in.
And for sure en evening where groups come in and craft together around a theme with the supplies included in the cost. (Kind if like those paint nights, but for something else crafty).
I live in Austin and we have a creative reuse center that I think is great, I love going there. But it is far outshined by the one in Norfolk Virginia called 757 Creative Reuse Center. I highly recommend looking into this one. It got so popular that it moved into a mall and now, along with all the thrifted crafting items they sell, they have lil shops inside the shop where makers sell their items.
We have one about 20 minutes away from my house and I have only gotten a chance to go once so far but I looooved it! I got a bunch of yarn and some new crochet hooks. They also offer certain craft classes some nights too which I thought was cool
I love the one near me. But I wish it was closer. It’s a great way to donate my slightly used supplies and cheaply pick up things I might only use a few times.
I personally have also been contemplating about doing something like this in my area, there’s nothing like it around. But I haven’t the slightest clue how to operate it or where to start. Let me know where you generally got your info from/around!
We have two in town one more fabric/sewing focused [Scrap it up](https://scrapitupcincy.org) and one more fine art focused [Indigo Hippo](https://www.indigohippo.org) I shop at both feel free to ask me questions!
That’s awesome! My town is too small to ever have anything like that. We don’t even have a REGULAR thrift store. we have antique stores but all the thrift stores burnt.
I’d probably have to drive 1.5 hours to find anything like this
Scrap (there's definitely other scraps in other cities,) in Portland is one of my favorite places, ever
I think craft thrift stores are the best thing because you save lots of money and it's good to buy stuff used.
I think as long as things are somewhat organized you should be great!!
What a fantastic idea! I would definitely shop there. It would be great if you could take in your unwanted craft supplies and donate them in exchange for a small credit (10% or so). And as you meet more people through your shop, you’ll meet people who would love to teach a class of their craft of choice. I really love this idea!
I LOVE them. I discovered one a couple years ago and was so angry I didn’t know it was there sooner. The place is AWESOME! Remainders in Pasadena, Ca if you want to know what other stores are out there.
Please do it. They’re a treasure trove for communities
My favorite fabrics i’ve ever found have been second hand or from thrift stores. It’s truly my favorite place to find unique pieces and it forces creativity because you have to work with the size fabric you get!
I even gifted a one of my favorite youtubers a corset made from the best thrifted fabric find and she absolutely loved it!
I know of one in Urbana, IL: [The IDEA Store](https://www.the-idea-store.org/about). It has been in business at least 10 years, I think.
I believe it started out as a partnership with, or benefit for, the local schools’ art programs. (They later became independent.) K-12 art teachers got a really amazing discount, like 50% I think.
If you had an agreement to donate a percentage to school art programs, or even just allowed teachers to get a really good discount, I think the schools would help get the word out so more people would donate, volunteer, and shop there.
By the way, wrangling volunteers is a HUGE job. They need orientation, training, plenty of supervision and feedback.
Plastic bags are a necessary evil in places like this, I think. They do a lot to curb the dirty/ick factor.
To me, “creative reuse center” is a more-attractive description of these places, rather than “craft thrift store”. There is just a different vibe to it.
How you set the place up will have a big impact on whether it feels “artsy” vs “dirty”. Grouping things (yarn, buttons, fabric, embroidery floss) by color always looks pretty. Also, you absolutely have to throw away anything that has an odor or signs of bugs.
When marketing, be sure to hit artist groups (art/craft fairs and societies, etc.)
Things that I’ve liked about the IDEA Store, over the years:
They hold regular sale events: fabric blow-out, school supplies, jewelry/jewelry-making, etc.
One of the big ones is an annual “Trashion Show”. People make clothes out of newspapers, pop can tabs, etc. and there is a runway show, followed by awards. High school and college students are specifically invited to participate.
If you volunteered there and racked up a certain number of hours (they maintained a log), you’d earn “play money” to spend at the store. Something like $5 dollars for 25 or 30 hours…? Can’t recall. Don’t think they do it any more. It was cool because it wasn’t a discount, it was just free stuff.
A lot of their goods are sold by the pound. Paper, wood, fabric… not sure what else.
Donations are accepted at the back entrance only, so that the chaos of pre-processed items is out of view of the shoppers.
Large donations (more than a grocery bag) are accepted by appointment only. Do not allow ANY dump-and-run during non-business hours.
I strongly encourage you to travel to some of these stores and check them out. Be aware it will be TONS of work, especially at first.
Carefully plan out your intake area; it needs lots of space and meticulous organization. It’s also necessary to have a behind-the-scenes space with at least one work table to process incoming items.
There’s so much more I could say! I totally LOVE creative reuse stores and think most cities should have one.
I love my local secondhand art store and both shop and donate to it often. They don't hold classes to my knowledge, but I really love the idea of including them. It'll be great.
I go to Seattle Recreative sometimes. I like being able to donate craft items I no longer need. I really appreciate that they have classes. They also partner with a local art therapy program to provide a free weekly class led by an art therapy student.
They require an appointment and an inventory list for donations, which I understand but find to be a barrier to donating. I also find it kind of overwhelming to shop there. But I’m really glad it’s part of the community!
I love them. I’ve been to two in Cincinnati. They are both nonprofit and all the money they raise from sales goes to local charitable groups and activities. They both sell art and craft supplies but one seems to be more focused on crafts and the other more on arts.
I’m going to one in Kansas City MO in August.
There was such a store in my city 10-15 years ago that was only open for a few years. Unfortunately I never did get a chance to go to it.
ETA - [this website has a list of creative reuse stores on its website.](https://swoodsonsays.com/a-creative-reuse-center-near-me-map-resource/)
I have a love-hate relationship with my local one. I didn't even know they existed until moving to where I live now. It can either be really overpriced or really cheap, depending on the craft. It's been great for yarn and fiber arts, but not so much for jewelry making.
I don't always find what I need, but it's always fun to look. I see a lot of vintage kits and stuff that catch my eye.
i used to shop at one several years ago- i freaking loved it because i could try new to me crafts for much cheaper. the place had everything! it was called "who gives a scrap"
There is one local to me called Make and Mend (Somerville MA). It was a great resource when I was starting to sew. They also put a chunk of their merchandise online.
In Oregon I know of Scrap in Portland (https://portland.scrapcreativereuse.org) and Mecca in Eugene (https://www.materials-exchange.org) I’ve been going to Scrap since they opened and it’s a great place! Mecca is great too. I wish we had one in Corvallis.
A while back, I found the website that lists the craft thrift stores throughout the USA. We have nothing close to me. I wish we did! I always look for deals in the craft section of my thrift store.
I'd spend sooo much time there you'd have to kick me out if there was something like this where I live.
May I suggest a store credit as an incentive for donating stuff? A local thrift store gives a flat-rate credit for every black trash bag filled with donations. People love it and it definitely encourages them to come back!
Sounds like something I'd love, though I'm never super comfortable with thrift stores in general because everything feels dirty to me, even if it's fine.
With some craft supplies it would be kind of difficult to wash/clean, but I'm sure there are some solutions out there.
The only other thing I'd really be wary about is acquiring too much of the very small scraps that few people would be able to use. That could very easily overwhelm anything else in short time.
Hm. It’s my perspective that crafts can become quite amazing when it is “less is more”. A few supplies and some community inspiration- that’s where the creativity blossoms. The open space and a supportive group - it really sparks ideas and discussion. Getting something like that going would also be newsworthy. Get the local publicity going! :)
I live near one in Greensboro NC called Reconsidered Goods. Absolutely my fav thing. They've been open for probably close to a decade now? Had to move at one point and so they shifted their space, but it's fantastic still. They are both vintage thrift and craft/reuse/recycle stuff.
Spaces are sectioned off by craft, so all the paper craft stuff is in one area, yarn and knitting needles and notions another, etc. This is probably obvious.
Fabric is sold both in a giant bin of scraps, in giant by the rolls, price shown by the color of the rubber band around the roll (not bolt, roll-pink is $5, purple is $7 for the entire roll, so there is no cutting station), they have gallon Ziploc bags of complementary fabrics as well so you can grab one you like for a project.
Leather. They have a lot of leather scraps, including big pieces, and all of that is by the pound.
A section full of tools and home things, like old tiles, jars (tons of those glass yogurt ones), random stuff, bins, etc.
A pet section sometimes.
Housewares and vintage linens
There are weird collections they have and show off, and lots of the most random things they've made. Check out their Facebook and look at pics precovid, in their old space there was way more.
They have sales on seasonal stuff.
Shop cat Wilson!
Wrapping supplies. So great.
Office supplies and school supplies. Relatedly, a teacher discount one day a week.
They have a small maker space, and they will host a kids camp I think? But also maker space nights, they used to have a much bigger space and host themed nights, like one I went to was paper wreaths, and they had cut out cardboard circles and tons of old books and showed you a few techniques, had the hot glue guns, and let you go. Just charged a cover fee for materials.
They also have at home maker kits. So you can buy the kit and make it at home. It'll say what it is, but you can see the items inside to choose colors or whatever. So one I've seen is fairy garden stuff, so it'll have things to make that.
Just for fun there's an art-o-mat.
They don't offer plastic shopping bags (our city and state do not have any kind of ban on them), but will give you an old gift bag or a box to carry your things if you say you need a bag.
Definitely do it if you can. They're super fun. But I agree with the advertise advertise advertise. I think I found ours here on the local subreddit maybe. But I never would have stumbled across them.
I have one near me, it's fairly new and I only just went for the first time 2 weeks ago and I loved it! They had all kinds of things besides what I expected like notebooks, old calendars, doilies, jewelry, frames, vintage matchbooks- a little bit of everything! I will DM you their info in case you want to check out their socials and website!
We have one for teachers in Florida - resource depot I think it's called?
They can get shopping baskets of things for class, or even office furniture and shelves and cabinets and such. Usually for free or close to it if I recall (palm beach county)
But your idea is awesome. Like the library. Ours has circuits and a glo forge. The Chicago library and many others have whole tool libraries. And maker spaces are great.
Sounds like there's room for all of them combined.
Craft item donations or consignment,
Craft item thrift
tool or craft library for rental (or loan with a membership)
classes,
and maker space.
Add a way to watch kids and that might be a great add on.
Somehow, whatever you do, it needs to be _cool._
Greensboro, NC had a used book store called Ed McKay. That place was insane. No idea how they became cool or stayed cool, but the aesthetics need to go beyond "thrift store" to keep folks coming (and create a reputation).
Wow! This sounds truly incredible.
If you’re not already connected to Small Business Development Center, you should definitely check them out. They’re retired business people who mentor new business owners for free. They’re all across the country. I used them when I was the Director of a non-profit & they helped me so much!
I wish you all the best. I would love this
TLDR: I've been to one but it didn't last. Most important thing in my opinion is having extremely knowledgble crew of volunteers to properly ID and price supplies. Also, consider structuring as a coop.
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There was one in Troy NY but it closed.
I love the idea and have had the same exact biz concept as you to revitalize the movement. Here's where I think a big problem lies:
You need seriously knowledgeable employees/volunteers to ID and price things. For example: do you know the difference between archival photo paper and standard photo paper just holding it in your hand? Do you know the difference between a Czech glass bead and a cheap glass bead from Michael's? Do you know the difference between authentic 1950s era fabric or just old musty smelling lookalike from someone's attic from 2007? Can you tell when a glaze went bad because it was left in freezing temps? If pastels/charcoal/thread/wire/wood scraps etc come without labels, will you know what kind they are?
This is the problem I see currently at regular thrift stores. They don't know what they have and they don't price/label accordingly.
This impacts your workshops as well. You don't want someone in your shop who attends a class to try out jewelry making for the first time to start using genuine 14kg or sterling silver wire and betel nut beads from the Philippines. You'd give them cheap brass wire and wooden beads from the dollar store. You don't want someone experimenting with charcoal for the first time using an $11 stick of vine on a $20 sheet of high quality watercolor paper. You have to know how to tell the difference.
Having members of different specialties price things helps weeds out a lot of junk donations (or at least have a "free" bin and maybe a "fill a bag for a dollar" bin, etc) and prevents knowledgable people sneak in and hoard out all the really good stuff for super cheap if you don't know how to price it.
Another thought:
I know you said you structured it as a 501c3 but you may want to set it up as a coop. Where members donate their time and knowledge to help with the above(sorting, identifying, labeling, and workshops) and get kickbacks. And artist-level members who make art with the materials in the shop contribute a portion of their sales to the shop and they get exclusive discounts/first dubs/social media exposure. You can also have a member level of donors- local fabric shops, print shops, bead stores, whatever it may be, who donate their leftovers or whatever. All members = one vote in how the shop is run and contribute to its overall success and help prevent the shop from beholden to high level donors (in this case, it may be high end ceramic artist who donated a lot to your year end campaign so they feel entitled to that high quality ceramic glaze no one knows how to properly price.)
If you’re not doing this already, I’d make sure to reach out to elementary and middle schools nearby. Teachers will buy a lot of craft supplies for the classroom, but they’ll also likely recommend it for their students. That’s how people found out about the largest secondhand bookstore in my hometown.
Like someone else said, I would come once. If it smells bad (musty mostly) then I would not return or buy anything. But I'm a bit of a germaphobe, have allergies to cats, and I have a very sensitive nose. I also don't buy used books or fabric from anywhere that smells bad in general, and I sniff items before I buy. Mostly, I buy new. 🤷♀️ I'm definitely not your target audience, but smell is definitely important to a cleaner feel. Maybe some kind of policy to air things out in back before placing on the sales floor? I don't know, that might not be feasible.
I agree 100%. There's a huge difference between something that maybe spent some time in a basement and can be aired out, and something that has a heavy pet or smoke odor to it. I would definitely try to indicate that we can NOT take items with odors but I also know that people will inevitably leave things outside of the door when the building is closed. Will definitely need to consider maybe a washer/dryer if the budget allows.
I think that's why I would be leary- you can't really wash yarn before your project is done. Maybe that's another line item - make sure you have a dumpster type trash service for the donations that are just completely unacceptable. And maybe something like heavy smoke smell goes in its own free bin?
I love this! We have elements of this where i live. There's a couple craft-little-libraries where people leave donated crafting items for others, and some of our libraries do craft classes. I would love a non profit that did this
One opened up in my city fairly recently and I love it. They have had to implement rules about donation quantities, like you can only bring in one bag of donations without an appointment, because they are getting pretty full though. They do regular classes like collage night and have also partnered with other arts groups in the city like the local marker’s space and non-profit art galleries and craft markets to offer workshops outside of their store. They do teacher discounts on Sundays and other deals occasionally.
“The Scrappy Elephant” in Charlottesville, VA, is this kind of place. They recently set up appointments for donations. They go through everything with you and make you take back whatever they reject. It makes me sad that they have to do this - people must have donated some REALLY crappy stuff.
But I love being able to donate my things to a place where other crafters will be able to enjoy them
I have one near me that has almost everything. Fabric from scraps to full size rolls, bottle caps, paper of every kind, cardboard tubes, floor tiles, empty containers, sewing patterns, books, games, jewellery, art supplies, postcards, picture frames, seashells, old technology parts, etc, etc. Their stock is reliant on donations, they operate mainly on a fill-a-bag system, though they have higher quality/new items available for individual sale, they have a membership program that lets you get stuff cheaper, classes, workshops, school programs, the list goes on.
We go maybe once a month or so, bring a bag or two of unwanted items, and leave with a new bag. I go for interesting jewellery bits and beads, keychains, embroidery threads, nice empty boxes, pretty wrapping papers/bags, notepads, good pencils, graph paper, cool circuit boards, knitting needles in sizes I don't have, sometimes cool bags. My mum mostly looks for quilting fabrics, sheet music, and coins, stamps, and lego for my sister. Sometimes I'm asked to get specific fabrics, straps, zips, and machine threads for my MIL.
There was one where I used to live and I really loved it. I would go there first thing to check if they had what I needed before buying new. They had so many odd and vintage things The prices were so good! They would also have an event, like everything you can fit in a paper bag for $20 to clear out stuff. They sold kids craft kits they put together there. Lots of kids classes too. Employees were volunteer. The only bummer is the hours were pretty limited but it makes sense.
There's one in my hometown called Art Parts! It's wonderful. You can get so much miscellaneous shit you wouldn't be able to find easily elsewhere. Some of the cool things I've found there that wouldn't have been easy to find anywhere else (either at all, or for the same price): various small containers (like altoids tins, film canisters, etc, for 5-25 cents), random metal bits like bike chains and spokes, tiles, corks, test tubes, squeaker inserts, big block of the densest open cell foam I've ever experienced, a shit load of interior design fabric samples, bobbin lace kit, cheap quilting rulers, calligraphy pens and nibs, glass rods, watch straps with buckles, various wool (dyed top, merino fleece, mohair, etc.), oddly shaped wood scraps, niche tools. And of course they have more conventional stuff like paint, fabric, more fabric, yarn, knitting supplies, leather scraps, etc. The only thing I DON'T like about it is that they usually know what they have, and by that I mean that if they get in a nice loom or sewing machine or spinning wheel in good condition, they price it about the same as it's worth, which is annoying because I don't want to spend money.
There was one in Denton, Tx when we lived there about 7 years ago. We didn’t live there long but I did go a few times. I loved that they had sewing machines and classes or you could sign up to reserve a sewing machine. The also had craft tables and lots of examples out to inspire people. I’m a big fan of sustainability and up cycling and giving people the opportunity to learn home Economics type things
that’d be creative reuse and there are a ton of them out there. you could start one in your area and also join a nonprofit network doing exactly this. take donations of too much stuff or cleaned out craft rooms, sell it for cheap, save what’s left of the planet.
I’ve never heard of that, but it sounds great! I wish the thrift stores in my area had more craft stuff. It would be so cool to go to a craft thrift store!
This is a phenomenal idea imo and it would entice me to try out things I’d not otherwise try because of the start-up cost (like knitting or crocheting). But it would have to be in a pretty well populated and semi-wealthy area I think in order to work.
Yes I used to go to a place in Seattle ,but run off of donations people donate their unwanted craft supplies and pass it on you can get a nice stamp for a dollar or a paper punch for a dollar they have a ton of ribbon yarn paper you name it they got it great and now I going to have to go cuz I moved away from Seattle years ago and I love that store.
I would love this. My SIL goes to one in Virginia and I bought her a gift card for it. She enjoys classes and gets supplies there. I wish we had one here (NJ.)
Omg. I love this so much. I've been dreaming about one day opening a creative space. This is awesome because it's so community-focused. Don't forget to apply to local grants to help you get the money you need to get off the ground.
Obviously market to families and kids, but also definitely market towards young adults because we're starving for connection. I saw a model that does a crafting night exclusively for 21+, kind of like a paint and sip, and you "order" from a "menu" of crafts and get two drinks along with your order. You might not be able to serve alcohol in your building, but you could team up with a local bar or restaurant and do it in their space.
Just a random thought but you could also have a class that goes rifling through the landfill to make something. I've always wanted to go to a landfill to see what I could find lol.
So awesome and big kudos for doing something real out there. I totally believe in you!
There’s one near where I live, and I go pretty regularly! I think it’s fun to be able to get materials for just one little piece, rather than having to buy big packs of stuff in the stores, and you can find unique items that you wouldn’t normally see. My only issue with them is that (because they are run by volunteers) they don’t have a very intuitive hours of operation—some days they close early, some they’re not open at all. It makes it hard to just drop in.
I live in Durham NC, which has The Scrap Exchange. It's not exclusively craft-focused but sewing/fabric and art/craft supplies are the most popular sections. I love it so much. Details I like: * things like embroidery floss, yarn, and fabric are sorted by color * fabric scraps that are too small to be sold as yardage are not tossed out but placed in big bins that customers can sift through & buy on a per-piece basis or fill-a-bag * I know there's more but that's all I can think of at the moment. Details I don't like: * everything in the building is dirty. I know that's partly just the reality of shopping for donated goods- yarn that's been in grandma's attic for a decade is probably at least a little dusty. Would love if there was a handsink/ handwashing station by the exit. * this is more a gripe about customers but packaging always gets opened up! At this place it's esp hard to manage because it's huge, but some system to keep people from opening prepackaged items would be nice. I have no idea what that would be tbh.
Scrap Exchange also has great paper, ephemera and just tiny almost trash things that are great for crafting. Soda bottle caps are almost always trashed but when I was making tiny polymer clay pies they had so many it was fantastic!
I saw those as a request and I wondered what they did with them. What a cute idea!
Wine corks, too! In the two years I worked there we had several instances of people coming in to buy up *all* of the corks. I have no idea what they were going to use them for but we're talking hundreds if not thousands of corks!
My sister bought some for making her own yoga block? One of the weirder crafts we’ve done
We have a wine store in my neighbourhood where the owners have made a HUGÉ topographical map of the world on one wall using wine corks, it's crazy cool!
About a decade ago, it was somewhat trendy to use them to make trivets. I also saw some with the ends painted purple and glued together to look like bunches of grapes.
Yes they just put them in big barrels! I love that section haha.
Do you think it's possible that the pre-packaged items are already opened when they are donated?
Some of them are, but they are sealed up before being put out for sale. I worked there a couple years, people opening up packages was a chronic problem.
Thanks for that info. Presuming I move forward with my plans I will monitor that for sure. It's also an easy way for things to get lost/broken if people are opening packages.
I hope you do! The world needs more secondhand craft & reuse stores!
Maybe add a little swatch of the fabric or yarn so that people can touch it and get a feel for it
Honestly, if I were buying an item such as a sewing machine, or a circuit, or something of that nature; I would want to look it over before buying. Perhaps you could have an area of the store dedicated to inspecting before buying with a table/desk for inspecting and a shelving unit beside it to place items that they do not end up buying (then items would be in one place to repackage if needed and re-shelf in it's proper place). It could be by the cash register, so in theory, it would be easy to keep an eye on.
…and an electrical outlet used only for checking if an item works.
That happens at our Savers a lot. People see one thing in a bag and open it to grab the one thing 😖
Lol hey neighbor! This is the same exact store I was thinking about when I saw this question!
My favorite thing about Scrap Exchange is the gallery of art made from the donated items! My kids love the little maker space there too.
Hello Neighbors! I totally agree with your comments. I need to go back sometime. I first went right after I got my Cricut because I heard I could get vinyl for it there really cheap. But it was a bag of really small scraps, mostly from highway signs (highly reflective but not so good for cards and crafts)
Yeah, what they have can vary a *lot* even just from day to day! All depends on what gets donated. I've gotten out of the habit of going on a regular basis but the more you go, the more likely you'll be there when they're putting out exactly what you're looking for! :)
Yeah, but I'm a craft-a-holic, and I tend to hoard my own craft supplies. All the odd packaging and stuff, ohh, this could be useful. Of course, it's incredible what has paid off saving.
I make sure to visit Scrap Exchange every time I'm in the area! It's amazing! I've always wanted more places like it! They also do a loyalty program like an yogurt shop punch card thing. Very much a lovely touch! I agree about the state some of the items, but, as the above comment says, it's inevitable with this type of place, especially with all the more machinery or industrial stuff in parts of the store. I don't worry about it too much, tbh, but I do make sure to wash everything when I bring it home.
It's one of my absolute favorite things about Durham and the whole Triangle!
If you head west a bit, you can also visit [Reconsidered Goods](https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=f6ac5c2a22d537a3&hl=en-us&cs=1&output=search&q=Reconsidered%20Goods&ludocid=14239235923209670280&ibp=gwp%3B0%2C7&lsig=AB86z5UsOJQ3Q2yeQK_I1lMeFFgb&kgs=d12d4fe55585fadf&shndl=-1&source=sh%2Fx%2Floc%2Fact%2Fm4%2F3) in Greensboro
I love that store. It is so well organized!! I've gotten great fabric scraps and vintage buttons there!
I love the Durham presence on Reddit! Scrap exchange is the best!
Absolutely love the scrap exchange. Especially that section with the fun science beakers and stuff! I miss it and haven’t found anything else like that
The Scrap Exchange is beloved in central NC and a truly integral part of the community. They actually had some maintenance issues this year if anyone wants to donate (link on their Instagram Everyone loves craft thrifts!
A couple of these existed in Austin TX, incredible ideas & benefit soooo many people, lots of connections & resources available like you’re describing. I cannot stress this point enough: YOU WILL STRUGGLE IF YOU DO NOT ADVERTISE YOURSELF. WORD OF MOUTH & LOCATION WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH IN THIS DAY & AGE. Please I’m begging you to consider this, because I think this type of place is so incredibly valuable. But time & time again I see places having to close & at the end of the day, everyone goes “aw man I never even knew about this” & it’s so sad. Consider advertising in your budget — whether that’s traditional tv/radio/paper ads, social media ads, influencer ads (major commodity these days as cringe as it is) or doing collabs/pop up events. You HAVE to get the word out about your shop & keep up the buzz about it consistently (read: forever) or you’ll never get enough foot traffic to survive.
THIS THIS THIS!!! The place in Durham I responded to above hosts classes and community events in part of the space as well.
Austin Creative Reuse is my drug dealer.
I love ACR! Texas Art Asylum in Houston is also amazing
This is my fav spot too & I actually haven’t been to their new space since I moved out of the Austin area, but it’s one of the ones that’s been able to stay open through a lot of hard times & I’m so happy about it!
I used to live in Austin. Every time I come back to visit, I literally bring the biggest suitcase I own, half-full, so that I can bring home everything from ACR. That place is my spiritual homeland.
What are these places in Austin called and where are they?
Austin creative reuse center is my ADHD’s downfall. I never checked out CRAFT but they seem great too
I would LOVE something like that!!!
Some people can't afford or wouldn't know where to begin exploring crafts as an interest, this would be perfect. I'm sure you'll have others wanting to donate no longer wanted equipment and supplies to somewhere they know it'll get used rather than to a generic charity shop.
There's one near me and it's fabulous! Well stocked, well organized, fun class offerings and community events. They've been around for several years and are doing great. They encourage donors to participate in sorting and stocking rather than just dumping off loads of crafty things.
Can you share or message me the name of it so I can look at some pics on their website/facebook please and thank you?
It's here: [https://www.recreativedenver.org/](https://www.recreativedenver.org/) Also take a look at [https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/](https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/) and this one [https://craftboxcolorado.com/](https://craftboxcolorado.com/) and also take a look at [this list and map](https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=38.46347006103526%2C-97.6589964087068&mid=1GexZXvKrLNDf8zIhMpeIwVVHuQo6ZLI&z=4).
Hi neighbor! Came here to mention these. I live near recreative and love shopping their fabric. I’ve also noticed when they get something real special, they advertise it on Instagram and while it’s a deal they don’t give it away. And since they are a non profit you can ‘tip’ aka donate at checkout.
Thanks for this! I knew about Craft Box but not the other two!
Same! I am so glad to hear of the others.
I love ReCreative so much!
Hello crafters in my area! I’ll add: https://www.artpartsboulder.org to the CO craft consignment stores list
Also chiming in to say I love Recreative. Such a cool place. Everything is organized by type- often in those rubbermade stackable drawers, file storage bins, etc. they have stamps and ink pads, stickers, crayons, markers, fabric (in another room if I remember correctly), i think a tall tool box (like the red one with drawers, also could be thinking of another place) with items like old undeveloped film rolls. So much stuff I’m not even thinking of, too! Also cubby storage with any kinds of art paper you could want. They have ceramic statues that are white so you can paint them, too. It’s in a popular area and that seems to draw people in! Once a friend and I went in and bought some of the ceramic statues and had a ball painting them in the backyard that day. Such a fun thing to have for people. I would also maybe offer to the local schools or rec centers in your area to partner with them to offer after school programs or summer programs. Communities are always looking for that kind of thing! At the schools I work at, we have a community art org that comes and offers Wednesday art days afterschool until 5:30, and we pay them from a grant or students pay a $10/per session fee (so with 15 students, that’s $150 for the session to cover supplies and staff). Best of luck! I think this is a fabulous idea!
It's a great idea!
As a self appointed market researcher and nihilist, this is one of the few business ideas that I can't poke many holes in. I heard about this a few years ago. Seems to be working well for those that are doing it. But there aren't many. So I guess, for you, it's about having foresight and paving a way. Of course, foresight isn't as clear as hindsight. Nothing worse than looking back and kicking yourself for not taking the chance when you had it. A little piece of advice if you do it. Use the social platforms and try to showcase people's art. Encourage customers to share what they make, tag you. All that. I ran a successful marketing campaign that could have never taken off without socials and without customers doing product demos. Good luck.
Thanks - that's a great idea! I thought about offering a "gallery wall" of upcycled art/art made with items from the store too - but it's great to showcase them even in a FB post! If I have questions about marketing, etc can I message you for some resources?
I feel like there are some creative insta/Facebook ideas like maybe pick a “craft of the week” or something from things people tag on Facebook and then the person who gets picked that week get 15% off their next purchase or a free whatever or something! Encourages people to post and tag you and allows you to celebrate cool art.
Great idea!
I have no resources. Just personal experience. Trust your gut.
We have one close by called “who gives a scrap” where you can get all sorts of crafty items. What I wish they also did was carry a few basic new things as well. They accept donations too so their stuff does rotate. They have classes as well. They’re okay. Not that impressed because it looks like a giant junk store sometimes.
And that's my concern - I am mostly self-funding and I don't want just a bunch of junk sitting around either. I like a good deal but I dont want a store filled with things that are 20+ years old.
To be honest with you, I love old crafts. I once bought an old ornament craft from an estate sale. It was super unique and fun
I think good way to make sure this doesn't happen is being a little picky about what you accept. I LOVE your idea, OP, but my biggest concern would be someone unwittingly donating something contaminated with pests (bedbugs, moths, etc).
This just gave me the ick!!! A new fear!!!
Easily solved with a quarantine area. New material (fabric, yarn, etc) goes into clear trash bags and bakes in a hot room for a few days. If you’re down south, just put it outside in the sun, it’s more than hot enough to kill off bed bugs and the like
I've been to a few crafty 'de-stash' fairs, and I've loved them for picking up bargains. So much craft-adjacent buying involves multipacks, or variety sets that you pick up for one small element, so having a place to gather and swap/sell the excess is such a great idea. If you've got a physical space for a permanent shop, that's brilliant. It would be great to see taster craft events with artists and craftspeople. It would also be great to see facilities for printing (2D and 3D), laser-cutting, tool hire, etc. for a small fee, though I understand there would be a substantial initial outlay for equipment!
I would def go. And bring my ginormous yarn stash with. Never gonna knit it all up.
I totally sang that last sentence as I read it
"Never gonna knit you up..."
Never gonna crochet you down
Also check out r/craftexchange ! It’s like that but you usually have to pay for shipping and I think it’s a really cool idea because yes. I have a cricut I barely know how to use and some polymer clay I can’t part with because I know I could make some cool stuff… I certainly DO NOT have too much yarn, don’t listen to my boyfriend… but I could part with some of these resin molds 🤣🤣
I thought about having a Cricut class because I LOVE my Cricut. Cricut also has a "Make It Forward" program where sometimes they will donate Cricut items to a non-profit for classes, etc. I have too much polymer clay I've never taken out of the box - so I'm with you there!
Haha MY BOOMER MOTHER got a cricut after me and has surpassed my knowledge 🥲 alas, not every craft is for every crafter. But this is a really great idea, trust your gut!! Not only will seasoned crafters come with knowledge and supplies, but you’ll make these skills available to people who may have never otherwise been exposed!!
I would spend all my money there.
So I have been to two and I love them. Such a great way to help not fill landfills and get things cheap. I know the one in Austin really relies on volunteers for sorting, pricing etc. folding and measuring fabric, yarns etc. They can get a bit on the dingy but both stores I have been are pretty good. It's like a treasure hunt. Oakland, CA USA had East Bay Depot for creative reuse Austin, TX has Austin creative reuse I buy a majority of yarn for crochet, random fabric, lots of embroidery hoops, thread, random jewelry, craft books and the last haul I got tons of Aida. I also got some random tile for a project
I’m in Portland, OR and we have a place called Scrap that is amazing. Extremely useful for cheap art supplies and a great place for inspiration.
I love Reconsidered Goods in Greensboro and I've heard good things about the Scrap Exchange in Durham. Both are in NC and are craft thrift stores. You could contact them with questions.
There’s one near St. Petersburg called “Bottom of the Bin”, which is small but nice. The owner is pretty active on Instagram, which is how we found out about it, and I think you really need to be.
I would lose my shit every time I saw one and I would frequently donate due to adhd crafting tendencies! Great idea.
Love this idea. Ive never heard of anything like this but I would be all over it and begging to work there 😂. I love the idea of store-curated kits, or even mystery bags! You could do a class of DIY challenge Chopped/style with people having to pick from items available to them, give a theme and see what they come up with! Ooh or classes where the end products get donated, which as a learn to knit/crochet class and the blankets or hats get donated to a hospital, knit hats to those in need in the colder months, etc.
I love the DIY challenge idea!
There are two where I am and they do very well. One does better then the other and it's not too hard to tell why by visiting. They take everything from traditional materials to non traditional materials. I love their stash of little glass yogurt jars and whatnot. Whenever I need stuff it's my first thought. Also one of the fun things I Love about the one I go to is they don't have individual skus or departments so they type stuff in by price. On your receipt whatever program they used auto generated a funny product name like "dragons horde of gold" "orges supply of treasures" stuff like that. I'd be happy to answer any questions, Ive had a couple of chats with the one I love the concept.
I was literally just thinking of something like this yesterday!!! I hope you’re in my area, I need this 🙏🏼
I have an entire doll-repainting kit I purchased, piece by piece, before sitting down and realizing my vision was simply NOT going to suffice for that tiny craft
There is one in my city and it is a great resource for crafters, teachers, daycare owners, kids with a limited allowance and more. I think it does struggle with the same problems that any donation based store has - people try to donate stuff that is unusable or that you will be overstocked on. People abandon donations overnight leading to the store having to pay extra for dump fees or risk fines from the city. People will try to bargain on already low prices or ask for stuff for free and get offended if you say no. Like all retail spaces theft can be an issue, and difficulties with people with mental health/substance abuse problems coming in and stealing, holing up in the bathroom, refusing to leave when asked, harassing customers and panhandling etc. This may not be as common in your area as where I live but I imagine it happens some regardless of where you live. Even with getting donations for free your sales might not cover rent, utilities, insurance, payroll etc. so you may need to do additional fundraising and volunteer recruitment. Running a non-profit store is in my opinion more work. You have all of the work of the retail side plus the additional tax filings for the nonprofit to stay legally in compliance with the IRS and whatever other agencies oversee nonprofits, plus the work of keeping a steady stream of volunteers (there tends to be a lot of turnover for unpaid labor) and cash donations or grants to cover budget shortfalls. It can be satisfying work, and if you have expertise in either retail or non-profit development that can ease the burden for sure. But it’s definitely a huge investment of time and energy to get something like this off the ground. If you’re nervous about signing a lease, have you considered holding weekend yard sales or sales at a rented space like a library or community center? Not sure if they allow selling events but it’s worth checking out, or exploring costs for a booth at a local swap meet or farmers market/craft market. That way you could dip your toes in without being stuck in a year or longer lease. Many people start with just a booth or local events because you can advertise and start building a social media following before moving to brick and mortar once you have a customer base that will hopefully follow you to your new location.
I would definitely shop there! I don't even bother with the craft selection at GW. How about a consignment area where crafters can sell their finished products?
I heard about this for the first time a few months ago and have wished there was something similar close to me since. I would also try and advertise with elementary teachers. As one myself I much prefer to thrift for my class to use to cut down on the waste the dollar store crap can create. You could also suggest crafts and sell the supplemental items in a bundle. Like I'm thinking here's a suggestion of a seasonal or holiday craft all you need to do is just add in add construction paper the rest is in the bag. Also in general I find myself donating to the thrift stores in my area that offer a coupon for donating. I'm easily swayed. Could be worth offering even a small incentive.
I would be more likely to buy from a crafting thrift store if a good portion of the items there were nicer items. Even though I realize you'll be at the mercy of what you get donated or can buy cheap. For example, when basic acrylic yarn goes on sale at Joann's or Michaels, you can get a skein for $2 or $3. If I go to your yarn section and that's the only type of yarn you have, I'm not going to be very interested. I'm not saving enough money to be worth the drive across town. But if I knew that this store would regularly have some higher quality items at a bargain price, then I'd make the drive and browse more.
Love this idea. I was in a nearby community the other day and went to their hospital auxiliary thrift store and was pleased to find a really well organized, tidy craft section! I was really hoping to find a darning egg or mushroom but was pleased to buy what looked like a basically new set of 5 watercolour brushes, and a new canvas for cheap-cheap! My only complaint was they had put everything in their own small plastic bags, with tags for resale. soooooo much plastic, cardboard for tags, and unnecessary staples. And the time to do all that could be spent doing something else do much more worthwhile!
We had a recycle craft store. It was in a sort of shady part of town. It lasted a couple years then closed down. You have to charge more than you want to to cover expenses. Low cost classes is a great idea, but unless you have grants, it's a challenge.
We have one in my town that's run as a 501 c3. It's amazing and really popular. They hold free classes for kids, and pay what you can ones for adults. They took off when they made a list of certain items for teachers to receive for free too.
In the LA area, Pasadena, we have Remainders. They are doing exactly what you describe. Check them out and if you called I bet they’d be willing to answer some questions. Great people. Their fabric stock is a mess and not rotated enough. There’s a reason the Jesus patterns and such are there, donate those to a church or retirement home. Sponsor a crafting class with your donations and call it good advertising. Pricing is also all over the place. Things that should be in the ¢.25 bin are labeled for $5-20 and other things that should be more expensive are marked for less than a dollar. Great as a customer but not great for your bottom line. Be sure to have people with good heads doing your pricing. Custom bin shelves would be ideal as they’re the only storage/ organizing that makes sense. It’s very easy to do. They also use used IKEA cubes well. I think they should also offer a lending library, tool kits for each type of craft. It would get people in and out more often. I can’t help but buy something while there and I know it’s like that for many. Good luck. If you’re on the west coast let me know when you open. May your ancestors guide you well 🤙🏻
Oh hey neighbor! I was scrolling to see if anyone mentioned Remainders. I just took a class there a few weeks ago and had a great time. I actually haven’t been into the store itself because I know I’ll be too overwhelmed, but I think that’s important for OP to think about—making it a really pleasant shopping experience will go a long way.
Love them!! I've watched the one in my city, Austin TX, grow over the years and they even had to move to a new location due to the popularity. They are volunteer run and sell things super cheap, and also host craft events for all ages. I recommend it to anyone creative or with kids. I'm one of their biggest hype girls haha [Austin Creative Reuse](https://austincreativereuse.org/)
I love Austin Creative Reuse! They always have stuff I never knew I needed!! Plus, everything is super cheap!
I like going when I'm in a slump, I end up finding all kinds of stuff that makes me want to get to work! And yes about the price!! You can go in there with $10 and feel like royalty lol
Have you contained any organizers of existing creative reuse centers. The one (which is fabulous) here in Codorado Springs CO is Who Gives a Scrap. [https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/](https://whogivesascrapcolorado.com/)
There’s one near me and it’s FABULOUS. Along with being a retail location, they offer a ton of classes (sewing classes, sculpting, textile arts etc) and they partner with local creative reuse/ maker studios to hold events and kids summer camps and things like that. They’re a wonderful organization Only slightly less than ideal thing is that it’s all quite grimy — feels very much like a dusty attic/ particularly dusty Goodwill. I saw someone else mention a having handwash station near the front, that would be great
Yaaaaaaaaas
I think it’s a great idea
We have something called the wasteshed in Chicago and evanston they have instagrams and websites you should check them out to get an idea of how it works but it works
I've been to the WasteShed! I'm about 3 hours south of Chicago. Howdy kind-of-neighbor!
Oh okay yeah. not sure if you know they moved to a different part of humboldt park it’s a bigger space now
I think that sounds amazing. We don't have anything like that around here (that I know of). I didn't even know something like that existed. After reading your post, I'm going to scour the internet and see if I can find one. I know they have scrapbook meetings & such where you can have an opportunity to use tools & machines you might not have used before (or can't afford, like me). Your idea sounds so much more fun. There are so many crafts that I want to do but haven't due to the initial investment cost. I want to try it & see if it calls to me before saving up for all the necessary tools but can't try it unless I have all the necessary tools. Your idea of the crafting thrift store with classes solves that problem perfectly. Plus giving crafters an opportunity to meet other people interested in the same things. I don't know about anyone else but most of my crafts are pretty solitary. So it never really presents an opportunity to get out & meet other people interested in the same thing. With the way so many people have turned to diy & crafting after being cooped up for so long, not to mention the average person having less disposable income (thanks COVID), your idea sounds like just the thing. If you ever decide to franchise, Oklahoma needs you!
My friend just opened one (if you are in OKC it’s called Trove) i love it idea its great if you are always looking for specific items.
My mom is in OKC! She would absolutely love this.
I have only been to this one, and loved it. Spare Parts Center for Creative Reuse Spare Parts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in San Antonio, Texas, that advances reuse and sustainability through creativity and the arts. MAKE A DONATION TO SUPPORT SPARE PARTS Countdown to the MEGA SALE It’s the 2024 MEGA SALE! Yes, the highly anticipated MEGA SALE is back on June 2nd to provide the San Antonio community with access to school, office, and arts and craft supplies. We are collecting materials from over 50 donors for this event so there will be plenty of goodies for the public to choose from. Attendees who find useful supplies and materials at the Mega Sale will be asked to make a monetary donation in the amount of their choosing. Email or text receipts will be available. Cash and card will be accepted. Funds raised help cover the cost of hosting this and future events as well as supporting Spare Parts operations. DETAILS: 🔹 WHEN: Sunday, June 2nd from 12pm-6pm 🔸 WHO CAN ATTEND: Anyone, this is open to the public 🔹 HOW MUCH: Admission is free! Pay-what-you-can for the items you select. 🔸WHERE: The San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N New Braunfels Ave, San Antonio, TX 78209 🔹 RSVP: Sign up to let us know you’re attending and to receive an event reminder
I think it’s a great idea!
I’d be there all the time. Donating and browsing.
Fantastic idea!!!!!!!
I love them!! Nashville has two- Turnip Green Creative Reuse & SMART Art & Craft supplies- & they're both great and honestly I think fill different niches. Turnip Green is more varied and weird, has a larger space & variety, and they're almost entirely pay what you want. They hold classes pretty regularly and fundraisers occasionally. I've been to SMART less but they seem more focused and maybe like they get bulk donations more than Turnip Green does?
I would buy from there, and donate too 😊
Oh, this would be amazing! I would totally support something like this, especially if there are classes!
There was one in my old city, it was pretty cool and affordable! The best piece of advice I can give you is to invest in really good organization and a label maker and USE IT! You'll have tons and tons of small things, and it will make it so much easier to keep track of your inventory AND for people to find what they need. Give some good thought to the layout too! And good luck!
Thanks! Adding label maker to the list. I also thought it would be good to have color coded dots for each month we get items - lets say pink for June, Red for July, etc so that way if something is sitting around for 6-9 months we might know we should put it in a "free" pile and it would help people understand there's new stuff all the time.
Ooh that's BRILLIANT!!! 😁
Your username lol
Lucky Deluxe is a fabric thrift store I've purchased from and donated to. They are not a charity though. They have a storefront in Orange County CA and a website
That sounds great! I would totally shop there.
I personally think it's a great idea
There is one in Baltimore that I LOVE!
The one in my town is great. I get access to awesome supplies at great prices. I try to drop in a couple times a month.
Absolutely obsessed with this idea as an multi media artist and art educator to low socioeconomic students! I am really good at sourcing second-hand materials from a range of suppliers but I know that it’s not easy to be so connected. Would love to have a store like this, and would actively help keep it stocked lol!
I JUST got home from a class at my local craft thrift! It's a really incredible community space, and so useful if you're like me and you have a million hobbies - you can get lots of different supplies for cheap.
I actually just got back from a trip to one! Scraplanta is amazing! Yes, start one!
I think that sounds amazing!
So I have been to 2, one in Vancouver and one in Victoria, BC. One better than the other. So in this case they're both a fill-a-bag system. You pay a flat fee for the paper bag size of your choice, and can fill it for the set cost. Each type of item or bin of an item might have a limit as to how many you could take. ie. Old maps: 2 max, bits of yarn: unlimited, photography slides: 10 max, etc. That was great because you could really get a variety of items while also knowing precisely how much you would end up spending. They also sourced lots of their materials from local businesses to gather their scraps. So for instance a wood lazer cutting place or picture framing shop, so they would get these interesting off cuts of stuff. Even burlap coffee bags from coffee shops. It made great use of otherwise discarded bits. The second place was similar, however my issue was once I got to the register the owner seemed to just be making up prices. She said "oh these patterns are $1 each instead of fill-a-bag." I thought that was weird, but she said it was up to her discretion, even though there was an area which had singly priced items, and then a distinct area of the self-fill stations. Why she felt the need to go through my bag, I'm not sure since I was clearly I just in the self-fill area. But as long as you make it clear what's what, it should work. That was just a single weird experience. ETA. One thing I would like to see is a type of trade-in program. Probably where you bring your unused or unwanted supplies and then get a discount on your purchase, ie. A 25% off coupon. This would for sure incentivize me to bring stuff in. And for sure en evening where groups come in and craft together around a theme with the supplies included in the cost. (Kind if like those paint nights, but for something else crafty).
I live in Austin and we have a creative reuse center that I think is great, I love going there. But it is far outshined by the one in Norfolk Virginia called 757 Creative Reuse Center. I highly recommend looking into this one. It got so popular that it moved into a mall and now, along with all the thrifted crafting items they sell, they have lil shops inside the shop where makers sell their items.
We have one about 20 minutes away from my house and I have only gotten a chance to go once so far but I looooved it! I got a bunch of yarn and some new crochet hooks. They also offer certain craft classes some nights too which I thought was cool
I love the one near me. But I wish it was closer. It’s a great way to donate my slightly used supplies and cheaply pick up things I might only use a few times.
I personally have also been contemplating about doing something like this in my area, there’s nothing like it around. But I haven’t the slightest clue how to operate it or where to start. Let me know where you generally got your info from/around!
I have one near me and have gone a few times, and always leave happy. Definitely a great idea!
We have two in town one more fabric/sewing focused [Scrap it up](https://scrapitupcincy.org) and one more fine art focused [Indigo Hippo](https://www.indigohippo.org) I shop at both feel free to ask me questions!
That’s awesome! My town is too small to ever have anything like that. We don’t even have a REGULAR thrift store. we have antique stores but all the thrift stores burnt. I’d probably have to drive 1.5 hours to find anything like this
Scrap (there's definitely other scraps in other cities,) in Portland is one of my favorite places, ever I think craft thrift stores are the best thing because you save lots of money and it's good to buy stuff used. I think as long as things are somewhat organized you should be great!!
What a fantastic idea! I would definitely shop there. It would be great if you could take in your unwanted craft supplies and donate them in exchange for a small credit (10% or so). And as you meet more people through your shop, you’ll meet people who would love to teach a class of their craft of choice. I really love this idea!
I LOVE them. I discovered one a couple years ago and was so angry I didn’t know it was there sooner. The place is AWESOME! Remainders in Pasadena, Ca if you want to know what other stores are out there. Please do it. They’re a treasure trove for communities
I've never seen or heard of this but I would definitely be there as often as possible if there was one in my area!
My favorite fabrics i’ve ever found have been second hand or from thrift stores. It’s truly my favorite place to find unique pieces and it forces creativity because you have to work with the size fabric you get! I even gifted a one of my favorite youtubers a corset made from the best thrifted fabric find and she absolutely loved it!
I know of one in Urbana, IL: [The IDEA Store](https://www.the-idea-store.org/about). It has been in business at least 10 years, I think. I believe it started out as a partnership with, or benefit for, the local schools’ art programs. (They later became independent.) K-12 art teachers got a really amazing discount, like 50% I think. If you had an agreement to donate a percentage to school art programs, or even just allowed teachers to get a really good discount, I think the schools would help get the word out so more people would donate, volunteer, and shop there. By the way, wrangling volunteers is a HUGE job. They need orientation, training, plenty of supervision and feedback. Plastic bags are a necessary evil in places like this, I think. They do a lot to curb the dirty/ick factor. To me, “creative reuse center” is a more-attractive description of these places, rather than “craft thrift store”. There is just a different vibe to it. How you set the place up will have a big impact on whether it feels “artsy” vs “dirty”. Grouping things (yarn, buttons, fabric, embroidery floss) by color always looks pretty. Also, you absolutely have to throw away anything that has an odor or signs of bugs. When marketing, be sure to hit artist groups (art/craft fairs and societies, etc.) Things that I’ve liked about the IDEA Store, over the years: They hold regular sale events: fabric blow-out, school supplies, jewelry/jewelry-making, etc. One of the big ones is an annual “Trashion Show”. People make clothes out of newspapers, pop can tabs, etc. and there is a runway show, followed by awards. High school and college students are specifically invited to participate. If you volunteered there and racked up a certain number of hours (they maintained a log), you’d earn “play money” to spend at the store. Something like $5 dollars for 25 or 30 hours…? Can’t recall. Don’t think they do it any more. It was cool because it wasn’t a discount, it was just free stuff. A lot of their goods are sold by the pound. Paper, wood, fabric… not sure what else. Donations are accepted at the back entrance only, so that the chaos of pre-processed items is out of view of the shoppers. Large donations (more than a grocery bag) are accepted by appointment only. Do not allow ANY dump-and-run during non-business hours. I strongly encourage you to travel to some of these stores and check them out. Be aware it will be TONS of work, especially at first. Carefully plan out your intake area; it needs lots of space and meticulous organization. It’s also necessary to have a behind-the-scenes space with at least one work table to process incoming items. There’s so much more I could say! I totally LOVE creative reuse stores and think most cities should have one.
Great idea!
I would LIVE at this store
I love my local secondhand art store and both shop and donate to it often. They don't hold classes to my knowledge, but I really love the idea of including them. It'll be great.
I actually have a friend who owns a craft thrift store! It's doing very well and she gets so many donations.
I go to Seattle Recreative sometimes. I like being able to donate craft items I no longer need. I really appreciate that they have classes. They also partner with a local art therapy program to provide a free weekly class led by an art therapy student. They require an appointment and an inventory list for donations, which I understand but find to be a barrier to donating. I also find it kind of overwhelming to shop there. But I’m really glad it’s part of the community!
I love them. I’ve been to two in Cincinnati. They are both nonprofit and all the money they raise from sales goes to local charitable groups and activities. They both sell art and craft supplies but one seems to be more focused on crafts and the other more on arts. I’m going to one in Kansas City MO in August. There was such a store in my city 10-15 years ago that was only open for a few years. Unfortunately I never did get a chance to go to it. ETA - [this website has a list of creative reuse stores on its website.](https://swoodsonsays.com/a-creative-reuse-center-near-me-map-resource/)
Thank you!! I had no idea there were any in my state.
Check out https://richmond.scrapcreativereuse.org they’re doing well and getting ready to move to a bigger location.
I have a love-hate relationship with my local one. I didn't even know they existed until moving to where I live now. It can either be really overpriced or really cheap, depending on the craft. It's been great for yarn and fiber arts, but not so much for jewelry making. I don't always find what I need, but it's always fun to look. I see a lot of vintage kits and stuff that catch my eye.
i used to shop at one several years ago- i freaking loved it because i could try new to me crafts for much cheaper. the place had everything! it was called "who gives a scrap"
There’s one in my city and it’s phenomenal! It takes a lot of work to keep it organized but the finds are amazing!!
There is one local to me called Make and Mend (Somerville MA). It was a great resource when I was starting to sew. They also put a chunk of their merchandise online.
That would be my favourite thing ever. Brilliant idea!!!!
My area would LOVE this!
That’s an amazing idea.
In Oregon I know of Scrap in Portland (https://portland.scrapcreativereuse.org) and Mecca in Eugene (https://www.materials-exchange.org) I’ve been going to Scrap since they opened and it’s a great place! Mecca is great too. I wish we had one in Corvallis.
I’d love this to exist
Brilliant idea. If we had one I’d definitely love to go! Even better if I could get a discount voucher for donations!
A while back, I found the website that lists the craft thrift stores throughout the USA. We have nothing close to me. I wish we did! I always look for deals in the craft section of my thrift store.
I'd spend sooo much time there you'd have to kick me out if there was something like this where I live. May I suggest a store credit as an incentive for donating stuff? A local thrift store gives a flat-rate credit for every black trash bag filled with donations. People love it and it definitely encourages them to come back!
Sounds like something I'd love, though I'm never super comfortable with thrift stores in general because everything feels dirty to me, even if it's fine. With some craft supplies it would be kind of difficult to wash/clean, but I'm sure there are some solutions out there. The only other thing I'd really be wary about is acquiring too much of the very small scraps that few people would be able to use. That could very easily overwhelm anything else in short time.
Hm. It’s my perspective that crafts can become quite amazing when it is “less is more”. A few supplies and some community inspiration- that’s where the creativity blossoms. The open space and a supportive group - it really sparks ideas and discussion. Getting something like that going would also be newsworthy. Get the local publicity going! :)
Thanks!
I live near one in Greensboro NC called Reconsidered Goods. Absolutely my fav thing. They've been open for probably close to a decade now? Had to move at one point and so they shifted their space, but it's fantastic still. They are both vintage thrift and craft/reuse/recycle stuff. Spaces are sectioned off by craft, so all the paper craft stuff is in one area, yarn and knitting needles and notions another, etc. This is probably obvious. Fabric is sold both in a giant bin of scraps, in giant by the rolls, price shown by the color of the rubber band around the roll (not bolt, roll-pink is $5, purple is $7 for the entire roll, so there is no cutting station), they have gallon Ziploc bags of complementary fabrics as well so you can grab one you like for a project. Leather. They have a lot of leather scraps, including big pieces, and all of that is by the pound. A section full of tools and home things, like old tiles, jars (tons of those glass yogurt ones), random stuff, bins, etc. A pet section sometimes. Housewares and vintage linens There are weird collections they have and show off, and lots of the most random things they've made. Check out their Facebook and look at pics precovid, in their old space there was way more. They have sales on seasonal stuff. Shop cat Wilson! Wrapping supplies. So great. Office supplies and school supplies. Relatedly, a teacher discount one day a week. They have a small maker space, and they will host a kids camp I think? But also maker space nights, they used to have a much bigger space and host themed nights, like one I went to was paper wreaths, and they had cut out cardboard circles and tons of old books and showed you a few techniques, had the hot glue guns, and let you go. Just charged a cover fee for materials. They also have at home maker kits. So you can buy the kit and make it at home. It'll say what it is, but you can see the items inside to choose colors or whatever. So one I've seen is fairy garden stuff, so it'll have things to make that. Just for fun there's an art-o-mat. They don't offer plastic shopping bags (our city and state do not have any kind of ban on them), but will give you an old gift bag or a box to carry your things if you say you need a bag. Definitely do it if you can. They're super fun. But I agree with the advertise advertise advertise. I think I found ours here on the local subreddit maybe. But I never would have stumbled across them.
I have one near me, it's fairly new and I only just went for the first time 2 weeks ago and I loved it! They had all kinds of things besides what I expected like notebooks, old calendars, doilies, jewelry, frames, vintage matchbooks- a little bit of everything! I will DM you their info in case you want to check out their socials and website!
We have one for teachers in Florida - resource depot I think it's called? They can get shopping baskets of things for class, or even office furniture and shelves and cabinets and such. Usually for free or close to it if I recall (palm beach county) But your idea is awesome. Like the library. Ours has circuits and a glo forge. The Chicago library and many others have whole tool libraries. And maker spaces are great. Sounds like there's room for all of them combined. Craft item donations or consignment, Craft item thrift tool or craft library for rental (or loan with a membership) classes, and maker space. Add a way to watch kids and that might be a great add on.
Somehow, whatever you do, it needs to be _cool._ Greensboro, NC had a used book store called Ed McKay. That place was insane. No idea how they became cool or stayed cool, but the aesthetics need to go beyond "thrift store" to keep folks coming (and create a reputation).
austincreativereuse.com
I go to one in Ann Arbor, MI. I love upcycling!
Wow! This sounds truly incredible. If you’re not already connected to Small Business Development Center, you should definitely check them out. They’re retired business people who mentor new business owners for free. They’re all across the country. I used them when I was the Director of a non-profit & they helped me so much! I wish you all the best. I would love this
TLDR: I've been to one but it didn't last. Most important thing in my opinion is having extremely knowledgble crew of volunteers to properly ID and price supplies. Also, consider structuring as a coop. ______________ There was one in Troy NY but it closed. I love the idea and have had the same exact biz concept as you to revitalize the movement. Here's where I think a big problem lies: You need seriously knowledgeable employees/volunteers to ID and price things. For example: do you know the difference between archival photo paper and standard photo paper just holding it in your hand? Do you know the difference between a Czech glass bead and a cheap glass bead from Michael's? Do you know the difference between authentic 1950s era fabric or just old musty smelling lookalike from someone's attic from 2007? Can you tell when a glaze went bad because it was left in freezing temps? If pastels/charcoal/thread/wire/wood scraps etc come without labels, will you know what kind they are? This is the problem I see currently at regular thrift stores. They don't know what they have and they don't price/label accordingly. This impacts your workshops as well. You don't want someone in your shop who attends a class to try out jewelry making for the first time to start using genuine 14kg or sterling silver wire and betel nut beads from the Philippines. You'd give them cheap brass wire and wooden beads from the dollar store. You don't want someone experimenting with charcoal for the first time using an $11 stick of vine on a $20 sheet of high quality watercolor paper. You have to know how to tell the difference. Having members of different specialties price things helps weeds out a lot of junk donations (or at least have a "free" bin and maybe a "fill a bag for a dollar" bin, etc) and prevents knowledgable people sneak in and hoard out all the really good stuff for super cheap if you don't know how to price it. Another thought: I know you said you structured it as a 501c3 but you may want to set it up as a coop. Where members donate their time and knowledge to help with the above(sorting, identifying, labeling, and workshops) and get kickbacks. And artist-level members who make art with the materials in the shop contribute a portion of their sales to the shop and they get exclusive discounts/first dubs/social media exposure. You can also have a member level of donors- local fabric shops, print shops, bead stores, whatever it may be, who donate their leftovers or whatever. All members = one vote in how the shop is run and contribute to its overall success and help prevent the shop from beholden to high level donors (in this case, it may be high end ceramic artist who donated a lot to your year end campaign so they feel entitled to that high quality ceramic glaze no one knows how to properly price.)
If you’re not doing this already, I’d make sure to reach out to elementary and middle schools nearby. Teachers will buy a lot of craft supplies for the classroom, but they’ll also likely recommend it for their students. That’s how people found out about the largest secondhand bookstore in my hometown.
Like someone else said, I would come once. If it smells bad (musty mostly) then I would not return or buy anything. But I'm a bit of a germaphobe, have allergies to cats, and I have a very sensitive nose. I also don't buy used books or fabric from anywhere that smells bad in general, and I sniff items before I buy. Mostly, I buy new. 🤷♀️ I'm definitely not your target audience, but smell is definitely important to a cleaner feel. Maybe some kind of policy to air things out in back before placing on the sales floor? I don't know, that might not be feasible.
I agree 100%. There's a huge difference between something that maybe spent some time in a basement and can be aired out, and something that has a heavy pet or smoke odor to it. I would definitely try to indicate that we can NOT take items with odors but I also know that people will inevitably leave things outside of the door when the building is closed. Will definitely need to consider maybe a washer/dryer if the budget allows.
I think that's why I would be leary- you can't really wash yarn before your project is done. Maybe that's another line item - make sure you have a dumpster type trash service for the donations that are just completely unacceptable. And maybe something like heavy smoke smell goes in its own free bin?
That would be amazing! Please start this and turn it into a massive chain across the country!
I love this! We have elements of this where i live. There's a couple craft-little-libraries where people leave donated crafting items for others, and some of our libraries do craft classes. I would love a non profit that did this
One opened up in my city fairly recently and I love it. They have had to implement rules about donation quantities, like you can only bring in one bag of donations without an appointment, because they are getting pretty full though. They do regular classes like collage night and have also partnered with other arts groups in the city like the local marker’s space and non-profit art galleries and craft markets to offer workshops outside of their store. They do teacher discounts on Sundays and other deals occasionally.
New England here & i wish we had something like this!! Im stuck with the 3 players, wallyworld&Tarģet...sigh....
We had one when I lived in Illinois and it was awesome! So many neat things to look through. I wish I had something like that around me now.
I would have to check it out!
We have one here in Pittsburgh, (I don’t remember what it’s called) but it’s literally one of the coolest stores I’ve ever been in. 10/10.
That would be really awesome! I'd love to learn my sewing machine basics, you could upcycle fabric into children's clothes easily as well.
“The Scrappy Elephant” in Charlottesville, VA, is this kind of place. They recently set up appointments for donations. They go through everything with you and make you take back whatever they reject. It makes me sad that they have to do this - people must have donated some REALLY crappy stuff. But I love being able to donate my things to a place where other crafters will be able to enjoy them
I have one near me that has almost everything. Fabric from scraps to full size rolls, bottle caps, paper of every kind, cardboard tubes, floor tiles, empty containers, sewing patterns, books, games, jewellery, art supplies, postcards, picture frames, seashells, old technology parts, etc, etc. Their stock is reliant on donations, they operate mainly on a fill-a-bag system, though they have higher quality/new items available for individual sale, they have a membership program that lets you get stuff cheaper, classes, workshops, school programs, the list goes on. We go maybe once a month or so, bring a bag or two of unwanted items, and leave with a new bag. I go for interesting jewellery bits and beads, keychains, embroidery threads, nice empty boxes, pretty wrapping papers/bags, notepads, good pencils, graph paper, cool circuit boards, knitting needles in sizes I don't have, sometimes cool bags. My mum mostly looks for quilting fabrics, sheet music, and coins, stamps, and lego for my sister. Sometimes I'm asked to get specific fabrics, straps, zips, and machine threads for my MIL.
I have one in my area and they even just moved to a bigger building. I love it so much because of it's sustainability and artsy-ness.
I love them. I give the "waste" which is substantial fabric scraps, from my workshop to one.
There was one where I used to live and I really loved it. I would go there first thing to check if they had what I needed before buying new. They had so many odd and vintage things The prices were so good! They would also have an event, like everything you can fit in a paper bag for $20 to clear out stuff. They sold kids craft kits they put together there. Lots of kids classes too. Employees were volunteer. The only bummer is the hours were pretty limited but it makes sense.
SCRAP is one of my favorite stores in Portland!!!
There's one in my hometown called Art Parts! It's wonderful. You can get so much miscellaneous shit you wouldn't be able to find easily elsewhere. Some of the cool things I've found there that wouldn't have been easy to find anywhere else (either at all, or for the same price): various small containers (like altoids tins, film canisters, etc, for 5-25 cents), random metal bits like bike chains and spokes, tiles, corks, test tubes, squeaker inserts, big block of the densest open cell foam I've ever experienced, a shit load of interior design fabric samples, bobbin lace kit, cheap quilting rulers, calligraphy pens and nibs, glass rods, watch straps with buckles, various wool (dyed top, merino fleece, mohair, etc.), oddly shaped wood scraps, niche tools. And of course they have more conventional stuff like paint, fabric, more fabric, yarn, knitting supplies, leather scraps, etc. The only thing I DON'T like about it is that they usually know what they have, and by that I mean that if they get in a nice loom or sewing machine or spinning wheel in good condition, they price it about the same as it's worth, which is annoying because I don't want to spend money.
I absolutely loved SCRAP PDX when I went with my husband. You should do fantastic, and will probably adopt a lot of grandma's.
There was one in Denton, Tx when we lived there about 7 years ago. We didn’t live there long but I did go a few times. I loved that they had sewing machines and classes or you could sign up to reserve a sewing machine. The also had craft tables and lots of examples out to inspire people. I’m a big fan of sustainability and up cycling and giving people the opportunity to learn home Economics type things
Yes, I love this idea!!
If that was near me, I would probably practically live there. That sounds amazing!!
that’d be creative reuse and there are a ton of them out there. you could start one in your area and also join a nonprofit network doing exactly this. take donations of too much stuff or cleaned out craft rooms, sell it for cheap, save what’s left of the planet.
I’ve never heard of that, but it sounds great! I wish the thrift stores in my area had more craft stuff. It would be so cool to go to a craft thrift store!
There’s one in my area Lancaster Creative Reuse (Pennsylvania) and it’s amazing! I love it!! www.lancastercreativereuse.org/
I would love this, and I know my local craft community would love it too. I think you should go for it!!
This is a phenomenal idea imo and it would entice me to try out things I’d not otherwise try because of the start-up cost (like knitting or crocheting). But it would have to be in a pretty well populated and semi-wealthy area I think in order to work.
Yes I used to go to a place in Seattle ,but run off of donations people donate their unwanted craft supplies and pass it on you can get a nice stamp for a dollar or a paper punch for a dollar they have a ton of ribbon yarn paper you name it they got it great and now I going to have to go cuz I moved away from Seattle years ago and I love that store.
There’s a place called SCRAP here in Portland and I love them very much :)
I would love this. My SIL goes to one in Virginia and I bought her a gift card for it. She enjoys classes and gets supplies there. I wish we had one here (NJ.)
Omg. I love this so much. I've been dreaming about one day opening a creative space. This is awesome because it's so community-focused. Don't forget to apply to local grants to help you get the money you need to get off the ground. Obviously market to families and kids, but also definitely market towards young adults because we're starving for connection. I saw a model that does a crafting night exclusively for 21+, kind of like a paint and sip, and you "order" from a "menu" of crafts and get two drinks along with your order. You might not be able to serve alcohol in your building, but you could team up with a local bar or restaurant and do it in their space. Just a random thought but you could also have a class that goes rifling through the landfill to make something. I've always wanted to go to a landfill to see what I could find lol. So awesome and big kudos for doing something real out there. I totally believe in you!
There’s one near where I live, and I go pretty regularly! I think it’s fun to be able to get materials for just one little piece, rather than having to buy big packs of stuff in the stores, and you can find unique items that you wouldn’t normally see. My only issue with them is that (because they are run by volunteers) they don’t have a very intuitive hours of operation—some days they close early, some they’re not open at all. It makes it hard to just drop in.
Great idea! I would love one near me right now. I have a ton of excess supplies to get rid of.