What is a Thrift Store?
A thrift store is a shop that sells donated second-hand items at affordable prices, usually to support charitable or community programmes. Thrift stores are most common in the United States, where they play the same role that charity shops play in the UK and Ireland.
People donate clothing, books, furniture and homeware, and the organisation sells these items to fund nonprofit work. Because everything is donation-based, prices are low, stock changes constantly and shopping feels like a treasure hunt.
Although the term comes from the US charity retail world, many people now use "thrift store" in everyday speech to refer to any kind of second-hand shop, including charity shops, curated second-hand stores and vintage boutiques.
Thrift Store Meaning
A thrift store is a shop, usually run by a nonprofit, that sells donated second-hand goods at low prices.
In everyday language, people often use "thrift store" to mean any shop that sells pre-loved or second-hand items.
Thrift Store vs Charity Shop (US vs UK)
Thrift Store (United States)
Standard American term
Run by nonprofits like Goodwill or Salvation Army
Stock comes entirely from public donations
Stores can be large and warehouse-like
Focus on affordability
Charity Shop (United Kingdom & Ireland)
UK/Irish equivalent
Run by charities such as BHF, Oxfam, Sue Ryder, Mind, Barnardo’s
Smaller, curated high-street shops
Donations fund specific charitable missions
Same concept, different terminology.
How People Use the Word "Thrift Store" Today
Even outside the US, "thrift store" has become a popular casual term (thanks to TikTok, YouTube and Instagram) used to describe:
charity shops
second-hand shops
vintage boutiques
resale shops
curated thrift stores
People often say "thrifting" or "going to the thrift store" to mean any kind of second-hand shopping, even if the shop isn't technically a thrift store in the US sense.
So while the original meaning is specific, its modern usage is more general and global.
What You Can Find at a Thrift Store
Thrift stores typically offer:
clothing
shoes
vintage pieces
homeware
books and games
kitchen items
small furniture
children's items
accessories
electronics
decorative objects
The variety depends entirely on what people donate.
Why People Shop at Thrift Stores
Save money: Prices are much lower than retail.
Support charity: Purchases directly fund social programmes.
Sustainable fashion: Buying second-hand reduces waste and extends the life of clothing.
Unique finds: Every store has unexpected treasures.
Better quality: Older items are often more durable than fast fashion.
How Thrift Stores Work
Donations: Community members donate items.
Sorting: Staff or volunteers inspect, clean and organise the items.
Pricing: Prices are low and accessible.
Sales: Shoppers purchase the donated goods.
Funds to charity: Revenue supports charitable programmes.
Recycling: Unsellable textiles may be recycled or repurposed.
See this deep dive into charity shop retail for more information on how they work.
Thrift Store vs Second-Hand Store vs Vintage Shop
To avoid confusion, here is the difference.
Thrift Store
Donation-based
Nonprofit
Low prices
American concept, equivalent to UK charity shops
Second-Hand Store
Can be for-profit
May buy or trade items
Wider pricing range
Not donation-based
Vintage Shop
Curated selection of older or designer items
Higher prices
Focus on style and quality
In everyday vocabulary, people might call all of them "thrift stores", but technically they are different.
Tips for Shopping at Thrift Stores
visit often for new stock
check labels and quality
explore different neighbourhoods for different shops and stock type
try things on
keep an open mind and think outside of the box to style what you find
go early for the best finds
Related Terms
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