Thrift Shop

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Materials: Internet connection, speaker to play music, items for recyclable craft: old/unwanted CD, marble, and glue gun

While I’ve listened to the catchy song “THRIFT SHOP” by MACKLEMORE and Ryan LEWIS one hundred times or more, it’s taken until now to explore the line “POP SOME TAGS.” Come to find out, this is English slang for going shopping. As the song suggests, going shopping at the thrift shop is a budget-conscious strategy that allows the consumer to get more for their money than, say, shopping at a DEPARTMENT store.

SPELL: MACKLEMORE LEWIS DEPARTMENT
What is the name of the song by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis? THRIFT SHOP
What is the English slang for going shopping? POP SOME TAGS
Name a local department store where you could go shopping. Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Boscov’s, etc.…
Tell me about 3 things that need to be included in a budget and why they need to be included.
VAKT: Listen to the song “Thrift Shop.” * Look for a censored version: 3 min 49 seconds in length (Consider using a larger screen to watch the music video and dance along) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NoHzVpyjo8

Thrift shops are defined as a store selling SECONDHAND CLOTHES and other HOUSEHOLD goods. In the 21st century, these stores have expanded to sell online as well as in person. Stores sell anything from clothing and shoes to holiday decorations and small appliances. Each shop ELICITS (TO OBTAIN) merchandise in its own way. Some will accept donations, others purchase from alternate vendors, and still, others may buy abandoned storage lockers to sell the contents. No matter the option, the merchandise within the shop is bound to be IDIOSYNCRATIC (peculiar or individual, unique) and DIVERSE.

SPELL: CENTURY ELICITS ABANDONED
What does elicit mean? TO OBTAIN
Thrift shops are defined as a store selling secondhand clothes and other _____ goods. HOUSEHOLD
Name one of the two types of merchandise thrift shops are defined as selling. SECONDHAND CLOTHES, HOUSEHOLD GOODS
What word means peculiar or individual, unique? IDIOSYNCRATIC
Name one of the adjectives used to describe the merchandise in the stores. IDIOSYNCRATIC, DIVERSE
Name one way a shop will elicit merchandise. ACCEPT DONATIONS, PURCHASE FROM ALTERNATE VENDORS, BUY ABANDONED STORAGE LOCKERS
If you could sell something online, what would it be? Why?

Prices at thrift shops tend to be at least 50% off, as compared to new MERCHANDISE at a department store. In an economy where inflation has INCREASED PRICES by 5 percent, and our WORKFORCE and SUPPLY CHAINS are failing, saving money and finding varied and unique merchandise is a reflective financial option to consider.

SPELL: MERCHANDISE RETAILER REFLECTIVE
What has inflation done to prices in our economy? INCREASED PRICES
Name one of the two things that are failing in our economy. WORKFORCE, SUPPLY CHAINS
What does reflective mean in this hunk of the lesson? Thinking it through, reflecting upon something
If a name-brand shirt at Target cost $30 and the thrift store is selling it at 50% off, what would the total savings be on the shirt? 30 x .5= 15 DOLLARS

In addition to saving money, there are occasions when people make money on the TREASURES they find. For example, a man named ZACHARY BODISH was at a thrift shop in Columbus, OHIO, in 2012. He found a unique PABLO PICASSO PAINTING, which he assumed was a reproduction that looked neat. He purchased it for $14.14. However, upon further examination, he discovered that the painting was an original, signed piece of art which he sold for $7,000. Another example tells of a woman in Great Britain who purchased a BROACH for her young daughter, assuming it was costume jewelry, later to find out it was a royal gem worn by a Russian CZARINA worth 43 THOUSAND DOLLARS.

SPELL: ZACHARY BODISH OHIO CZARINA
In addition to saving money, there are occasions when people make money on the _________they find. TREASURES
Name one of the treasures found in this hunk of the lesson. PAINTING, BROACH
What is costume jewelry? Jewelry made with inexpensive materials or imitation gems, reproductions
How many years ago did Zachary Bodish purchase the Pablo Picasso painting? 21-12= 9 YEARS AGO
How many thousands of dollars was the Russian czarina’s gem worth? 43 THOUSAND DOLLARS
VAKT: Point to the dollar sign in the middle.

Buying secondhand also provides the consumer with a sense of STEWARDSHIP for our environment, as it reduces our carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide being emitted due to the use of fossil fuels) and provides a way of reusing unwanted goods. The fashion industry accounts for 10 PERCENT of global carbon emissions and almost 20 percent of wastewater. In landfills, 9 MILLION of 11 million tons of waste can be traced to clothing and footwear.

SPELL: CONSUMER ENVIRONMENT WASTEWATER
Buying secondhand allows the consumer to feel a sense of _________ for our environment. STEWARDSHIP
Name one of the two ways buying second-hand helps the environment. IT REDUCES OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, PROVIDES A WAY OF REUSING UNWANTED GOODS
Can you explain one way that fossil fuels are used in the production or distribution of clothing? Fueling machines that make the clothes, trucks, and ships moving the merchandise, electricity in stores
The fashion industry accounts for what percentage of global carbon emissions? 10 PERCENT
In landfills, how many tons of waste can be traced to clothing or footwear? 9 MILLION
VAKT: Make something with a used item…reusing something that would otherwise be discarded. Suggesting Marble/Spinning top: https://meaningfulmama.com/cd-marble-forever-spinning-top.html

It is also appealing that many thrift shops’ mission is PHILANTHROPIC in nature because they are often selling items to raise funds for a cause or ALTERNATIVE non-profit. Before shopping, consider doing your research to determine if the store you are PATRONIZING has this focus. For example, North East Social Action Program in HAMPSTEAD, MARYLAND, runs a thrift store to raise funds to support community members in need. They use the money to fund their FOOD PANTRY and pay ELECTRIC BILLS and RENT for those struggling to do so on their own. There are many stores and many more good causes to support.

SPELL: ALTERNATIVE HAMPSTEAD MARYLAND
Many thrift shops’ end goal is ____________ in nature because they are often selling items to raise funds for a cause or alternative non-profit. PHILANTHROPIC
Name one of the things North East Social Action Program uses their thrift shop money to pay for. FOOD PANTRY, ELECTRIC BILLS, RENT
What does it mean to patronize a store? Make the choice to shop there
How might you do the research to find out more about a thrift store? Share the steps you would take.

Thrift stores as a business and job are continuing to expand in POPULARITY. According to the ASSOCIATION of Resale Professionals, the resale industry has increased by 7 PERCENT over the past two years, despite the pandemic and the challenges it has created for many RETAILERS. Thrift stores are increasing in number and are often clustering in certain locations to provide options to the consumer. SAVVY SHOPPERS are also selling the merchandise they find in these stores, lending itself to yet another money-making OPPORTUNITY.

SPELL: POPULARITY ASSOCIATION OPPORTUNITY
What type of shoppers are selling the merchandise they find in these stores? SAVVY SHOPPERS
Name one-way thrift stores are trying to increase options to the consumer. INCREASING IN NUMBER, CLUSTERING IN CERTAIN LOCATIONS
Where might savvy shoppers sell the merchandise they buy at thrift shops? (be specific) Ebay, Facebook marketplace, online, yard sales, another thrift shop, etc.
The resale industry has increased by what percentage over the last two years? 7 PERCENT
Tell me about an item that you might purchase at a thrift store and why you would buy it there.

Saving money and making money are financially appealing decisions for the 21st century, BUDGET-conscious consumer. MERCHANDISE in these thrift stores is gently used and continues to have a number of years of useful life available. USEFUL LIFE is the scientifically developed formula to define how long a product will maintain VALUE and USABILITY. On average, a quality GARMENT has a useful life of 7 years and 4 MONTHS (7.3). Other goods that can be found at thrift shops will continue to have useful life or appeal to a person for reasons beyond their use and value. Poppin’ tags at the thrift shop is a readily accessible and sound FINANCIAL option.

SPELL: MERCHANDISE GARMENT FINANCIAL
Saving money and making money are financially appealing decisions for the 21st century, _______ conscious consumer? BUDGET
What is the scientifically developed formula to define how long a product will have usability and value? USEFUL LIFE
Name one of the two qualities useful life evaluates. VALUE, USABILITY
On average, a quality garment has a useful life of 7 years, and how many months? 4 MONTHS
If a person donates a quality pair of jeans to a thrift store after 2.3 years of wear, how many more years of useful life do the jeans have? 7.3-2.3= 5 YEARS OF USEFUL LIFE

Creative Writing:
The song; “Thrift Shop” is written about a budget-conscious consumer who saves money by thrift shopping. If you were to write a song about another budget-conscious strategy, what would be in your song lyrics, and what would be the title?

Many thrift stores’ mission is to be philanthropic in nature. What is your mission? Write a mission statement.

References:
https://www.narts.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3285
https://moneywise.com/life/lifestyle/incredible-items-found-at-thrift-stores
https://climate360news.lmu.edu/the-shift-to-thrift-resale-market-and-thrift-shopping-poses-reward-for-consumers-and-the-environment/