Category: News

3 Great Days to Shop ARES before Next Year (and 1 to shop online)

Please take a brief moment, to reflect and think about…

As more and more small local businesses close permanently, what will Boulder be like in 2021?

We will be asking this question to our customers in the final weeks of 2020, and sharing your responses with our followers in your own words. We are certain, however, the people whom we serve from SPAN, Harvest of Hope Pantry, Mental Health Partners, and other agencies throughout our Boulder community would be harmed without ARES Thrift Store remaining in its existing capacity.

We know from talking with you that 2020 has been uniquely challenging for many- parents, students, medical professionals, teachers, essential workers, those who became sick or are jobless etc… Like so many, those of us in small businesses and charitable health and human service work, are reaching deep for new ideas, practices, and possible solutions to the looming financial woes this upcoming winter is set to unleash on us.

If you are someone concerned about community assistance, diverting an average of 800,000 pounds every year from landfills, or straight-up enjoy finding affordable but amazing thrift finds, how can you help? 

Here are FOUR ways-
1. SHOP WITH US: We love our loyal customer supporters, and want to reward you when you make the pandemic trek to shop with us. We are giving away Visa Gift Card Holiday Shopping Sprees! Earn raffle tickets during our three most exciting days in November:

  • Opt to thrift Black Friday 11/27, shop with us 12-5pm before holiday shopping at big-box or online retailers and get at least 25% OFF All items (with an option to receive 50% OFF, see cashier for details).
  • Small Business Saturday is 11/28, a day for visiting your local Boulder independent businesses, including ARES and earn more raffle tickets for a holiday spree (and still get 25-50% off).
  • Our favorite holiday, Secondhand Sunday is 11/29 and We’ll Be Open! We celebrate Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, and contemplate letting go of things that no longer serve us to bring joy to others (before holidays bring new gifts), with storewide savings of 25-50% OFF again!
    • This is your last day to enter our raffle with easy ways to get tickets (see below), winners announced via email by midnight. 

2. FOLLOW US: You are already part of our email list, thank you! For other ways to keep in touch, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (and our @thrift.in.motion IG page to shop with us on Cyber Monday) for exclusive updates and even more ways to save and contribute to keep ARES going strong into 2021. And please consider sharing this email or our posts with your friends to expand our support network (even outside of Boulder helps)!

3. DONATE ITEMS WITH US: There are so many reasons to declutter, but most of all, it is the backbone of our giving program: those in need locally, obtain vouchers from partnering agencies to shop with us for free. With colder, snowier weather setting in, we are in need of items to meet immediate and urgent needs: Socks, blankets, coats, hats, gloves, boots and tents are some of the most needed by our clients this time of year. Donate whatever you are able to give, as proceeds fund our charitable efforts and operational expenses. We take items in re-sellable condition whenever we are open (Thur-Sat 12-5pm) around back at our Donation Center (please ring doorbell).  

And many new and in-box items make great holiday gifts for those having a hard time making ends meet right now, to provide a joyous holiday for their families during this crazy year. 

4. GIVE IF YOU ARE ABLE: If you’re able to financially support our relief efforts to maintain our ability to offer thrifty goods and services to people in the local community, and offset our lack of revenue for three months of store closure and several months of vastly reduced business hours, you can find our current fundraiser here: GoFundMe and thank you so much! In the winter months we will also be collecting change in donation boxes near the register for other charities we care about, and invite you to donate in person when you shop with us.

ARES cares about Public Health – Safer at Home Level Red 

We are continuing and expanding our cleaning and sanitization procedures, and following county and state health orders we are reducing our store occupancy. Thank you for your continued cooperation, wearing nose and mouth coverings inside, and as always, help yourself to our hand sanitizer on your way in and out! 

We definitely understand that folks are hesitant these days to come out and shop in the manner they did prior to this year, however if there is something we could do to allow you to get in and out more quickly, or pay by phone and run an item outside for you to pick up curbside, just give a call during any of our open hours and we’ll do our best to accommodate if it’s a request that’s possible. 

We are looking to be here in and for the community for many years serving up a unique and fun experience for you. But we rely solely on your health and community support to do so, so please stay well and continue mindfully showing up for us mom-and-pop shops that you care about in town, in whichever way fits best for you.

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Thank you from myself and our small but mighty team,
– Jennifer Greany
Owner/ Manager

Storewide sale this weekend- PLUS my top tip for finding a costume you’ll love wearing!!

It’s go time folks! 

If you are taking a pass on the Halloween festivities, that’s pretty understandable considering this year- simply skip this message OR just come on in for the Sale on Everything this Friday or Saturday- (25% OFF your purchase 10/30 & 10/31*– or check our latest social media post for how to double that and get 50% OFF every single thing you buy)! 

However…  Costumes are fun, even the bad ones (Lol to the Haunted Quilt man from 2017)! 

So here is my tippety top tip for finding a costume you Really Actually Like in 10 minutes or less (For Reals! We help people with this strategy every year and it definitely works): 

All you need to do is lose the notion that you need to have the perfect idea for a costume first before shopping.  

Just swing by the thrift shop, peruse the Halloween racks until you find an interesting piece that you love the look or fit of. Once you have that piece, check in with myself, my really creative team (who LOVE making Halloween costumes) or just head online to Google if you’re shy. 

Let us come up with characters or names for possible costumes that you could be with that piece you’ve found and Voila! you are now on the hunt for one maybe two more items typically to finish the look and you’re on your way out the door, actually really liking what you’ve found and feeling pumped for dressing up. 

It can really be easy once you start with an item you are digging, and go from there. 

*limit one incentive per person with the sale 

Now, because it’s 2020, here’s a few more things to consider to help everyone have a safe, happy Halloween shopping trip:

  • Keeping safe while pandemic shopping: wear a face covering, wash hands frequently, launder and/or sanitize items before you use them. 
  • Avoid touching/ trying on items when possible or that you are not actually interested in: Yes, you can certainly try clothes on right now (sorry not masks or wigs), but try to eyeball for size the easy to fit items that would just slip on. Once tried on, if clothing doesn’t fit, we’ll quarantine those items away. 
  • Don’t get too lost in the racks: There’s over 800 new additions added to our Halloween racks for this week. It’s easy to get excited when there’s many fun new things to look at, however, keep in mind that more patience is needed to leave that extra 6ft+ distance between shoppers.
  • Visit ARES this Thurs, Fri, or Sat from 12-5pm: Our Halloween items are front and center when you come in. Shop the other aisles for any essential pieces needed to accessorize! We’re here and ready to help you get in and out quickly with a look you’ll actually want to wear 🙂
cute costumes

And please accept our sincerest gratitude for shopping with us, prior to visiting a big box store, or solely buying your items online. It’s sooo appreciated <3

sticker to keep boulder thrifty

We look forward to seeing you soon!
– Jennifer and team ARES

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If are able to support our relief efforts to maintain our ability to offer thrifty goods and services to people in the local community, and offset our lack of revenue for three months due to store closure, please click here: GoFundMe and thank you so much!

This Week’s Deal at ARES Thrift Store

Hi Folks, 

In response to email communications, some of you have reached out asking how you can support ARES during this time of straight-up struggle for our small business. 

First of all, thank you very much, we are really grateful for the help that’s been offered. We know a lot of small businesses are facing challenges right now. I know it’s particularly overwhelming for those organizations that are trying to service the sudden and dramatic rise in need from people in our community this year. I certainly don’t have all of the answers for what our town’s small business community needs, however, for ARES to thrive again, we’re definitely going to need as many folks in our corner as possible over the coming months to offset the numerous customers staying safer at home these days who have yet to come back and shop with us in person. 

Below, we’ve listed some of our sales, events, and other ways to keep updated with how you can support ARES and subsequently people in need, during the coming months. And please accept our sincerest gratitude for shopping with us, prior to visiting a big box store, or solely buying your items online.  

Those of you on Facebook, can easily save our latest deal there. But we realize that not all of you partake in Facebookland, so here’s the coupon that’s been running online. 

Come shop with us in the next few days with it printed out, OR simply show this email to your cashier on your smartphone, if you’d rather. Your patronage is an important key for our continued success.

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Additionally- It’s Dolla Bin Sale Days– Our biggest deal of the month takes place this weekend from 12- 5pm on Friday & Saturday. Shop outdoors at the ultimate safe, socially distant shopping event.

Thanks for continuing your support of our small business. We most certainly look forward to seeing you soon!
– Jennifer and team ARES

If are able to support our relief efforts to maintain our ability to offer thrifty goods and services to people in the local community, and offset our lack of revenue for three months due to store closure, please click here: 
GoFundMe and thank you so much!

3 Great Reasons to Shop ARES Thrift Store Now Thru Labor Day

Hi everyone, 

We know times are tough these days. So we thought you’d be interested in some great deals and events coming up at ARES. 

1. SUMMER RAFFLE: We’re giving away some of the year’s most-unique donations for FREE! Find prizes in the display case at the register. Earn tickets all month long in August just by shopping with us, checking in at ARES etc…(see cashier for all ways to enter). Seven Lucky winners will be pulled on the 31st of August. More visits provide options for more entries! 

2. FILL-A-BAG SALE: Come by and see just how many items you can stuff into our bags- just $10+ tax for each bag! Bring a friend for this one, and they’ll thank you for it. 

3. DOLLA DOLLA BIN SALE: Everyone’s favorite deal! Peruse thousands of items out front- Each just $1 (weather-permitting). These are unsorted donations so be a little more careful handling these items, than those in-store that we’ve cleaned and made certain are safe.

August sale calendar

+ Social Distancing & Sanitizing:
What ARES is doing to keep you and our staff and volunteers safe

Most of you are making fewer trips out of the house these days. That makes it more important than ever that you have a comfortable and enjoyable environment to enjoy a quick thrift trip now and then.   

At ARES, we want our store to be as safe as possible so that you may rest assured while shopping with us. We are fully-loaded with sanitizing sprayers to tackle frequently touched surfaces and address them continuously throughout our open hours. We have plexiglass barriers at our register area as well as signage at the storefront regarding the need for masks and social-distancing when in our store. Our staff provide verbal updates to shoppers about the need to keep to one person (or group that arrived together) per aisleway. Our regular shoppers have gotten this down, and it is working great so far.  

Also, we should mention that yes, you may certainly utilize fitting rooms to try on items you like. We just ask that you always hang any unwanted items on the specific rack left outside the room, as we quarantine those items away afterward. 

And most importantly, we are making sure you are not coming in contact with recently-donated items from households when you are shopping. We have had over a year’s supply of donations to process for our salesfloor as you all were very busy cleaning out during Safer at Home times. This allows for us to easily store away any current/fresh donations and add only those items that have been sufficiently quarantined to our salesfloor. On occasion, there are items that may be too fragile or an odd size or shape for storage, and in those infrequent cases, the items are fully sanitized if we need to bring them into the store at the end of the day in which they were donated. 

 In addition to items being sanitized, we also provide hand sanitizer at the front of the store available for all who are coming or going to use. Or you may use our restroom at any point to wash your hands as well if you would prefer that option.  We definitely understand that folks are hesitant these days to come out and shop in the manner they did prior to this year, however if there is something we could do to allow you to get in and out more quickly, or pay by phone and run an item outside for you to pick up curbside, just give a call during any of our open hours and we’ll do our best to accommodate if it is a request within reason.    

We are hoping to be here in the community for many more years serving up our unique, secondhand scores for you. Thanks for adapting and for getting through these times with us. 

Stay thrifty and safe friends,
– Jennifer Greany

If are able to support our relief efforts to maintain our ability to offer thrifty goods and services to people in the local community, and offset our lack of revenue for three months due to store closure, please click here: 
GoFundMe and thank you so much!