In Defense of Value Village
“For profit.” It’s a dirty two-word phrase that has turned so many people off donating to and shopping at Value Village. And while people have noble intentions behind their distaste (wishing to instead donate to a not-for-profit thrift shop), there’s another side to this story and it’s one I’ve been meaning to blog about for a while. So here I am, defending what I think is, in fact, a laudable business model essentially so I can pop this link in the comments when next I see a status asking “where can I donate clothes… other than Value Village?”
Don’t follow me on Instagram yet? Please hop over to @sneaksandlipstick and hit that follow button! I’d love to have you. Also, please note that while yes, I do paid partnerships when they align with my interests, this post is completely unsponsored. Although if you’re sitting at Value Village HQ reading this, I’d love to work with you!
Before we dive into why I’m coming to the defense of a big ol’ corporation that has been called “The Trump Foundation of second hand stores”, let’s acknowledge that there are many worthy organizations out there that accept clothing. My intention here isn’t to reroute any donations that benefit people in real need. But there is a LOT of clothing being purged from our collective wardrobes every single day and a shocking amount of those textiles end up in landfills.
The average Canadian purchases 70 new pieces of clothing per year, contributing to the 12 million tons of textile waste dumped into North America’s landfills. Why? Most people couldn’t be bothered to sort and donate, they’d rather pop items in the trash and forget about it. It’s is an inarguably unsustainable system we’re living in.
And it’s foolish to imagine folks who are tossing clothes in the trash will start saving, sorting, and doing a clothing drive to say, a women’s shelter. We need to give them an easy option and that is Value Village. Put everything in one bag & outsource the sorting. In fact, Community Living or Diabetes Canada will come pick up unwanted textiles and take them to Value Village, a service that is both easy for people who are purging and benefits either adults living with intellectual disabilities or diabetes research and support—Value Village pays by the pound for the clothing.
“They pay charities? But I thought they were accused of masquerading as a charity.” Much has been made of Value Village being a “for profit” company. And yes, the consumer model is for profit. But their buying practices support worthy causes. You can even organize a fund drive using this model to benefit your local non-profit or charitable organization.
Value Village also pays workers. Important as many non-profit and charitable second-hand clothing organizations are, most of them are volunteer-run. Value Village employs locals, offers advancements, has healthcare plans available, gives paid time off… it’s real employment. And for new Canadians who are getting to know English, there are opportunities in sorting.
Now, for the front end, and it’s an easy one to defend! I shop at Value Village often in a bid to reduce my textile and household waste footprint. It’s where I sourced most of my home’s Christmas décor, many of my wardrobe faves, and it’s one of the places I scope first before buying anything new. If you’re making the effort to put second-hand first, you might be doing the same—because the best way to stop the issue of textile waste is to lower the number of new textiles being created. Value Village helps to close the loop.
It’s time to stop thinking of Value Village as an enemy to charity and instead, as a business whose model is sound. Thrift proud, friends!
xoM
