Revisiting Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, PA

While I don't get to the area as much as I'd like to, I've come to realize that Fairless Hills, PA is quickly becoming a secondhand hotspot. Not terribly far from Oxford Valley Mall, located just within a few miles of each other is a Salvation Army, a Goodwill, and an up-and-coming chain known as Good Stuff Thrift.

You may recall Good Stuff Thrift from my previous review. And again, the sales floor is neat and organized, and the seasonal spread of secondhand goods impressive. The staff is friendly, and believe in the importance of customer service as strongly as they do the Good Stuff philanthropic mission.

And while I'll always hit up the Goodwill and Salvation Army for the goods, I visit Good Stuff Thrift for the potential treasures and the design inspiration. Much like the Doylestown location, the merchandise is curated from run-of-the-mill donations and creatively staged. It's more than just suggestive selling. It's a collection of thoughtful vignettes, seasonal displays, and an elegant yet homey atmosphere in which to peruse the possibilities. 

In the 6 months since my last documented trip to Good Stuff Thrift, they've done some renovations that added an estimated 3,000 square feet to the sales floor. And though management admits that this does cut into some of the back room space initially designed for processing donations, the employees seem to be in their element. 

I will say that while those dreaded NFS (not for sale) signs sting just a bit in creative thrift store decor meant for display-only, I do appreciate the effort. I'm admittedly just a wee bit jealous that I don't own all of the pretty things. 

But I did score this goth-romantic filigree pattern mirror for $4! I didn't immediately have a space in mind for it. But as soon as my fingers grazed the intricate pattern, and my eyes caught sight of the price tag, I just knew it was coming home with me. As you can see, there's no shortage of lovelies for sale at Good Stuff Thrift.

Good Stuff Thrift is located at:
543 Lincoln Highway 
Fairless Hills, PA 19030

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News and Reviews: Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown, PA

Elegant touches in the entryway. 

A few short weeks after being invited to the Fairless Hills, PA Good Stuff Thrift for a peek inside the spacious secondhand venue, I was again extended an invitation. This time, I hit the road to the borough of Doylestown to see the original Good Stuff Thrift location. And while I've been to this quaint area of Bucks County before, I hadn't been aware that Good Stuff Thrift was just right up the road.  

I walked through the doors and was immediately greeted by a fresh and floral aroma, one unlikely found in many secondhand shops, as you might realize. And in a serendipitously timed visit, I not only met the store manager Kelly, but also Ed Hudson, the CEO of Good Stuff Thrift.  And as Ed gave me the grand tour of the two-story sales floor and employee processing areas, I was awestruck with the realization that this was unlike any thrift shop I've ever seen. 

I know what you're thinking. How can I say that I haven't seen anything like it when I just visited the sister store in Fairless Hills not two weeks prior? But what gives this Good Stuff Thrift location something more than the average thrift store is its unique perspective on the shopping experience. One thing that CEO Ed Hudson was sure to note was that the shoppers of this Doylestown location, much like the shoppers of any other Doylestown business aren't necessarily motivated by bargains. They are there to find unique treasures that aren't available elsewhere. And with high-end donations overflowing the surprisingly small processing areas, it's no wonder that Good Stuff Thrift visitors enter with a sense of wonder and leave as happy customers. 

Creative displays save space. 

And in another interesting comparison, the layout and space of the two Good Stuff Thrift locations are in considerable opposition.  Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, PA yields 20,000 square feet with space to spare for customers to peruse furniture and other sizable house wares. The Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown is a mere 5,500 feet spread across two floors and several small rooms, like a whimsically decorated house. But what maximizes the space of this location is the creative decor that artfully displays salable merchandise. Every staged tabletop and carefully hung piece of wall art is for sale. 

The Moss Bike

And yes, that includes The Moss Bike. From the pallet strung with buckets in the children's room, to the elegantly displayed crystal and china in the living room, there isn't an inch of space that doesn't do double duty in decorative merchandising.

Both Kelly and Ed hailed this space for therapeutic thrifting, as well as a blossoming venue for DIY community events. And with inspired design choices that fits the Doylestown aesthetic, I'm entirely on board with the notion that this "Thrift Boutique" is exactly what the treasure-hunting demographic is clamoring for. 

The fruits posters are on sale. Adorable. 

I'm a big fan of chair art, especially hot pink chair art. 

It's bright. It's cheery. And even the smallest of details are met with a creative touch. And this is all due to the numerous volunteers, the diligent staff and management, and the two creative masterminds behind all of the decorative flair. Kim Tillitson and Saralyn Petitt, the resident designers behind the Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown, are also taking part in a creative fundraising effort with the 2014 Bucks County Designer House and Gardens at the historic Serendipity Farm. 

This design collaboration is the first time that a thrift store will be represented in the annual Bucks County tradition of remaking, remodeling and reimaginging a piece of historic property. All proceeds from the gala and ticket sales will benefit the Doylestown hospital. 

And if the clever design of this Good Stuff Thrift location is any indication, I think that the  visitors of the Designer House will be pleasantly surprised by the possibilities that going the secondhand route can bring. 

It's like fine dining in the countryside. 

While it's hard to believe that this Good Stuff Thrift just opened in June of 2013, it's not hard to imagine just why the company is on the fast track to secondhand success. Good Stuff Thrift of Doylestown, PA has the elegance of a boutique, culled from donations alone. But with so much artistic talent and love for secondhand staging in this beautifully designed business, there's a lot more in store than just the donations. 

Visit Good Stuff Thrift at 3633 N. Easton Rd. Doylestown, PA 18902 

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Are you a thrift shop owner local to Philadelphia or Bucks County, PA looking for a visit from Let's Go Thrifting? I'm always on the prowl for new thrifting territory. 

Drop me a line and I'll try to stop by. 

Rococo Regal For Under Five Bucks

In my last visit to Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, there were a few items that caught my eye. But the big score of the day was definitely this trinket box. I first spotted it while shooting photos for the blog entry and was worried it was picked up by another thrifter. But I came back to find it sitting safe and sound with the other bric-a-brac.  

And here are the thrift facts on this spectacular find: 

• That romanic scene is a satin print of "Spring" by Rococo artist Boucher.
• The intricate columns and the inside of the box are both lined with red velour.
• There's a delightfully vintage filigree pattern on the inner lid. 
• It cost $4.50, which I suspect is a steal given just how lovely this trinket box is.
• I'm putting it to good use. 

While I initially thought of listing this piece on my Etsy shop, I think for now it makes for a thrifty, yet regal storage piece for my growing collection of skeleton keys. I don't know... Something about this trinket box says clandestine affair to me, like slipping a secret lover the key to your boudoir.  

What do you think? 

This blog post is linked up with Sir Thrift-A-Lot. Check it out! 

News and Reviews: Good Stuff Thrift of Fairless Hills, PA

543 Lincoln Highway. Fairless Hills, PA 19030

In another late night productivity binge, I was perusing my Twitter account for any pertinent thrifting activity when I found an interesting tidbit of information. In addition to the handful of new follows from thrift shops scattered across the United States, one new Twitter addition was not only local, but along my usual route of regular thrifting stops.

Good Stuff Thrift is just few miles up the road from two thrift stores I frequent and yet somehow I had missed it. 

Fabulous quilled paper dress on display.

After a quick shoutout on Twitter announcing my intent to stop by, I hit the sack in eager anticipating of exploring new secondhand territory. And when I arrived the following afternoon, I was not disappointed.

After being warmly welcomed and invited into the exclusive "employees only" area for a tour, the store manager Linda filled me in on some of the Good Stuff itinerary. After opening a mere five months ago, Good Stuff Thrift plans to expand its already impressively sized sales floor to accommodate special sale price-items. And according to my own research, another Good Stuff Thrift location is planned to open in Lancaster, PA. With all net proceeds benefiting children in the community through four local charities, Linda is excitedly planning for the future of Good Stuff Thrift.

A thoughtful dresser display.

And while I see big things in store for the future of this Fairless Hills location, I'm in love with the minutia. The dressers are decorated with decorative flair. The displays are clean, color-coordinated and demonstrate a real love for secondhand style. 

While I love rolling up my sleeves for a little thrift-junking now and again, I find myself having a true appreciation for secondhand staging. The sales floor of Good Stuff Thrift is a curated collection of home furnishings and decor. And this is no easy task, given the limitation to a specific supply of donations. 

Just look at this secondhand spread!

Fully utilizing the space for impeccably staged furniture, quality clothing, an assortment of bric-a-brac,  books and more, Good Stuff Thrift has made my list of regular stops on the thrift route. I even found an addition to my Teeny Tiny Secondhand Treasures collection, to be featured in a later post.

And if this baby was on the sales floor, I would've swooped in, for sure.

Want it! 

In summation, Good Stuff Thrift has a consignment feel with thrift store prices. Stocked with high quality furniture, it's a promising location for thrifty home makeovers. Like a page from a catalogue for a fraction of the cost, this is one thrift shop with good things in store. 

Junkers may be disappointed. But the thoughtful details and vintage wares will win you over without a doubt. 

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Are you a thrift shop owner local to Philadelphia or Bucks County, PA looking for a visit from Let's Go Thrifting? I'm always on the prowl for new thrifting territory. 

Drop me a line and I'll try to stop by.