What is Savers?
Savers is a for-profit thrift store chain with over 320 locations across the United States, Canada, and Australia. The company was founded in 1954 in San Francisco by William Ellison as Value Village 1. In 1982, Value Village merged with Washington-based St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift stores and took on the Savers name. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Savers expanded by acquiring regional thrift store chains. Today, Savers is owned by Savers, Inc, which also owns the Value Village brand in Canada.
The Savers business model involves collecting donated goods from the public and reselling them in its retail thrift stores. Savers stores offer a wide range of pre-owned merchandise including clothing, accessories, furniture, household items, books, toys, and more. As an established thrift retailer, Savers provides a way for the public to recycle unwanted items that may otherwise end up in landfills. Savers has over 300 retail locations across North America and Australia and has provided community donations of over $160 million since it started 2.
Savers’ Donation and Restocking Process
Savers relies heavily on donations from the public to stock its stores. Donations can be dropped off at any Savers location during business hours. Savers accepts gently used clothing, accessories, shoes, books, music, movies, furniture, and household items.
According to Savers’ website, donated items are processed daily at their warehouses before being distributed to local stores. Since Savers receives new donations every day, the merchandise at each store is constantly changing. There is no set restocking schedule, as the influx of donations varies. However, most Savers stores aim to put out newly processed merchandise in the morning before opening so shoppers can browse the latest finds.
Some sources indicate busy Savers locations may restock more frequently, sometimes multiple times per day as donations arrive. Quieter stores may only restock every few days (Source). Ultimately, the restocking frequency depends on the volume of donations at each store.
Factors Impacting Restocking Frequency
There are several key factors that impact how often thrift stores like Savers restock their merchandise:
Store size – Larger Savers locations have more staff, more space, and higher donation volumes. This allows bigger stores to process donations and restock the sales floor more frequently than smaller stores. Smaller Savers locations may only restock a few times per week.
Location – Urban Savers stores tend to receive more donations and restock more often than rural stores. Suburban locations are somewhere in the middle. Population density and foot traffic play a role.
Volume of donations – The number of donations a store receives directly impacts restocking. Stores with consistent, high donation rates can restock multiple times per day. Stores with lower donations may only restock once a day or a few times a week.[1]
Staffing – Stores need employees available to process and sort donations before they can be moved to the sales floor. Understaffed locations may have donations waiting in the backroom, delaying restocking. Fully staffed stores can restock more quickly.
Overall, larger urban and suburban Savers with high donation volumes are most likely to restock multiple times per day. Smaller rural stores or those with lower donations may only restock once daily or a few times a week.
Restocking Varies by Location
Savers’ restocking frequency often depends on the individual store location. While some Savers locations restock their sales floors daily with new merchandise, other stores may only restock a few times per week. This variability is due to differences in donation volume, store size, staffing, and operational factors across Savers’ network of over 300 thrift stores.
In general, larger Savers stores in highly populated areas tend to receive more donations on a daily basis. These high-volume locations have the capacity and inventory turnover to justify restocking their shelves every day. Smaller Savers stores or those in less densely populated areas may restock 2-3 times per week as dictated by their intake of donations.
Savers managers ultimately make restocking decisions based on their available merchandise, staff, and store needs. While daily restocking allows for a constant refresh of inventory, less frequent restocking also gives all customers a chance to discover new-to-them treasures on big merchandise rollout days.
The best way to find out your local Savers’ restocking schedule is to call the store directly or speak with an employee during your visits. Some diligent thrift shoppers also look for clues like newly emptied clothing racks or bins to detect the prime restocking times.
Busiest Restocking Times
Savers tends to restock most heavily on weekends and holidays when the stores are busiest. Many Savers locations will restock first thing in the morning before opening, so the earliest shoppers on weekend and holiday mornings will have the best selection of newly stocked items.
Sundays are a particularly popular restocking day, with many stores focusing their restocking efforts for the new week on Sunday mornings. Showing up first thing Sunday morning is one of the best times to find newly donated and priced merchandise.
Other busy restocking times include Monday mornings, as Savers prepares the sales floor for the week ahead, as well as right before major holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Halloween. Savers wants its shelves fully stocked ahead of increased customer traffic around holidays.
According to one Savers shopper, “The busiest restocking times I’ve noticed are holiday weekends like Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day” (source). Planning your Savers trips around major restocking days is key to finding the best selection and newest arrivals.
Tips for Finding Newly Stocked Merchandise
One of the best tips for finding newly stocked items at Savers is to shop at the right times. According to one source, the busiest donation times are typically early in the week, so the best times to shop are often mid-week and on the weekends after new merchandise has been sorted and put out on the sales floor. Some sources recommend avoiding weekend shopping if possible, since many other bargain hunters have the same idea.
When you do visit Savers, head straight for the new arrivals and freshly rotated items. Look on back racks, center displays and endcaps for the latest merchandise put out. Also check behind the cash registers, as stores often display choice finds there. If you’re searching for something specific, ask an employee when the newest stock for that department was put out.
Getting to know the employees and asking when their delivery days are scheduled can provide insights on the best times to come by each week. Building relationships with staff members often leads to tips about upcoming sales or inside information on the best times to shop.
Restocking Schedules Allow Everyone to Find Treasures
Thrift stores like Savers aim to provide a fair and enjoyable shopping experience for all customers. That’s why most locations have frequent restocking schedules. New inventory is put out nearly every day, often in the mornings before opening.
This frequent restocking gives everyone an equal opportunity to find hidden treasures. Shoppers who visit multiple times per week are just as likely to find great deals as those who can only stop by occasionally.
Some thrift stores even align their biggest markdowns and sales with restocking days. This encourages customers to come see what’s new. Frequent restocking helps stores maintain a fresh selection, so every visit feels like a treasure hunt.
The regular influx of new inventory keeps the shelves full and makes thrifting an exciting adventure. Savers wants all shoppers to have a fair chance at finding their next great thrifting score.
Contact Your Local Store
Each Savers location has its own restocking and donation intake schedule based on the needs and volumes of that specific store. Some locations may restock daily while others restock less frequently throughout the week. The best way to find out your local Savers’ restocking schedule is to contact the store directly. The store manager can provide details on when new merchandise is put out on the sales floor. You can find contact information for your nearest Savers by searching on the store locator on their website (https://www.savers.com/store-locator). Calling ahead allows you to plan your Savers shopping trips around peak restocking times to increase your chances of scoring newly donated items. With advance notice of your store’s schedule, you’ll know when to visit to shop the latest clothing, housewares, books and more.
Sign Up for Emails
One great way to stay on top of restocking schedules and get the inside scoop on promotions is to sign up for Savers’ email list. Savers offers an email newsletter that alerts shoppers to upcoming sales events, coupons, and other store announcements. By providing your email address, you can opt-in to receive notifications about the latest deals and inventory updates.
For example, Savers may send out an email alerting shoppers that a big restocking event will be happening at all locations on a certain day of the week. This “heads up” gives bargain hunters a chance to plan their shopping trip in order to take advantage of freshly stocked shelves.
Savers may also email out coupons for percentage discounts off entire purchases on certain days. Signing up for emails allows savvy shoppers to have these coupons arrive directly in their inbox right when they need them most.
So if you want to stay on top of your local Savers’ restocking schedule and score the best deals, signing up for their email list is a great idea. This ensures you’ll be among the first to know when new merchandise hits the sales floor.
Shop Often for New Finds
Thrift stores like Savers rely on donations to restock their inventory. With new donations coming in daily, the selection is constantly changing. The more frequently you visit, the more likely you’ll find hidden gems and newly stocked items before other shoppers scoop them up.
Many thrifters recommend visiting your favorite thrift stores multiple times per week to increase your chances of scoring great finds. Checking thrift stores near closing time is also a good strategy, as workers often restock the shelves throughout the day as donations come in.
Frequent visits allow you to stay on top of the changing inventory and new arrivals. You’ll also get to know the store’s layout and merchandise mix, making it easier to zero in on the types of items you love. With a little dedication, persistently shopping thrift stores pays off in unique vintage pieces, collectibles and more at bargain prices.
As one seasoned thrifter advises, “The more often you go, the more you will learn which stores are best for certain items and which days they put new stuff out. Don’t be afraid to go multiple times a week”. Keeping a routine of frequent visits gives you your best shot at thrifting success.