Welcome to the Hot Spot!

   Do you love bargain shopping? Ready to go on an urban treasure hunt? Well I’ve got the treasure maps and in each blog I’ll be sharing them with you!  It’s all about the local thrift shops where you can get the best bang for your buck. We’re going to discover discounts, find out where your money flows, and even get the low down on behind the scenes.  Welcome to “Hot Spot to Thrift Shop,” the hottest blog for NIC shoppers!

     Ok, first things first!  The point of this blog is to help the NIC community find the best deals, so here’s the down low on the discounts:

• Student Discount Day: every Saturday, 20% off with ID
• Daily store discount: 50% off specific colored tags, changed biweekly
• ***This week only*** Spend $20, get $10 off! (Runs until Sat. 03/22)

(Read on for the full scoop, or scroll down to the bottom for my small overall review.)

UGM: Second-hand store supporting second chances

     If you live locally you might have heard of UGM in passing, it stands for Union Gospel Mission.  UGM helps provide shelter for the homeless, rental assistance, food for those who can’t afford it, jobs, recovery programs for addicts, trauma therapy, safety for those trying to escape abuse, education, and even summer camp for low-income kids. 

     You might have heard of one of the programs they offer to support those in need, their used car lot, or maybe their thrift store.  Chances are, if you’ve heard of the thrift store, then you’ve heard of their pricing.  When I mentioned that I was writing a piece on UGM, hands down, the top response was that they’re expensive for a thrift store. 

     While I’m not going to name any names, (per request,) students expressed things such as, “Their prices are so high,” and “I could go to Fred Meyer and buy something off the clearance rack for less.”

   Something people my not realize, unlike a lot of non-profits, UGM doesn’t accept any government funding. The rely solely on revenue from donations, and support from the community. The reason behind this is that if UGM did accept funds form the government, the government could then dictate certain standards and decisions that don’t align with UGM’s values.  The Union Gospel Mission isn’t willing to compromise their purpose.

     “I think that’s what sets us apart, it’s God’s program, not ours.  Our faith and belief in God is something not everybody knows, and we want to share that. We pray for each other every day.” Stated Jaclyn Ferrel, Store Manager of the UGM in Hayden.

     UGM uses price points on individual items, not blanket pricing where, for example, every pair of jeans is $5 regardless of quality or brand.  Ferrel explained that they look up each item’s original value, then according to the condition of the item, they mark it down anywhere from 50-70% of that

     “We’re looking to steward gifts. We’ve got people that give us quality items intentionally so that we can sell them to produce revenue, which we need to support our programs,” said Ferrel, “I think it’s important for people to understand that’s what we’re doing here.”

Vintage Vibes

     When you walk around UGM you’ll notice carefully set displays, that lend a kind of boutique feeling.  According to Ferrel they have a lot of “vintage, high value, very high quality items” throughout the store.

   “The youth are trendy, a lot of styles are coming back, like bell-bottoms. We’ve got the real vintage, ‘mom jeans’ that actually were somebody’s mom’s jeans back in the day.”

One stop thrift shop for all your summer supplies

I was impressed with how much outdoor and sports inventory they had. It wasn’t just the typical barrel of skis; they had stuff for golfing, backpacking, camping, fishing, baseball, skating, blading, boxing, surfing, etc…. It was all nice stuff too.

They had tons of women’s, men’s and kids swim gear. I’m talking beyond the regular bathing suits and sunhats, they also had wetsuits, life-jackets, snorkels, goggles, floaties, coolers, even beach chairs and umbrellas.

There’s no “short” supply on summer outfits either. (Get it? Because of all the shorts! Ha ha ha!) All sizes, and styles. Everything clearly marked and organized for easy browsing.

Don’t even get me started on the sweet selection of sandals!

My Over All Review

*UGM isn’t the place to hunt for something worth a lot that’s been marked down to next to nothing, it’s not a “come up” spot. It IS, however, a great place to consistently find quality items for a reasonable price. They scrutinize everything that comes through that door, and mark it accordingly. It’s not going to be hit or miss between treasure or trash.

*Shoes, sandals, boots! If you need footwear, shop here, especially women’s shoes.

*UGM isn’t only clothes either; they have electronics, nice kitchen appliances, games, music, kids stuff, furniture, decor and more. Excellent thermos selection. 

*Anybody who is into outdoor pursuits should definitely check out UGM.  When I say that I was impressed by their sports and outdoor section, I mean it. You could go in unprepared, then walk out of there with everything you need for a weekend excursion at the beach, the mountains or the river, (minus the food.) If you want to stay active with sports this summer, go check them out, they’ve got plenty of toys..

Stay cool, another Hot Spot is on the way!

If you have any favorite thrift stores, or second hand boutiques you’d like me to feature, feel free to comment below, or email me directly at avdickey@nic.edu. Make sure to look for next “Hot Spot to Thrift Shop” in the opinion section of The Sentinel.

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If you’d like to learn more about UGM, check out their website if you feel like you could benefit from their services, or would like to donate your time, items, or money.