Shoppers looking for deals as economy heads south

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — Even before the holiday shopping season officially began, the parking lot was consistently packed in front of the Salvation Army’s new store on Van Dyke Avenue at 23 Mile Road.

And it was also before the Dollar Castle opened next door Nov. 8.

With many mutual funds, 401(k) plans and stock portfolios losing more than 20 percent of their value over just a few months, a slumping housing market and cuts ever-present at the Big Three automakers, local shoppers are looking for ways to cut costs.

And that has them turning to thrift and dollar stores in increasing numbers.

Wanda Menta of Washington Township said she shops at the Salvation Army, which opened Oct. 25, because of the deals that can be found on its racks.

“I can get such great clothes for such reasonable prices,” she said while shopping at the store on a recent Tuesday afternoon. “Even though I’m benefiting from it, I feel like I’m helping someone else.”

Menta said she first started shopping at the store for the used books it offers, but quickly expanded what she was perusing and found great deals.

Port Huron resident Carol Senyszyn said she also enjoys thrift stores to support her shopping habit in a tight economy.

“You get better deals here than you do in the (other) stores,” she said, adding that she has a “three-decker” closet to fill. “With the economy and me being retired, I shop like this.”

Jane Wilson of Sterling Heights owns the Dollar Castle next door. She said with the economy, more shoppers are looking for ways to save money now than before.

“They don’t need to spend $3 on a cleaning product when they can pay $1,” she said.

Before she decided to open the store, she was watching the stock market and a few of the only stocks rising in the Wall Street turmoil were those of dollar stores. She said moving in right next to a thrift store was the perfect pairing because the stores complement each other instead of competing against one another.

“I think that’s going to be a really good match,” she said.

Wilson said before the doors even opened, she’d get upwards of 60 people a day knocking to inquire when the store would open.

“There’s a need in this area,” she said.

The poor job market and economy is what sparked Wilson to open the store in the first place. She lost her job in a bank merger in July.

“I finally said, ‘That’s enough,’” she said. “I decided to buy myself a job. This economy needs this.”

Athena Thomas, store manager at the Salvation Army Family Store and Donation Center, agreed that there’s been a good welcome from the community.

“I think it’s a really good fit for Shelby,” she said. “With the people in Shelby having an additional thrift store, it helps our community. Also, with everything we give back. They’re the reason we’re here.”

Thomas said donations at the store are higher than she had expected coming into the community.

“With the economy being so bad … that’s what we give to them, is the opportunity to save,” she said.

And although the charity has done brisk business both in a good economy and bad in other locations, the combination of a poor economy and opening before the holiday season has been a boon for the store, Thomas said.

Both the Shelby store and a relatively new one in Utica are performing above expectations, said Colleen Kinney, director of community relations for the Salvation Army of Southeast Michigan, and they’re still looking to expand throughout southeast Michigan in areas that don’t have stores so close together.

Sales are up 7 percent from last year, and Kinney said donations were up slightly as well. They attribute the increases to new store openings — in addition to the Shelby store, a Salvation Army opened in Utica in the former Media Play building this summer — but also, to the economy.

“We also think that the up-tick in the shopping are (people) interested or needing to stretch their money and finding out that it’s a really great way to do it,” she said. “The stores are fun to shop at and (have) a really clean environment, with a really great selection.”

Lee Rowland of Shelby Township said he’s been saving money shopping at dollar stores for years. He recently lost 20 pounds, though, and wanted to find cheaper clothes as he was falling through the sizes.

“This is just as nice as Sears or Kmart,” he said of the Salvation Army. “I will be back here with my wife.”

Barbara Walsh of Washington Township said she also finds that shopping at thrift stores helps to stretch her gift-giving dollars.

“Sometimes you can find clothes, especially for babies, that still have tags on them,” she said. “You’ve got to really look. You can find some really good stuff.”

She said she prefers thrift stores over regular retail and mentioned that she once paid 99 cents for a Tommy Bahama-brand shirt that had a tag marked $98.

“More for your money,” she said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041.