Today we’d like to introduce you to Patty Gruizinga.
Hi Patty, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A group of grandparents started our non-profit thrift store 23 years ago because they were concerned about the rising cost of tuition at our Christian School. (We give tuition grants to the families of our school). I was one of those families, my husband and I both went to this school and were sending our 3 kids there. I have a background in retail and so I volunteered at the store periodically. The store ran with all volunteers for the first 5 years when I was asked to come on board as a paid full-time person. That was 18 years ago. Today, my grandchildren attend our school, they are the 5th generation in our family. So you can see why this cause is near and dear to my heart.
I like to think that we are a support system that helps the parents with their desire to raise their kids in an Christian environment. The dedication of our volunteers is overwhelming, some of the original volunteers are still involved in our operation every week. In return the “Comet nation” gets involved in helping us at the store. Our families sign up to help in the store as part of a program that I started called “Parent Partners”. Periodically a class of students or a sports team will come to help with a special project, like when we change over to a different season or to move boxes of Christmas merchandise.
We are still operating out of the original 10,000 sq. ft location but this year we are going to have a Pop-Up” Christmas store for 3 months. The 3500 sq. ft. store will be located across town and everyone is very excited.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
2020 was a big challenge. We did some of the same things that many businesses had to do in order to be open for business- plexiglass at the registers and workstations, masks, hand sanitizer, setting up the store so that there was distancing and only allowing so many customers inside at one time. But unlike others our business relies on older volunteers and we felt an obligation to keep them home and safe. People wanted to bring their donations in and drop them off but we had no one to process them, we couldn’t be open so there was no room on the shelves to put more out and no customers to buy them. I held several parking lot sales and started an Online Shop but it has been a long road back to “business as usual”!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Second Impressions Upscale Thrift Store?
When our store opened in 2002 most thrift stores were set up using a Big Box store model like Goodwill and Salvation Army, or as a small mom & pop or church bazaar. The perception was that they were dark and smelly. There were people who would never consider stepping foot in a thrift store. Now the attitude towards “Thrifting” has changed and has almost become a cool, fun adventure.
Our store is bright and clean. the volunteers focus on quality, cleanliness and smell. The store is merchandised as a Department store, treating each section as its own department with different fixtures, signage and displays. There is one large section set-up as a “Boutique”, where we put our better-brand clothing, formal-wear and handbags, Another as a fun teen shop called “My Best Friend’s Closet”.
Twice a year we end the season by having discounted sales and then switching over all of our merchandise to a new season. Often there is a line of people waiting, eager to see the new displays. We have had other special events like-Women’s shopping nights, book signings, Christmas cookie decorating, kids shopping day, scavenger hunts, etc. Many customers have come to look forward to these promotions.
One spring event that we have had was a “Shop Hop” that included 5-7 non-profit thrift stores in our area. Each store had their own discounts or treats and customers got their card punched at each store. This has been a fun time for customers and a great example of our community’s nonprofits working together.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
By shopping, donating or volunteering with our non-profit organization. Come and get to know us- we are so much more than a thrift store.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.secondimpressionskalamazoo.com
- Instagram: 2ndimpress
- Facebook: secondimpressionskalamazoo.com
