Opening 'grand' for new thrift outlet
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Onwards Thrift’s opening was grand Saturday in Tillsonburg.
“It was amazing,” said co-manager Lisa Koppert Monday morning during a break from staff training.
Pre-opening estimates of roughly 300 patrons were blown out of the water by a factor of two or three, said Koppert, with customers forming a lineup outside roughly 175 strong in anticipation of doors opening. Vehicles filled the parking lot and parked up and down both sides of the street, she added.
“We figured we had around 800 or 900 people through,” said Koppert, noting the first customer was onsite at 6:30 a.m. “I was like ‘wow!’ that’s dedication.”
Onwards Thrift is a unique non-profit volunteer-based organization whose proceeds will be largely directed (with a percentage to local charities in recognition to support from the community) towards Christian education, more specifically the 230-student Oxford Reformed Christian School in Mt. Elgin. The idea has been two years in the making says Koppert, based on the model of a school member’s relative in Wisconsin.
“It’s a good fundraiser for our school,” said Koppert, who has 10 years of retail experience as owner of Kids Style in Norwich.
She and Marit Bisschop are unpaid full-time managers, overseeing a total volunteer ‘staff’ of 60 school society members who contribute on some level.
“It varies,” said Koppert. “We make our schedule work around their schedules.”
Of the total, roughly 12 will be involved in sales, with the balance filling roles including sorting and tagging, maintenance and repairs. Whole families are contributing in a variety of ways says Koppert, with for example a mother on the store floor, a father fixing furniture and children picking up volunteer hours collecting items or cleaning.
The store is located at 165 Tillson Ave., a renovated former tobacco warehouse owned by the McLaughlins, who respected Onward Thrift board design considerations, paying an homage to the building’s history in an upscale, clean and organized 10,000-square-foot space.
“They allowed us quite a bit of freedom in how we laid it out,” said Koppert. “It’s a really good location and a great building.”
Items on sale include antiques – “They were a huge hit on the weekend, the antiques just flew out of here,” – and used and new furniture, the latter of the ‘scratch and dent’ variety.
“It’s going to be a fraction of the cost of the original, but still new,” said Koppert.
The store also offers what she refers to as ‘regular thrift store items,’ including housewares, books, décor, clothing and sporting goods.
Store hours are Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Definitely not Sundays,” she agreed with a laugh, adding Mondays and Tuesdays are being dedicated to sorting and restocking.
Sale items are donated either onsite (during business hours or at a drop box out back) or at additional drop boxes at the Mt. Elgin school or Bert Budding’s gas station just north of Norwich.
“We still have two semi-truck trailers to unpack,” said Koppert. “And people are dropping items off all the time.”
Those looking to support the effort or seeking additional information are invited to call 519-409-5500, email onwardsthrift@hotmail.com or visit the Onwards Thrift Facebook page.
“It’s been very well received,” Koppert concluded. “We’re quite excited about it, needless to say.”