Thrift Shop Benefits Many
Big Timber Community Thrift Store
Big Timber, MT
Written by Susan Metcalf
Photography by Mayzie Purviance Cremer
It’s a bargain hunter’s delight. But don’t haggle. The prices are low enough that it's not necessary. And besides, the proceeds go to good causes.
“We refer to ourselves as Macy’s East,” Kathy Boshart joked, referring to the Big Timber Community Thrift Store. “We are a department store for used items. Everything from clothing to furniture to household items to antiques and collectables.”
Every corner is brimming with displays of organized chaos. Coffee pots, frying pans, dishes, and glassware are tastefully displayed in one area while artwork and area rugs clammer for attention in another. There’s clothing for each family member and pants and shirts for $3 each boast the same prices as those of a decade past. But there’s a reason for that.
“We’re not interested in keeping merchandise, we want to sell it and use the money in the community,” Frank Bennett, Facilities Manager, said. “We stay at about 60 percent of what we believe the value of the merchandise is. That way it’s going to sell, and the money can be quickly put to use.”
Community oriented, every sale goes toward local needs, and the business is solely volunteer operated. In 2022, the organization gave over $120,000 to various entities in Sweet Grass County.
“Without the entire community, we would not be viable. We depend on donations from the community, our volunteers prepare and market the merchandise, and the community supports the store and benefits from the money that we funnel back. Not one penny goes into any individual’s pockets. We are truly a community-based organization.”
“Our goal for 2024 is to surpass half a million dollars in total sales that the store has generated over the years to enhance our community. We’re only about $40,000.00 away,” Kathy said.
The Community Thrift Store began in 2013. However, the original concept was started by the local Health and Wellness organization in 2000. Unfortunately, at that point, a suitable location was difficult to find, and it struggled to keep the doors open.
In 2013, Kathy encouraged the Big Timber Women’s Club to revamp the dwindling store, and several members embraced the idea. Kathy agreed to serve as treasurer, and the group approached retiring local business owners, Art and Barbara Sell, about leasing their Color Shop building.
“I recall telling Art ‘We need your building, but we can only pay you $750 per month for rent.’ He and Barbara believed in the mission of the group and agreed to those terms,” Kathy said.
There were many challenges on the road to their success, including working very hard to raise very little money. This led to the ‘manager of the day’ concept rather than paying a full time manager.
“I cannot say enough about the volunteers.,” Kathy said. “We have 36 volunteers, and they are the key to our success. Many of them have been here since the beginning.”
The organization is governed by a five-member volunteer board consisting of President Terri Gilbert, Secretary Candy Vakke, Treasurer Kathy Boshart, Facilities Manager Frank Bennett, and newly seated member JoAnn Holman.
Over the last couple years, as “thrifting” became an increasingly popular fad nationwide, the Thrift Store has become a favorite spot for many to shop.
“It has become cool to shop at secondhand stores,” Kathy said. “We get shoppers from all over the state and the country. Shoppers can get on their phone to check the value of what they find on our shelves.”
“We also have a lot of resellers,” Frank added. “People that come in and purchase things that they then turnaround and market themselves.”
Treasures are to be found, but it requires frequent visits as the inventory is known to turn over rapidly. Frank recalled the story of a donated metal detector a woman decided to purchase only after leaving the shop. She called and requested the store to hold it just as a man in-store said he wanted to buy it.
“I told him I was sorry, but I just sold it over the phone. He wanted it too,” Frank said. “So, we tell people if you want it, you better grab it. One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, and it might not last for long.”
Sales are held periodically to move inventory and every summer right before the rodeo, displays of western clothes, boots and hats become popular. Folks come from all over the area and make a circuit of dropping off donations and buying new items.
“We often run half price sales to turn over our merchandise, so it is not sitting here,” Kathy said. “The favorite part for all kids is that they get to pick out a free book every time they come, and they can take books home for siblings also.”
Treasure hunts aside, the focus of the store is the community, both in donations and support.
“Without the entire community, we would not be viable,” Kathy said. “We depend on donations from the community, our volunteers prepare and market the merchandise, and the community supports the store and benefits from the money that we funnel back. Not one penny goes into any individual’s pockets. We are truly a community-based organization.”
Frank shared another story of a local rancher who wanted to donate a vintage power bike to the store. The problem was, there was no way to get it to town.
“I told him we’d try to work with him, but before I even had a chance to figure out how to get it to us, he called back and said he sold it to the neighbor,” Frank said. “Then he said that he got $200 for it, and he wanted to donate the cash to us because he was trying to donate the bike anyway. That’s $200 that went right back into the community.”
Monthly support is given to the local Food Bank, Hearts and Hands Hospice, the Senior Pantry, and the Sweet Grass Arts Theater. In addition, the store gives donations to the five schools in the county, government entities such as Search and Rescue and the Ambulance Barn and every spring $15,000 is given in scholarships to graduating seniors from the local high school. Any non-profit organization that qualifies may request a grant from the organization as well.
“We see evidence all over town of the community projects we have funded, from furnishings at the Ambulance Barn to the flag poles at City Hall,” Kathy said proudly.
There’s community created within the network of volunteers and an event everyone looks forward to is the biannual parties held to honor the volunteers.
“Many of our volunteers say this place saved their lives and gives them purpose,” Kathy said. “I found it a perfect outlet to get my mind off the loss of my husband. This place is just exceptional.”
“It’s a neat little operation,” Frank added. “People know what we do with the money and how we account for it. The entire community believes in our mission and supports it.”