According to NARTS, The Association of Resale Professionals, there are currently over 25,000 resale, consignment, and Not for Profit shops in the United States. This segment of the retail sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years due to a variety of factors. These range from consumer desire for affordable goods during a shaky economy to the environmental benefits of repurposing and reusing.

This growth is also supported by the successful effort of resale stores to fight the negative stereotypes once associated with thrift stores while gaining a strong and loyal following among vintage and fashion trendsetters.

Goodwill of Greater Washington has 19 retail locations throughout the Washington DC metro area and will add an additional store by the end of 2016. As these establishments are the brick and mortar face of our organization they are what is most immediately associated with the Goodwill name. But the truth is that there is so much more to these stores than many realize.

Here are 7 facts about our stores that you may not know:

1. 25-30 Jobs are Created Every Time a New Location Opens
   It takes a lot of man power to run a Goodwill location and in many cases more than most retail establishments. From sales associates to donation attendants it takes a strong team of good people to make a Goodwill Store run at peak performance.
2. Not All Stores are Part of the Same Goodwill
   There are 165 autonomous Goodwill organizations throughout the United States and Canada.  Each one operates independently and each has its own territory. For example, the Goodwill location in Bowie, MD is part of Goodwill of Greater Washington but the location in Annapolis, MD is part of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake based in Baltimore.
3. 24.3 Million Pounds of Reusable Goods are Kept Out of Area Landfills Each Year by Donating to Goodwill of Greater Washington
   If you are looking for a way to help the environment, donating and shopping at Goodwill is an excellent way to do so.
4. Shopping at Goodwill Helps Fund Job Training and Employment Services
   Over $.90 of every dollar spent at our Goodwill retail stores goes back into mission fulfillment. The reason our retail stores exist is to provide free job training and employment services to unemployed and underemployed individuals in the DC metro. At their core our retail stores are an economic engine to provide the funding for these services.
5. Some Retail Locations also Double as Career Centers for Job Training and Employment Services
   Our locations in Arlington, VA, Annandale, VA, Washington D.C., and Dale City, VA are not only retail stores and donation centers but are also career centers where we offer free job training and employment services.
6. Clothing Voucher Program
   We created our Good Samaritan Program in 1990 to partner with local government and community based organizations to help people in need throughout our community. Each voucher can be redeemed by these individuals for up to $25 worth of free clothing and shoes at any of our retail locations.
7. Online Shopping
   Not many people know that they can shop for Goodwill merchandise online through shop.dcgoodwill.org or through our mobile app (iOS and Android).Consumers can find and purchase a variety of musical instruments, jewelry, art, collectables, electronics, fashions, books and media. New items are posted every day and you’d be amazed at what you can find.

So now that you know a little more about our Goodwill retail stores what do you think? They are so much more than a revenue generator but a means to provide opportunities to those who have struggled in our community.

If you have never been to one of our Goodwill’s we invite you to stop in and see what you can find.

Find a Goodwill

To all of our existing shoppers and donors – thank you!

---