- Spot Cleaner: A concentrated spot cleaner like Zout will help get out stains and marks.
- Cotton Swabs: To clean the inside of shoes before trying on.
- Lint Roller: Gets rid of dust and lint from old items.
- Steamer: Is great for getting out creases and making your clothes look nice and refreshed. That way you don't have to take them to the cleaners ever time you wear them.
- Shoe horn: For trying on shoes when you don't have nylons or socks.
- Gum Eraser: Will help eliminate some of the marks or scuffs on shoes. It's always good to know of a shoe repair person for hard to fix problems.
- Black Marker: You can take the marker and cover up bleach stains/marks on black clothing.
- Crochet Hooks: Great for pulling snags through on sweaters and other knit items.
- Seem Ripper: Use these instead of scissors to remove tags and labels. You can get in tight and get the little threads off the label.
- Foam strips: For garments that continue to come off the hanger, these are great to help them stay on. Container Store has great ones -- www.containerstore.com
- Tape Measure: You never know what you're going to need to measure. Keep a list of the dimensions of your home in your purse/bag if you're looking for furniture.
- Emery Board: It's nice to have an emery board with you in case you need it to help prevent any snags while you're shopping.
- Clear Nail Polish or Jewelry Shield: Apply to the posts or the backs of used earrings. You can find Jewelry Shield at your local drug and craft store.
- Hand Wipes: Helps gets rid of hanger grease and dirt on hands, plus it's just nice to have so when you're done shopping you can have a clean start to the rest of your day.
- Have an idea of what your personal style is; what you like and don't like. Do you prefer skirts or slacks, cotton or knit shirts, etc. This will save you time and keep you focused.
- Be open minded because you can find more than just shoes and clothing at thrift stores. You can find books, furniture, home accessory items and baby clothes.
- You can find stylish designer labels with the tags still on. So stay focused and keep your eyes on the prize.
We've been paying attention to the economy (who hasn't) and we think we have come up with one good solution to help you out.For the first time ever, we are offering a thrift store shopping boot camp. Yes, a boot camp!With the economy in disarray, we thought we would help out in a way that is practical and will save you money.
For years you have probably donated your "unwanted" items to us, but you likely have never ventured into our store.If you have been a little curious in the past and want to satisfy that curiosity, here's your chance to peek behind the curtain and learn about the treasures inside.
We are pleased to announce that one of the Bay Area's leading experts on thrift store shopping will be leading this boot camp.What does that mean to you? Well, just this - you have the opportunity to spend time with an expert and get hands on training in the art of thrift store shopping along with basic information about shopping smart.
This training will consist of a combination of classroom and in store training. Spend one morning with us and we will turn you into a thrift store shopping expert. Learn a new skill (or hone an existing skill) that can benefit you and your family for the remainder of your life.This is going to be informative and a lot of fun, so you won't want to miss it. And don't forget to bring along some friends.
For more information, go to www.simplyorganized.com
About Teresa Riccobuono:
She has been organizing homes and businesses for the past 25 years. She's the California representative for Simply Organized. Early on her focus was the retail industry, helping individuals improve their appearance and helping businesses improve efficiencies and ultimately the bottom line.
She then went on to the financial services industry where the opportunity for more independent status revealed itself. She decided it was time to go into business for herself.
Teresa's company, Simply Organized has been helping people become more organized both at home and at the office.Her philosophy is to keep things simple. She truly believes in simplicity as a way of life and that is why she named her company Simply Organized.Her mission is to help people lead better lives. Better, having a unique meaning for each individual.
For Goodwill locations, visit www.eastbaygoodwill.org
