Jaime Monroe, Southwest Boulevard store manager, and Michaela Schweiger, retail sales associate, are pleased to offer top name brand merchandise for pennies on the dollar.
Unlike most retail stores, a purchase at Goodwill means a great bargain for you and the opportunity for someone to receive training and get a job they otherwise would not have. This win-win situation is what sets Goodwill apart from all other stores. And it is why more and more smart shoppers go to Goodwill to have fun, save money and support a worthwhile cause within the community.
Jaime Monroe, manager of the newest store at 3110 Southwest Blvd., calls attention to the large selection of workout gear and tennis shoes that are popular this time of year. Yoga pants, hoodies and T-shirts are available for a small fraction of regular retail prices, from $2.99 to $4.99. All the clothing is gently worn, nearly new or, sometimes, new with tags.
Ladies’ jeans, always in demand, are just $6.99. Shoppers will find many retail and catalog brands such as Gap, Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Miss Me and more. Other brands throughout the clothing racks include Coldwater Creek, J. Jill, Chico’s, Talbot’s, and The North Face.
Men’s slacks are priced at $5.99. Children’s clothing is $2.49, and infants’ clothing is 99 cents. “We have a really good selection of children’s coats at just $3.99,” says Jaime, “so grandparents can pick up play coats for the grandkids for very little money.”
Ladies’ shoes and purses start at $4.99 and include brands such as Michael Kors, Coach and Fossil. Jewelry – costume, sterling, gold and vintage – provides many one-of-a-kind pieces for unique accessorizing for as little as $2.
Shoppers can enjoy added savings during special discount sales each month, quarterly storewide 50% off clothing sales and a weekly 50% off ticket number. Those age 55 and up can take 25% off their entire purchases the first and third Tuesday of each month.
As one shopper commented, “You can go to the mall and see the same merchandise week after week. At Goodwill, you never know what you are going to find, but you can be sure it will be really nice for not much more than the cost of a cup of coffee.”
“Some people don’t realize we have such a huge book department,” says Jaime. Hardbacks start at $2.25. Paperbacks are 70% off the list price. Harlequin novels are just 50 cents. Children’s books start at 50 cents. Cookbooks are always plentiful, with many vintage selections.
“We are so grateful to our donors,” adds Jaime. “They are our primary means of support.” Donations at the 11 retail stores in the region and 27 attended donation centers took in 22.1 million pounds of clothing and household items in 2014, the latest year statistics available. The collection, processing and selling of donated goods provided employment for 511 individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
“But that’s not all we do. We also help everyday people who don’t have jobs,” says Jaime. In 2014, more than 4,000 people took advantage of Goodwill’s two Job Connection locations for free computer usage and assistance with skills assessments, interests and ability surveys, career options, resume development, job leads, Internet job search, interview skills, job fairs, networking and referral to community resources.
Occupational skills training opportunities include G.E.D. classes, workplace computer skills training, forklift/materials handling operation, unarmed private security training, A+ certification, and hospitality training and certification. In keeping with the founding philosophy, “A hand up, not a hand out,” Goodwill offers a special job training program designed specifically for high school students on the Autism Spectrum.
You can help people help themselves by shopping at Goodwill retail stores or by dropping off clothing, housewares, small appliances and books in good condition. Check the Goodwill website for all locations, hours and a monthly calendar with specific sale dates.
See more about A Bargain for You, A Job for Someone Else:
https://www.valuenews.com/a-bargain-for-you-a-job-for-someone-else-news-article_3948
