Florida has to be the epicenter of resale shopping. There are thousands of thrift and consignment shops, due to snowbirds shedding goods and lots of turnover in condos and retirement homes. As a result, you’ll find household goods and furniture sharing space with racks of clothing in many Florida thrifts.
Florida transience worked for us. Peggy and her friend Ellen had a eureka moment this week at one resale shop in Naples, FL, as they walked into a 75 percent off moving sale. The Guadalupe Resale and Consignment Shop will have new, nearby quarters starting Jan. 5. Meanwhile, shoppers benefit while supporting the childhood education efforts of this decade-old nonprofit.
The Center has racks of men’s and women’s clothing in terrific condition, plus many purses, shoes and belts in top shape. The $220 St. John suit is out of reach for many thrift shoppers, but at $55 because of a move, now you’re talking.
There were many beautiful pieces of winter clothing, such as a tweed short coat with velvet collar from the pricey Aquascutum of London brand. We scored three sweaters – a 100 percent cashmere white pullover from Nordstrom’s Clan Douglas (made in Scotland) for $10 (original thrift price $40), a a navy Eddie Bauer pullover for $10 (original thrift price $40) and dark red Hugo Boss sweater for $18 (original thrift price $70). Better suited to Florida was a 100 percent linen J. Jill shirt in salmon for $5 (originally $20).
We couldn’t resist a black satin evening bag, trimmed in rhinestones, for $3.80 (originally $15) and a maroon pleather grocery tote with aqua interior for $4 (originally $16).
Ellen scored on a freshly dry-cleaned shirt of fuchsia linen, made by Sigrid Olsen, for $3 (originally $12) and a well-made J. McLaughlin skirt, tags on, for $6.50 (originally $26).
But her best buy was a Fairfield swivel skirted armchair, in butterscotch-colored hopsack fabric, to replace an uncomfortable living room chair she had been trying to change for months. In top shape, this comfy chair was tagged at $145. With the 50 percent moving sale discount on furniture, she paid just $73. The list price of an identical Fairfield swivel armchair is $1,299. Now that’s thrift shopping!
Even better, our purchases support the Guadalupe Center’s Early Childhood Education program in Immokalee, serving 303 children (with a waiting list of 350) and its after-school tutoring of 690 elementary students. A college prep tutor corps assists 200 high school and college students. The Center’s brightly painted donation vans have a message all shoppers can get behind: “Breaking the cycle of poverty through education.”
Guadalupe Resale and Consignment Shop, 8100 Trail Boulevard (until 12/28/17) Naples, FL 34108. 239-594-2696 www.GuadalupeCenter.org
After 1/5/18: 12980 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34110
ThriftStyle 
BARGAIN BULLETIN!!!!!
GUADALUPE’s moving sale was amazing (see the post above and me lounging in my bargain chair that retails new for $1499 but I got for $80 or so)…and even MORE AMAZING is their new location at 12980 Tamiami Trail, North Naples (239-594-2696). Get this find: A TAGS ON designer skirt (Byron Lars Beautymark) original price $349.99 marked $50 (too much for my frugal shopping taste) but half off on the day I visited and thusly a steal at $25. The new shop is huge, beauitifully organized and busting with bargains including lots of furniture and accessories. It is a MUST see.
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