A curated collection of vintage furniture and decor from auctions and thrift stores!
It's time for another Let's Go Thrifting post!
Today, I'm rounding up a few auction finds and a variety of thrift store cart shoots filled with vintage brass, pottery planters, milkglass, baskets, glassware, and handpicked vintage clothing and textiles.
Most of my days are spent thrifting or traveling for auction pick-ups in preparation for another Lucketts Spring Market. I hit the road early and visit multiple stores daily to make traveling worth it.
Two of the most common comments I receive when I share my thrifting finds are...
1. "You always find the best stuff!"
2. "I don't have thrift stores like yours in my area!"
I've shared my favorite thrifting tips and tricks in the past, but wanted to recap a few tips to hopefully help you score great deals too.
1. Travel outside of your local area.
I have a Goodwill and a few local church thrift stores within about 10 minutes of my home, so there aren't many local thrift shopping opportunities. I visit those stores frequently, but never find much like I do in areas further away.
I travel 40-60 minutes from home to shop in an older, more populated thrift area. Seven stores are within 20 minutes of each other, and I always find enough to make the trip worth it.
2. Shop in older neighborhoods
Older neighborhoods with older homes traditionally mean higher quality, sustainable items being donated. I consistently find brass, leather bags, vintage decor, and high-quality clothing in these older historic and established neighborhoods.
3. Get to the stores when they open
Thrift stores tend to be busier on loyalty members' savings day and the day the color of the week changes. It's ideal to arrive early these days to get first dibs on newly stocked and recently marked-down inventory.
4. Shop the store twice
If you notice the thrift store is restocking while you shop, take the time to make an additional lap throughout the store. I can't tell you how many times I've either overlooked something the first time I shopped or have been able to snag something that was stocked while I was shopping.
* Don't be afraid to shop carts that employees are working on. Some stores discourage this practice, so be mindful of your store's policy.
5. SAVE REWARD POINTS FOR LARGE PURCHASES
If a thrift store has a loyalty or reward program, be sure you're signed up before shopping. Each purchase will add points to your account that can be redeemed for a discount. I always save my reward points for large purchases to get the maximum savings from my rewards.
6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DISCOUNT DAYS
Most thrift stores offer discount days for seniors, military personnel, teachers, and loyalty members. Many stores I frequent offer 25% off for loyalty members on Tuesdays, so I take advantage of shopping on Tuesdays.
7. SHOP THE BAG AISLE
You are missing out if you don't shop the bagged aisle at thrift stores. Most thrift stores combine smaller items into bags and hang them in specialized areas (crafts, home decor, kitchen wares, etc). I've purchased brass, flower frogs, vintage salt and pepper shakers, MCM glassware, frames, and more from the bag aisle.
Here's a roundup of some recent thrift hauls from the past few months. I've been super fortunate to find brass and other items on my thrifting list during almost every shopping trip.
Do you see a theme?
I'm naturally drawn to neutrals and typically buy brass, baskets, pottery, vintage sweaters, leather purses, and glassware.
I buy and help curate multiple spaces at Lily & Birch Market, so my hauls are a little more interesting than in the past, but that makes thrift shopping even more fun.
Take a look at this cool vintage amber elephant bottle I recently found. It's not my typical style, but it was so unique I couldn't leave it behind.
I've been hunting and shopping for vintage threads, including denim jackets and jeans, wool and cotton sweaters, vintage blazers, and leather jackets, and have found some fantastic pieces.
I was a bit lazy in taking pictures of recent auction pickups, but I did remember to snap a few pictures.
How amazing are these large vintage brass swan planters? I've never seen a brass swan planter I didn't love.
Vintage pottery planters are perfect for spring, so I've been gathering a collection of green and yellow ones for a few displays.
Last but not least, I gathered a collection of recent thrift and auction finds for a shoot.
It's hard to pick a favorite piece, but that vintage concrete squirrel with the most perfect patina is at the top of my list!
We're entering the best season for thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets, and I can't wait. Be sure to check local churches, yard sale Facebook groups, and keep an eye out for signs while you're driving. You never know what treasures you may find!
I'm swooning! We have very similar thrifting goals, and I look for many of the same things. I don't spend as much time as you do, but this post has energized me to expand my thrifting locations.
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