More people turning to thrift store shopping due to economy

Overview

The video segment reports that thrift stores and secondhand shopping are booming as people look for ways to save money amid the economy. It cites Goodwill’s record $7 billion in thrifting sales last year and notes that the trend is increasingly visible on social media.

CBS News Miami reporter Morgan Riner visits a thrift store in North Miami (and references operations in Oakland Park) to explain why demand is rising.

Why Thrifting Demand Is Increasing

• Lower prices / larger discounts: Shoppers can often find items at around 70–85% off retail, including clothing still with original tags.
• Economic pressure and value-seeking: Store owners and experts attribute growth to people not wanting to pay full price and actively trying to stretch their budgets.
• Environmental benefits:
  • Clothing is typically worn only 7–10 times before being discarded.
  • The segment references reports estimating 92 million tons of clothing wasted annually.
  • Thrifting is framed as a form of reuse/recycling that reduces waste.
• Younger generations and style: A stylist/model visitor from New York says secondhand clothing helps avoid waste and that younger shoppers see opportunities in higher-quality fashion that still has value.
• Turning items into cash: Many thrift shops pay customers—either cash immediately or store credit—and often offer the option to donate unwanted items, with donations described as frequent.

Overall Takeaway

The coverage emphasizes thrifting as a practical response to high costs—offering savings, sustainability benefits, and a way to monetize closet cleanouts.

Presenters / Contributors

• Morgan Riner (CBS News Miami)
• Experts / unnamed interview sources (as referenced in the segment)
• John Wesley (shopper/stylist/model visitor from New York)
• Thrift store staff / owner (interviewed shopkeeper/representative at the store)
• Uniform Market (cited source for clothing-wear statistics)
• Global Fashion Agenda (cited for annual clothing waste figures)
• Goodwill (cited for sales figure)