Goodwill Grabs #3
Now, for the third part of Thrift Shop Story, I interviewed Blair Bowen, a sweet freshman with a unique sense of style and that can light up an entire room with one single smile and laugh. She lets us in on her long history of shopping at thrift stores and how she gets lucky at her favorite locations.
Q: Have you found any small thrift stores that maybe aren’t as popular as Goodwill but you feel the rest of our audience should definitely visit?
A: Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Butler is a personal favorite. It’s super cute and they have really good prices!
Q: What is your all-time favorite thrift find?
A: Surprisingly, it wasn’t even an article of clothing. I was about 11 years old and I was digging through the clearance bin when I found a Selena Gomez CD. I was beyond ecstatic because at the time I thought she was one of the greatest singers to ever live. Plus it was only $0.99.
Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever found in a thrift store?
A: My mom took me to Saint Vincent de Paul ALL the time when I was little, and they had a bin of free toys. They were usually small, but once I found a really nice doll that was significantly larger (and cooler) than the other toys in the bin. It’s not very crazy, but at the time it was.
Q: Do you have any funny stories from a thrifting adventure?
A: When I was in fifth grade, I was in a Christmas pageant and I had to play a seamstress. The director wanted me to get an old-timey floral dress. I was not thrilled to say the least. My mom took me to Goodwill and I actually cried when I tried on the dresses because they were just so ugly. I finally picked the best looking one (which was still very, very ugly). Looking back on it now, it’s more funny than sad. Also, whenever my brother and I were young, we would hide in between the racks of clothes and try and scare the shoppers. Our mom wasn’t very proud, but it was still worth the laughs.
Q: What do you hope to find on your next trip?
A: I’m a strong believer that off-brand clothes and other items are often just as good as name-brand things, but it’s always fun to find bargains on brands that are usually more expensive.
Ever since I was little, I’ve had what my dad calls a “gasoline-rear,” meaning I could never stay in one place for long; always wanting to go out and explore. Whether that be going out to eat with friends or shopping for something I probably don't need, I’m constantly on the run.
I have big dreams of making it to the city and becoming something great, even though all my plans on getting there are still fuzzy. I'm looking into going for a business major but school is still undecided :)
But as for now, I’m still a student at Knoch just like the rest of you, waiting for the day I can throw my cap in the air and have my diploma in hand. So while we’re all here, why not make the most of it and go out and adventure some more.