Op/Ed: Ten reasons you will love the new South Lake Tahoe Goodwill Store

1. Bargains. Admit it, that’s why we shop at thrift stores. We love bargains. At the new Goodwill store located at 1069 Emerald Bay Road in the former Pier 1 building, you’ll find 8,000 square feet of high-quality donated clothing, furniture and household items, as well as a wide variety of brand-new products at low prices. Don’t we all want our paychecks to stretch a little bit further? And if you’re lucky…

2. You might find something valuable for next to nothing. It’s a thrill to find a hidden treasure for a fraction of the cost you’d pay new. Whether that’s something intrinsically valuable to you (like that dish from your grandmother’s china you haven’t been able to replace) or a rare item nobody has found yet (like an early Beatles record) that’s worth way more than the price tag. When you arrive at the checkout, you feel a small amount of guilt, because “they have no idea what they have here!” But that guilt is completely overshadowed by “OMG! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!”

3. Goodwill stores keep literally tons of items out of landfills. The very idea of a secondhand store is eco-friendly. Goodwill sorts all of our donations so you don’t have to; selling only the higher-quality items that are reusable as-is. On an annual basis, Goodwill keeps approximately 65 million pounds of stuff out of landfills. So shop with us – it’s good for the environment!

4. Winter Halloween is coming! Goodwill Sacramento Valley & Northern Nevada does such a good job at Halloween, we put on training events for other Goodwills around the country! We will be your one-stop shop for all your costume needs – whether it’s a full-on Zombie Princess costume or that last detail to complete your award-winning ensemble, we have it. Super Hero costume? Too easy.

5. If you’re a collector, thrift stores are your heaven. Whether you collect ceramic figurines, vintage Barbies, macramé plant hangers or men’s ties from the 70s, you’ll find it at a Goodwill (and for a lot less moolah than at an antique store). So let your collector freak flag fly.

6. Our stores are customized for each location. South Lake Tahoe is known for its outdoor adventure. At this store, you will find seasonal sports equipment such as snowboards, sleeping bags, hiking boots, tents, ski pants and wakeboards in plentiful supply. In fact, we will be bringing the majority of our donated equipment for nature enthusiasts to the Tahoe store, so locals and visitors alike can get the best deals on the necessities for their favorite activities!

7. 50% off sales. On major holidays, all donated items in the store are half-off. What’s better than a bargain? A sale on a bargain!

8. It’s the best way to furnish a new house or apartment. Need a 60-piece dish set for ten bucks? A laundry hamper, bath mat, coffee table, desk lamp, curtains or a casserole dish? Welcome to the Promised Land.

9. You can afford to buy things you may never use again. Yes, you hope that that crocheted vest is an amazing hit or that you’ll be using that Shake Weight for years to come. For only a couple bucks’ investment, you can take risks without having to pay an arm and a leg. Plus, there are never any pesky salespeople hanging around trying to make a commission!

10. When you’re buying or donating to Goodwill, your money goes to a good cause. Our mission as a community non-profit is to utilize our resources, including store profits, to help people with disadvantages achieve self-sufficiency. The items that are generously donated and re-purchased by the community help support training and employment programs for disadvantaged youth, adults and seniors, along with supporting various community non-profits with similar missions. The sale of donated goods in stores this year has provided critical funding to help over 250,000 people with barriers to employment, housing, food services, and other community resources.

We look forward to partnering with the South Lake Tahoe community. Join us for a 4-day Grand Opening Extravaganza beginning Thursday, July 21 featuring free recyclable totes for the first 200 shoppers, free coffee and cookies and a free flat-screen TV drawing!